GOP Rep. Mike Lawler says he’s ‘confident’ Ukraine funding will get a vote after Easter recess

Rep. Mike Lawler, a moderate Republican from New York, cast optimism that a vote on funding for Ukraine’s war effort could land on the House floor when members return from Easter recess early next month as divisions in the House GOP have so far stymied progress on sending aid to the key US ally.

Rep. Mike Lawler, a moderate Republican from New York, expressed optimism on Sunday that a vote on funding for Ukraine’s war effort could land on the House floor when members return from recess early next month. Divisions in the House GOP have so far stymied progress on sending aid to the key US ally. “I believe there will be a vote when we get back from the Easter recess,” Lawler, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, told CNN’s Dana Bash on “State of the Union.” He added, “Certainly, this is critically important for our allies. We are the leader of the free world, and we cannot shirk on our responsibility to uphold and defend democracies across the globe.” Lawler acknowledged that he his and co-sponsors Democratic Rep. Jared Golden of Maine and Republican Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania are pushing a discharge petition to allow for a vote on their bill, which pairs Ukraine and border security funding, “but I am hopeful that the speaker will put the bill on the floor or an amended version of the bill on the floor so that we can once and for all ensure that our allies have the aid and support that they need.” The Republican said he’s spoken with House Speaker Mike Johnson about the discharge petition effort. “I have spoken to him directly. I am not going to delve into the details of that conversation, but I am confident that he’s going to bring that bill to the floor and that we will have a vote,” Lawler said.