Johnson Pushes Ahead on Foreign Aid Bill, Teeing Up a Weekend Vote
The New York Times
The embattled Republican speaker said he expected Saturday votes on the long-stalled package of aid to Ukraine, Israel and other U.S. allies, as well as fresh sanctions on Iran.
Speaker Mike Johnson on Wednesday told Republicans that the House would vote Saturday evening on his foreign aid package for Israel and Ukraine, pushing through resistance in his own party to advance a long-stalled national security spending package for U.S. allies.
His announcement came amid a crush of opposition from Republicans who are vehemently against sending more aid to Ukraine, and have vented for days as congressional aides race to write the legislation Mr. Johnson proposed on Monday.
The legislative package Mr. Johnson is trying to advance roughly mirrors the $95 billion aid bill the Senate passed two months ago with aid to Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan and other American allies, but broken into three pieces that would be voted on individually.
There would be a fourth vote on a separate measure containing other policies popular among Republicans, including conditioning Ukraine aid as a loan, a measure that could lead to a nationwide TikTok ban and fresh sanctions on Iran. It would also pave the way to selling off Russian sovereign assets that have been frozen, in order to help fund the Ukrainian war effort.
The legislation includes $60 billion for Kyiv; $26 billion for Israel and humanitarian aid for civilians in conflict zones, including Gaza; and $8 billion for the Indo-Pacific.
“We’ve taken the Senate supplemental bill and we’ve improved the process and policy, and that’s a really important thing,” Mr. Johnson said on Fox News on Wednesday. “Every member gets to vote their own conscience.”
