The U.S. House of Representatives is set to vote on Saturday evening on three military aid packages for Ukraine, Israel, and other allies in the Asia Pacific region, as part of Speaker Mike Johnson's complex strategy to get aid out to foreign allies while quelling a rebellion by hardline Republicans. The vote comes amid mounting pressure from the White House and much of Congress to address the urgent need for assistance, particularly in light of the recent escalation of conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
The three bills, which largely mirror a $95 billion foreign aid package passed by the Senate in February, would allocate $60.84 billion in long-delayed aid to Ukraine, just over $26 billion for Israel, and about $8 billion for Asia Pacific allies, mainly Taiwan, to counter Chinese expansionism. The House will also vote on a fourth bill containing separate foreign policy proposals, including seizing Russian assets, forcing a sale of the social media platform TikTok, and imposing sanctions on Iran, Russia, China, and criminal organizations that traffic the drug fentanyl.
Speaker Johnson's decision to bring the bills to a vote marks a significant shift from his previous stance, as he had long rejected calls to allow a vote on the divisive Senate-passed package. Allison McManus, a managing director at the Center for American Progress, attributed Johnson's change of heart to "a genuine evolution" in his understanding of the benefits of U.S. support for Ukraine since taking on the leadership role.
However, the bills have faced strong opposition from right-wing lawmakers, such as Representatives Marjorie Taylor Greene and Bob Good, who have accused Johnson of failing to pursue a Republican agenda and prioritizing foreign aid over border security. The Ukraine aid bill, in particular, has been a sticking point for "America-first" hardliners, who have long complained about the billions spent on Ukraine since Russia launched its invasion in February 2022.
To assuage conservative concerns, the new package would provide the $9 billion allocated to Ukraine as economic assistance in the form of "forgivable loans" and require the Biden administration to present lawmakers with a "multiyear" plan outlining clear strategic aims in Ukraine and an estimate of the resources required. The Israel aid bill, which includes $9.2 billion in humanitarian aid for Gaza, has also faced opposition from some progressives who oppose funding that enables Israel's onslaught on the Gaza Strip.
According to Chris Tuttle, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, breaking up the package into parts is a strategic move to overcome the combined opposition from the right and left factions. "If you separate them, then you have small factions that are easier to overcome," he explained.
The fate of the bills and Speaker Johnson's leadership seem to be intertwined, as he will be dependent on votes from Democrats to execute his plan of forming unique voting blocs on each separate bill before sewing them back together again for Senate approval. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene has been dangling the threat of Johnson's removal ahead of the vote, while Democrats like Representatives Hakeem Jeffries and Jared Moskowitz have suggested they would help Johnson if his own party moves against him.
