The U.S. House of Representatives passed a series of foreign aid bills on Saturday, allocating $60.8 billion for Ukraine, $26.4 billion for Israel, and $8 billion for Taiwan and other Indo-Pacific allies. The package also includes a bill that would force the sale of TikTok and impose strong sanctions on Iran, China, and Russia. The four bills will now be sent to the Senate as a single package, with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer stating that the upper chamber will take up the legislation on Tuesday afternoon.
The passage of the aid package marks a significant victory for House Speaker Mike Johnson, who faced threats of being ousted by hardline members of his own party for pushing the legislation forward. Despite the political risk, Johnson maintained that the bills were necessary, even if they were not perfect. "We would rather send bullets to the conflict overseas than our own boys, our troops," he said following the vote. "And I think this is an important moment and important opportunity to make that decision."
The House passed the Ukraine foreign aid bill by a vote of 311-112-1, the Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act by a vote of 366-58, and the bill providing $8 billion in security aid for the Indo-Pacific region, including Taiwan, by an overwhelming vote of 385-34-1. The fourth bill, which includes the potential TikTok ban and sanctions, passed by a vote of 360-58.
President Joe Biden thanked House members for passing the foreign aid package, stating that it comes at a "critical inflection point" for Ukraine and Israel. "It comes at a moment of grave urgency, with Israel facing unprecedented attacks from Iran, and Ukraine under continued bombardment from Russia," Biden said in a statement. He urged the Senate to quickly send the package to his desk for signing.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also expressed their gratitude for the House's decision. Zelenskyy applauded the bipartisan support, saying, "Democracy and freedom will always have global significance and will never fail as long as America helps to protect it." Netanyahu thanked the U.S. Congress for demonstrating "strong bipartisan support for Israel and defends Western civilization."
The passage of the aid package was not without controversy, as some far-right members of the House, such as Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, have been critical of Johnson's leadership and his decision to prioritize foreign aid over domestic issues like immigration. Greene introduced a motion last month to oust Johnson, accusing him of "standing with the Democrats" after he worked across the aisle to avoid a government shutdown.
Despite the growing threat to his speakership, Johnson remained defiant, stating, "As I've said many times, I don't walk around this building being worried about a motion to vacate. I have to do my job." It remains to be seen whether Greene will force a vote on the motion to vacate, which could potentially require Democrats to step in and save Johnson's job.
The House's approval of the foreign aid package is a critical step forward, as the legislation had been in limbo since President Biden first proposed it in October. The Senate had passed a $95 billion version of the aid in February, but the House effectively shelved the bill due to political threats from hardline Republicans.
The escalation of tensions between Israel and Iran last weekend, however, prompted a renewed bipartisan push for the House to support Israel, leading Johnson to put the foreign aid package at the top of the House's agenda. The bills will now head to the Senate, where they are expected to be taken up on Tuesday afternoon.
As the legislation moves forward, the potential ban on TikTok has drawn criticism from the company, with a spokesperson stating, "It is unfortunate that the House of Representatives is using the cover of important foreign and humanitarian assistance to once again jam through a ban bill." The bill would require China's ByteDance to sell TikTok within nine months, with a possible 90-day extension, or face a national ban.
The passage of the foreign aid package in the House represents a significant step in providing crucial support to key U.S. allies, despite the political challenges and internal divisions within the Republican party. As the bills move to the Senate, the focus will be on ensuring swift approval and delivery of the much-needed assistance to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan.
