GOP-Led House Panel Uses Democratic Votes to Push Foreign Aid Bills
The GOP-led House Rules Committee used Democratic support to advance a series of foreign aid bills, signaling that Republican leaders will need votes from across the aisle to pass the legislation. This move is likely to further inflame conservatives who are against additional aid to Ukraine and have threatened House Speaker Mike Johnson’s job over the issue.
Contentious Day on Capitol Hill
The renewed push to send foreign aid to Ukraine has divided House Republicans, with the right wing of the GOP conference opposing the plan. They have also expressed anger over a separate effort to change House rules regarding the process for removing the speaker, a change that Johnson has stated he will not make.
The Foreign Aid Package
The four bills in the foreign aid package include aid for Ukraine, Israel, and the Indo-Pacific region, with the latter aimed at deterring Chinese aggression. The package also includes other House GOP priorities such as sanctions on Iran, the seizure of frozen Russian sovereign assets, and a measure that could lead to a nationwide ban of TikTok.
The total amount of aid in the three House bills is approximately $95 billion, similar to the Senate bill. However, there is an adjustment that $10 billion in Ukraine economic assistance is in the form of a repayable loan. The three assistance bills are similar to the foreign aid legislation that passed the Senate in February, while the fourth House bill was not part of the Senate package.
The Path Forward
House Speaker Mike Johnson has suggested that a vote on the package will take place “early Saturday.” With Republicans holding a slim majority in the House, Johnson will need support from Democrats to overcome procedural hurdles. This puts significant pressure on the speaker, especially with growing opposition from hardliners regarding border security provisions.
The fight over the foreign aid bills and the potential for right-wing members of the GOP to attempt to oust Johnson adds to the intense pressure he is facing over his future as speaker. Despite threats, Johnson has defiantly stated that he will not be resigning.
