The House of Representatives approved a $95 billion package on Saturday providing security assistance to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, overcoming fierce opposition from hardline Republican lawmakers, according to Reuters, winning praise from President Joe Biden, who had pressured the lawmakers to pass the much-needed funding for the US allies.
The measure, which passed with broad bipartisan support in the House, now heads to the Senate. Immediately after the vote, the US leader urged the 100 Senators to proceed quickly, saying, "It comes at a moment of grave urgency, with Israel facing unprecedented attacks from Iran and Ukraine under continued bombardment from Russia."
The upper chamber had previously green-lighted a similar bill over two months ago, and top leaders from both Republican and Democratic parties had pressured House Speaker Mike Johnson to hold a vote.
The Senate is scheduled to take up the House-passed legislation on Tuesday, with preliminary voting expected that afternoon. The final passage could occur sometime next week, clearing the way for the president to sign it into law.
The package allocates $60.84 billion to address the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, including $23 billion to replenish US weapons, stockpiles, and facilities. It also provides $26 billion for Israel, from which $9.1 billion is intended for humanitarian aid, as well as $8.12 billion for the Indo-Pacific region, including Taiwan.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiyy thanked the lawmakers: "The vital US aid bill passed today by the House will keep the war from expanding, save thousands and thousands of lives, and help both of our nations to become stronger," he said on X.
During the House vote, which passed 311-112 with 112 Republicans opposed, some lawmakers waved small Ukrainian flags, drawing a rebuke from Johnson over decorum violations.
Israel's aid vote passed 366-58 with 37 Democrats and 21 Republicans opposed, revealing reservations regarding Congress's usually unequivocal support for Israel, as Democrats expressed dissatisfaction with the Israeli Government's approach to the war in Gaza.
The unorthodox legislative package encompassing four separate bills, carries a warning of a potential ban on the Chinese-owned social media platform TikTok, as well as provisions for the possible transfer of seized Russian assets to Ukraine. This development has sparked heated debate within Republican ranks, with some hardliners vehemently opposing further aid to Ukraine, citing concerns over the nation's soaring $34 trillion national debt. These lawmakers have not shied away from issuing ultimatums, repeatedly threatening to oust House Speaker Mike Johnson, who assumed the position just last October after his predecessor, Kevin McCarthy, was ousted by a faction of party hardliners.
Johnson told reporters on Friday: "It's not the perfect legislation, it's not the legislation that we would write if Republicans were in charge of both the House, the Senate, and the White House. This is the best possible product that we can get under these circumstances to take care of these really important obligations."
