WASHINGTON – Speaker Mike Johnson’s efforts to pass a $95 billion package aiding foreign allies, including Taiwan, showcase the bipartisan support for American leadership amid global threats. This legislation will provide nations, including Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, billions in military and humanitarian assistance. In addition to the aid for allies, the package includes a provision to transfer frozen Russian assets to Ukraine, as well as place sanctions targeting Hamas and Iran. Notably, the bill will also force ByteDance to sell social media platform TikTok or face a ban in the States.

On the morning of Friday, April 19th, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly voted to advance a large foreign aid package to the House floor in a procedural vote. By a margin of 316-94, a total of 165 Democrats and 151 Republicans supported the rule put forward by Republican Speaker Mike Johnson despite heavy retaliation from hard-right members, including Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene.

“The question everyone should be asking is what deal did Speaker Johnson make with the Hakeem Jeffries to get the Democrats on the Rules Committee to vote for a Republican rule on the foreign war package which includes $60+ BILLION more to Ukraine? This never happens,” Greene wrote on X before Friday’s vote.

She continued, “We do not have a Republican majority anymore, our Republican Speaker is literally controlled by the Democrats and giving them everything they want.”

Her comments follow Speaker Johnson’s decision to push the aid package. Along with Kentucky Rep. Massie, they have threatened to oust Johnson from his position if this package passed.

All four provisions passed on the following Saturday, including $8 billion to its Indo-Pacific allies despite Chinese threats, 385 to 34. After the vote, Johnson told the Washington Post, “I don’t walk around this building being worried about a motion to vacate. I have to do my job. I’ve done here what I believe to be the right thing to allow the House to work its will.”

The package will now move to the Senate for a vote early next week, with President Biden expected to sign.

Works Cited

Groves, Stephen, et al. “Ukraine and Israel Aid Advances in Rare House Vote as Democrats Help Republicans Push It Forward.” Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 19 Apr. 2024, http://www.chicagotribune.com/2024/04/19/ukraine-israel-aid-house-vote/?utm_source=ground.news&utm_medium=referral.

“Ukraine and Israel Aid Packages Head for House Vote in Defiance of Gop Far Right.” The Independent, Independent Digital News and Media, 19 Apr. 2024, http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/ukraine-israel-house-aid-johnson-b2531565.html?utm_source=ground.news&utm_medium=referral.