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Her effort lacked the public support of any of her GOP colleagues until Tuesday, when Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie signed onto the resolution to remove the speaker, known as a motion to vacate. Nine Republicans who opposed the Senate-passed aid legislation in February supported the bill this time. When Senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma changed his vote on Tuesday, this time agreeing to advance the legislation, Senator Mitch McConnell, Republican of Kentucky and the minority leader, gave him a thumbs-up on the Senate floor. The campaign to force the sale of TikTok has united lawmakers with administration officials who share their national security worries. The White House said it had provided assistance to lawmakers as they drafted the legislation that passed the House in March. After the procedural vote, House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters he was "happy the rule passed," and said if it hadn't, the House would have been forced by a discharge petition to pass the Senate version of the bill, which he referred to as a "blank check for foreign aid."
Highway Collapse in China Kills 19: State Media
Senate Appropriations Chairwoman Patty Murray, D-Wash., said at the start of the hearing that she and the panel’s top Republican, Maine Sen. Susan Collins, were drafting “strong bipartisan legislation” that would include aid for both countries. As the congressional divisions deepen, Blinken and Austin warned that the consequences of failing to help Ukraine in its war with Russia and Israel as it strikes back against Hamas would be dire. Inaction, they said, would threaten the security of the U.S. and the rest of the world.
Senate Passes $95.3 Billion Aid Package
It also mean emphasizing the intelligence picture and the national security risks of inaction for America, the official said. "It’s going to make America safer, it’s gonna make the world safer, and it continues America’s leadership in the world, and everyone knows gives vital support to America’s partners," Biden said Wednesday in remarks praising the package's passage. Blinken made a quick trip to Johnson’s office after his Senate testimony — an effort to push a combined aid package to the new speaker, according to State Department spokesman Matthew Miller.
House Republicans unveil aid bills for Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan as Johnson pushes forward
This follows Israeli unsubstantiated accusations that the agency’s staff were involved in Hamas’s October 7 attacks. But aid for Ukraine remains deeply unpopular with large portions of Johnson's conference, who argue the House shouldn't provide further funding without strengthening security at the U.S.-Mexico border. The White House and congressional Democrats had urged Speaker Mike Johnson to hold a vote on that Senate package in the wake of Iran's recent unprecedented attack on Israel, and amid briefings that Ukraine is in dire need of U.S. aid. The House-passed bills are similar to a $95 billion package that passed the Senate in February but then stalled in the House.
The legislation, called the Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, is set to be introduced by Rep. Ken Calvert, R-Calif., the speaker’s office said. Asked whether he thinks Johnson should be ousted, Norman said he likes the speaker but he's "disappointed." Foreign aid has highlighted the growing divide within the Republican Party, particularly in the House, where conservatives oppose additional funding to Ukraine. After the vote, Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said in a statement that "the White House and congressional Democrats should be ashamed." Other challenges remain, including the chance that Beijing could block a sale of TikTok.
“Make no mistake, we need to address all of these priorities as part of one package — because the reality is these issues are all connected, and they are all urgent,” Murray said. Speaking on the Senate floor, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said the House proposal “is clearly designed to divide Congress on a partisan basis, not unite us.” He said he hopes Johnson realizes he made a “grave mistake” and reverses course. The testimony from Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken to the Senate Appropriations Committee came as the administration’s massive $105 billion emergency aid request for conflicts in the two countries encountered roadblocks. “Some believe the European Union should do more to help Ukraine, while some others said the money should be spent at home and Ukraine has no accountability on how it spends the funds. “Military assistance to the [Ukrainian] regime is a direct sponsorship of terrorist activities,” Zakharova said on Telegram.
WASHINGTON — Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., told Republicans on Saturday that the House will vote next week on a stand-alone bill to provide aid to Israel, with no offsetting spending cuts. A few conservatives, including Massie, met with Johnson on Wednesday afternoon after the legislative text was released. Leaving Johnson's office, Rep. Ralph Norman of South Carolina, indicated he would vote against it in committee if border security was not linked to Ukraine aid. The fourth bill, which is set to be released later in the day, is geared toward addressing other GOP foreign policy priorities. That measure would allow the sale of frozen assets of Russian oligarchs, potentially force the sale of TikTok and authorize stricter sanctions on Russia, China and Iran. House Republicans are also expected to release a border security bill that would be considered separately.
The measure, known as the Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, introduced by Rep. Ken Calvert, R-Calif., does not include spending offsets that Johnson said Democrats objected to in previous legislation. The vote reflected resounding bipartisan support for the measure, which passed the House on Saturday by lopsided margins after a tortured journey on Capitol Hill, where it was nearly derailed by right-wing resistance. The Senate’s action, on a vote of 79 to 18, provided a victory for the president, who had urged lawmakers to move quickly so he could sign it into law.
How much will go to Ukraine?
Speaker Mike Johnson says he thinks stand-alone Israel aid bill will pass the House this week - NBC News
Speaker Mike Johnson says he thinks stand-alone Israel aid bill will pass the House this week.
Posted: Sun, 29 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Officials from the Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence briefed lawmakers in the House and Senate about their concerns, adding fuel to the effort to pass the bill. There are reports of cheers breaking out of the trenches in eastern Ukraine — probably came from one of your folks — a reporter or someone. Some Republicans have expressed concerns that the humanitarian aid could end up in the wrong hands. Tennessee Sen. Bill Hagerty asked Blinken to guarantee that “not one dime” of taxpayer money will go to Hamas and terrorist activities.
Speaker Mike Johnson has indicated that he intends to package the measure, a modified version of a stand-alone bill that the House passed last month, with foreign aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. I just signed into law the national security package that was passed by the House of Representatives this weekend and by the Senate yesterday. Rep. Bob Good, R-Va., spoke to reporters on Capitol Hill following a foreign aid bill vote on April 19. Each portion of the package — which was broken down into separate bills — received bipartisan support. A majority of Republican members — 112 — voted against aid to Ukraine, with one member voting "present." Thirty-seven Democrats voted against aid to Israel.
The three bills would provide $26.4 billion to support Israel, $60.8 billion to bolster Ukraine and $8.1 billion to counter China in the Indo-Pacific, including billions for Taiwan. The Israel bill also includes more than $9.1 billion to address humanitarian needs, which Democrats said was necessary for their support. Johnson on Saturday announced the vote on the separate Israel bill after the Senate reached a tentative immigration deal. The Senate released the text of the bipartisan border bill Sunday, combining Israel and Ukraine with a package of stricter border security and asylum laws. “This bill was introduced to get ahead of the Senate’s bipartisan security supplemental, which does address all of our national security priorities," she said on the House floor. All told, the White House’s request included $9.15 billion in funds for humanitarian support in Israel, Gaza, Ukraine and elsewhere.
“We have a Republican majority in the House, we need to follow the speaker,” said Florida Sen. Rick Scott. Republican Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa said she wants to see Ukraine aid passed, and “I don’t care how it happens.” She said she is open to the IRS cuts that Republicans proposed for the Israel funding in the House. But the House is trying to set aside much of Biden’s request for now to focus on a roughly $14.5 billion package for Israel. That plan faced immediate resistance among Senate Democrats — and put pressure on the Senate Republicans who support the Ukraine aid but are conscious of growing concerns about it within their party. Today, we received the awaited decision on the US aid package that we long fought for. Our warriors on the front lines, as well as our cities and villages suffering from Russian terror, will feel it.
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