The House passed a series of bills on Saturday that included aid for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, as well as a provision to force the Chinese company ByteDance to sell TikTok. These bills will be combined into a single package and sent to the Senate for approval before reaching President Joe Biden’s desk for signature. President Biden thanked Speaker Johnson, Leader Jeffries, and bipartisan lawmakers for prioritizing national security. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer indicated that the Senate could vote on the package on Tuesday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Israeli Foreign Affairs Minister Israel Katz expressed gratitude for the aid package.
The aid package includes over $60 billion for Ukraine, more than $26 billion for Israel, over $8 billion for Taiwan and Indo-Pacific security, and a measure to force ByteDance to sell TikTok within nine months. A TikTok spokesperson expressed disappointment that the aid package was used to push through the ban bill. The House approval of the aid is a crucial step in providing foreign assistance that has been delayed since President Biden’s proposal in October. House Democrats reacted with cheers and waving Ukrainian flags after the vote passed.
In February, the Senate passed a $95 billion version of the aid package, which was not advanced in the House due to political threats from hardline House Republicans like Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. Speaker Johnson revisited the aid package after Iran’s attempted strike on Israel triggered bipartisan support for aid to Israel. The aid package was placed at the top of the House’s agenda, and separate bills were structured for each country. Despite opposition from Greene, who has threatened to force a vote to oust Speaker Johnson, the aid package was prioritized and ultimately passed in the House.
The aid package has been a long-awaited effort to provide support to Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, and other countries. President Biden has urged the Senate to quickly send the package for his signature, emphasizing the importance of national security. The House’s approval of the aid package represents a significant step in providing assistance to countries facing security challenges. Speaker Johnson’s leadership in organizing the aid package and addressing political opposition highlights the bipartisan effort to support foreign aid and national security priorities. The aid package’s passage in the House reflects a commitment to upholding alliances and ensuring stability in regions facing security threats.
