House Nearing Approval of Aid for Ukraine and Israel Following Prolonged Struggle

 

The House is gearing up for an uncommon Saturday session to greenlight $95 billion in foreign aid designated for Ukraine, Israel, and other key U.S. allies. Democrats and Republicans are joining forces behind this legislation, marking a significant shift after months of heated debates over renewed American support to counter Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

 

Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, taking a risk with his position, has leaned on Democratic backing this week to orchestrate votes on three aid bills, along with a fourth containing various foreign policy measures. Successful votes would propel the package to the Senate, where passage in the imminent future appears highly likely. President Joe Biden has pledged swift approval upon its arrival.

 

The House's endorsement would remove the primary obstacle to Biden’s funding request, initially proposed in October when Ukraine’s military resources were dwindling. The GOP-led House, initially wary of U.S. aid to Ukraine, grappled for months over its stance, initially insisting on linking assistance to policy shifts at the U.S.-Mexico border — only to reject a bipartisan Senate offer following those terms outright.

 

Navigating this endgame has been a strenuous endeavor for Johnson, testing both his resilience and his support within the Republican ranks, where a small but growing faction openly calls for his ouster from the speaker’s office. Nonetheless, congressional leaders portray these votes as a pivotal moment in history — a necessary gesture of support as U.S. allies confront conflicts and threats spanning from Europe to the Middle East to Asia.

 

“This is a critical message that we, as Congress, are poised to deliver to the world,” remarked Johnson earlier this week. “The perception of a resolute America, steadfast in its commitments, has been crucial in deterring terrorists and despots, and that resolve remains unwavering.”

 

Nevertheless, the delay in congressional action has prompted a procession of world leaders to visit Capitol Hill in recent months, from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, all imploring lawmakers to approve the aid. Globally, the delay has raised doubts about America’s allegiance to its allies.

 

At stake is one of Biden’s foremost foreign policy objectives: stemming Russian President Vladimir Putin’s incursion into Europe. Following discreet discussions with Johnson, the president swiftly endorsed the Speaker’s plan this week, paving the way for Democrats to lend their rare support in clearing procedural obstacles ahead of a final vote.

 

“It’s long overdue that we stand by our democratic partners in Israel, Ukraine, and the Indo-Pacific, while also providing humanitarian aid to civilians imperiled in conflict zones like Gaza, Haiti, and Sudan,” affirmed House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries in a press conference on Friday.

 

Voting on the package is poised to forge unconventional alliances in the House. While aid for Ukraine is expected to garner bipartisan support, a considerable faction of progressive Democrats is anticipated to oppose the bill supporting Israel, citing the ongoing Gaza bombardment that has claimed numerous civilian lives.

 

Simultaneously, the influence of Donald Trump, the presumed Republican presidential nominee, looms large over the debate. Trump has weighed in from afar through social media pronouncements and direct communications with lawmakers, pushing the GOP toward a more isolationist stance under his "America First" banner. While congressional support for Ukraine was once robustly bipartisan, a majority of Republicans now oppose further aid as the conflict enters its third year.

 

At one juncture during the protracted legislative process, Trump’s opposition effectively scuttled a bipartisan Senate proposal on border security. This week, while questioning European nations’ contributions to Ukraine, Trump refrained from criticizing Johnson directly, emphasizing the importance of Ukraine’s survival.

 

Nonetheless, the staunchly conservative House Freedom Caucus has condemned the legislation as the “America Last” foreign intervention package, urging lawmakers to defy Republican leadership and oppose it due to the absence of border security measures.

 

Johnson’s grip on the speaker’s gavel has become increasingly precarious in recent days, with three Republicans, led by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, endorsing a “motion to vacate” that could prompt a vote on his removal. Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky anticipates more Republicans joining this effort soon, advocating for Johnson’s voluntary resignation.

 

The speaker’s office has been diligently rallying support for both the bill and Johnson himself. It has arranged a series of press engagements leading up to the final votes on the package, initially with Jewish leaders and subsequently with Christian groups, to demonstrate backing for the speaker and the legislation he is shepherding through.

 

Ari Fleischer, former White House press secretary under President George W. Bush, commended the overdue support for Israel, the stance against Vladimir Putin, and the resolve against China, remarking, “This unified effort is a welcome reminder of a bygone era when foreign policy enjoyed bipartisan consensus.”

 

The package incorporates several Republican priorities, which Democrats either support or begrudgingly accept. These include measures enabling the U.S. to seize frozen assets of the Russian central bank to aid Ukraine’s reconstruction; imposing sanctions on Iran, Russia, China, and fentanyl-trafficking criminal entities; and legislation mandating the China-based parent company of TikTok to divest its stake within a year or face a U.S. ban.

 

Nevertheless, the concerted effort to shepherd these bills through Congress reflects not only political dynamics but also realities on the ground in Ukraine. Senior lawmakers on national security committees, privy to classified briefings, have grown increasingly alarmed by recent developments. Russia has escalated its use of satellite-guided munitions, which afford aircraft the ability to strike from a safe distance, further straining Ukrainian forces grappling with a dearth of personnel and ammunition.

 

“I place great trust in the intelligence and briefings we’ve received,” affirmed Johnson, underscoring, “I firmly believe that if unchecked, Vladimir Putin would press onward through Europe.”

 

John Herbst, former ambassador to Ukraine under President George W. Bush, acknowledged that the protracted delay in approving additional American assistance undoubtedly inflicted harm on Ukrainian troops. However, Herbst maintains that it’s not too late for intervention. “The fact that it’s happening now means catastrophe has been averted,” he concluded.