Washington — In a move to provide aid to U.S. allies while appeasing conservative concerns, House Republican leadership revealed the text of three bills as part of Speaker Mike Johnson's intricate plan.
The first bill allocates $26.4 billion to support Israel, the second bill earmarks $60.8 billion to bolster Ukraine, and the third bill provides $8.1 billion to counter China in the Indo-Pacific region, with significant funding for Taiwan.
Another bill, scheduled for release later in the day, will focus on addressing additional GOP foreign policy priorities. This bill includes provisions to enable the sale of frozen assets of Russian oligarchs, potentially mandate the sale of TikTok, and authorize stricter sanctions on Russia, China, and Iran. Additionally, House Republicans are anticipated to unveil a separate border security bill.
Johnson announced that lawmakers will have 72 hours to review the legislation, setting the stage for a potential vote as early as Saturday.
The Louisiana Republican announced the proposal on Monday amid mounting pressure from members in both parties to hold a vote on a bipartisan Senate package that includes support for the U.S. allies. The $95 billion supplemental funding package that passed the Senate in February has stagnated for months in the House as Johnson has debated a path forward.
The divide over foreign aid
Lawmakers expressed new urgency around approving the funds for Israel after it faced unprecedented airstrikes by Iran over the weekend, which came in retaliation for an Israeli strike on an Iranian consulate in Syria. And while Senate leaders and the White House had insisted that the House approving the Senate-passed package would be the most effective way to move forward, Johnson has resisted that pressure in the face of threats from the right flank of his party to oust him.
Foreign aid has highlighted the growing divide within the Republican Party, particularly in the House, where conservatives oppose additional funding to Ukraine.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Georgia Republican, has threatened to trigger a vote on ousting Johnson over Ukraine aid. 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.
Johnson Stands Firm Amidst Calls for Resignation
Johnson reiterated that he has no intention of resigning, dismissing the idea as absurd. He emphasized that they are all focused on their duties and should not be sidetracked by such motions.
The conservative House Freedom Caucus criticized Johnson for what they see as a missed opportunity to address the border crisis effectively.
Prior to the release of the bills' details, some Republican committee chairs expressed support for Johnson's strategy and urged for swift approval of the legislation this week.
A group warned that failing to pass crucial national security aid would only benefit the country's adversaries.
Given the slim majority, Democrats might need to intervene to protect Johnson if Greene or Massie proceed with a vote. Republicans can only afford to lose a couple of votes, with the margin becoming even tighter after Rep. Mike Gallagher's resignation next week.
Democrats have signaled willingness to support Johnson's plan as long as it includes aid for U.S. allies and humanitarian relief. House Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar stressed the importance of the legislation's content over the procedural aspects.
"If Speaker Johnson's version is missing one of these components, it's highly unlikely Democrats would support it," said Rep. Ted Lieu of California, the caucus' vice chair.
House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark of Massachusetts called Johnson's indecisiveness "a threat to global security," adding that Johnson's effort to pacify his detractors is futile.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, said Tuesday morning he is "reserving judgment" on the proposal until more details are released, while again calling on the House to vote on the Senate bill.
The White House has said it does not support a standalone Israel bill, and two previous efforts to provide aid to Israel since the Oct. 7 terrorist attack by Hamas have failed in Congress. On Tuesday afternoon, White House spokesman John Kirby said administration officials were waiting to see more details on Johnson's plan, but "it does appear at first blush, that the speaker's proposals will, in fact, help us get aid to Ukraine, aid to Israel and needed resources to the Indo-Pacific."
