Special Poll
On Friday, the House successfully navigated a significant procedural step to advance foreign aid bills to Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan, overcoming internal party dissent. The vote, which passed with a count of 316-94, sets the stage for final decisions on Saturday regarding $95 billion in assistance that has been embroiled in Washington’s political stalemate for months.
Typically, such procedural votes are handled by the majority party, but this time, a considerable number of Democrats rallied to support the motion, outnumbering the Republicans in favor. This bipartisan effort helped prevent a potential setback for Speaker Mike Johnson.
Representative Jim McGovern, D-Mass., commented during the debate, “Democrats, once again, will be the adults in the room.”
After the vote, Johnson described the four foreign aid bills as “the best possible product” under the current conditions and expressed anticipation for their final passage the following day.
The aid is detailed across individual bills, allocating approximately $26 billion to Israel, $61 billion to Ukraine, and $8 billion to the Indo-Pacific. These measures echo a similar package passed by the Senate in February, which consolidated all aid into a single bill.
Additionally, one of the bills in the foreign aid package includes conservative-driven initiatives, such as a TikTok ban, sanctions against Iran, and legislation for seizing Russian assets to support Ukraine.
During the debate, Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., emphasized the strategic importance of supporting Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, noting, “These nations are on the frontlines of the struggle to preserve democracy around the world, with Ukraine and Israel literally in harm’s way.”
The urgency for passing the aid was heightened by recent aggressive actions from Iran against Israel.
Despite resistance from conservative factions within his party and growing threats to his leadership, Johnson pushed forward with the foreign aid measures, emphasizing their significance.
Post-vote, Rep. Paul Gosar of Arizona announced his backing for a previously introduced motion to oust Johnson, voicing his discontent with prioritizing Ukrainian aid over domestic issues like border security.
“We need a Speaker who puts America first rather than bending to the reckless demands of the warmongers, neo-cons, and the military industrial complex profiting from a costly and endless war half a world away,” Gosar stated.
The movement to potentially unseat Johnson now includes three Republicans, which could suffice for his removal unless Democrats intervene to support the embattled Speaker.
When questioned about the threat to his position, Johnson remained unfazed, telling ABC News Senior White House Correspondent Selina Wang, “I don’t worry, I just do my job.”