The U.S. House of Representatives rarely cooperates with two parties to promote Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan aid bills

[New Sancai Compilation First Release] With a rare momentum of bipartisan cooperation, the U.S. House of Representatives advanced a $95 billion foreign aid plan for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan on April 19, and provided humanitarian support, a powerful coalition of lawmakers Helped the House clear procedural hurdles and reach a final vote this weekend.

Friday's vote produced a rare result in a typically hyperpartisan fight, with Democrats helping Republican Speaker Mike Johnson's plan overwhelmingly advance 316 to 94. Final House approval could come by the end of the week, when the plan is sent to the Senate.

It's a victory for the strategy Johnson launched this week after agonizing over the legislation for two months. Still, Johnson has had to make the rounds in conservative media over the past 24 hours in an effort to salvage support for wartime funding, especially for Ukraine, which faces a critical moment in its war with Russia while also trying to save support for wartime funding. his own work in an effort to oust him.

"Ukrainians are in desperate need of lethal assistance right now. ... We cannot allow Vladimir Putin to sweep through another country and occupy it." Johnson told conservatives on "The Mark Levin Show" about the Russian president's invasion of Ukraine the host said. "These are very serious issues with global implications."

Johnson said after the vote that while it was not "perfect legislation," it was "the best possible solution" given the slim Republican majority in one chamber of Congress.

After months of delays, the House began its work slowly and cautiously as Johnson resolved this week to move forward with a package that matches, but with slight modifications, the one passed by the Senate in February. President Joe Biden quickly expressed support for the speaker's plan, and presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, who opposes most overseas aid to Ukraine, did not undermine the speaker's work.

"The world is watching Congress' actions. Passing this legislation will send a powerful message about the strength of American leadership at a critical time," the White House said in a statement.

In an extremely rare step, members of the House Rules Committee joined forces in a near-midnight vote Thursday night, with four Democrats expressing support for procedural steps to override three holdouts in the Republican majority and sending the package to the House floor. . It was a moment unlike anything the House has seen in recent memory.

Democratic leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries said he spoke with Johnson Thursday night to ensure the bill would win approval from the Rules Committee.

"It's long past time for us to support our democratic allies," Jeffries said after the vote. "House Democrats have once again cleared the way for legislation important to the American people."

Johnson will again need to rely on Democrats on Saturday to overturn Republican amendments that could kill the plan. One proposal from Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene would cut Ukraine spending to zero.

Greene has filed a motion to "remove" the speaker and on Friday attracted another supporter, Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Ariz., as a co-sponsor of the motion. Another co-sponsor, Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, said others may follow suit before the House adjourns next week, putting pressure on Johnson to step down.

Conservative Rep. Eli Klain of Arizona also said he was "open" to joining the effort to oust Johnson.

If Johnson calls for a vote, Greene could launch a push to oust Johnson from the speaker's office, much as Republicans ousted Kevin McCarthy from the speaker's office last fall. Democratic leader Jeffries still refuses to commit to helping Johnson retain his seat as speaker, but some Democrats have expressed their preference to use procedural means to help defeat the abdication motion.

Johnson, a speaker with one of the narrowest House majorities in modern times, can only afford to lose a Republican vote or two to pass any legislation. That momentum pushed him into the arms of the Democratic Party as he sought votes to pass the package.

Without the full support of the Republican majority, Johnson cannot craft a package as ultraconservatives demand without losing Democratic support. That forced him to abandon tough security measures to crack down on immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border.

At best, Johnson will be able to split the Senate-passed bill into different parts, as House Republicans prefer, with final votes targeting separate measures for Ukraine, Israel and Indo-Pacific allies.

The plan would also include a fourth provision that includes many Republican priorities that Democrats endorse or are at least willing to embrace. They include a proposal to allow the U.S. to seize assets frozen by the Russian central bank to rebuild Ukraine; impose sanctions on Iran, Russia, China and criminal organizations that traffic in fentanyl; and possibly impose sanctions if the Chinese owners of video app TikTok do not sell their shares within a year. The application will be banned.

Rep. Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said this vote shows the world that Democrats understand the world and our allies. We will support them and ensure that they are provided with the support and assistance they need, and we are concerned about humanitarian issues.

He added that in his 26 years as a member of the House, he had never seen one party have to help another party the way Democrats did this week.

Passing each of the bills in Saturday's vote is expected to require Johnson to forge complex bipartisan coalitions on each bill, such as Democrats ensuring Ukraine aid was approved but some left-leaning progressives refusing to support Israel over its destruction of Gaza military aid. Still, Jeffries said a majority of Democrats will vote on Saturday to support the aid package for Ukraine, Israel and allies in Asia.

The components will then be automatically reassembled into a package sent to the Senate, where conservatives also plan to take procedural action to delay final approval.

(Compiled by: Wang Jimin)

(Editor: Jiang Qiming)

(Source of the article: Compiled and published by New Sancai)