Democratic President Joe Biden and a bipartisan group of lawmakers, including the top U.S. Senate Republican, on Tuesday urged the Republican-controlled House of Representatives to consider a £95.34 billion military aid package for Ukraine and other allies.
The measure cleared the Senate in a 70-29 vote shortly before dawn on Tuesday after a hardline group of Republicans attempted to block it overnight.
However, it remained uncertain if House Speaker Mike Johnson would bring it up for a vote in the chamber controlled by his party with a narrow 219-212 margin.
Approval from both houses of Congress is necessary before Biden can sign it into law. Ukraine views the funding as vital in its ongoing battle against an invasion initiated by Russian President Vladimir Putin nearly two years ago.
Biden, advocating for the package, stressed its significance, especially in the face of opposition from Republican hardliners, particularly those aligned with former President Donald Trump.
Biden emphasised, “Supporting this bill is standing up to Putin; opposing it is playing into Putin’s hands.”
Senate Republican Mitch McConnell, among the 22 Republicans who supported the bill, expressed hope that the House would deliberate on it.
He told Politico, “I hope the speaker will find a way to allow the House to work its will on the issue of Ukraine aid and the other parts of the bill as well.”
However, Johnson hinted at a delay, criticising the bill for lacking conservative measures to address the influx of migrants across the U.S.-Mexico border. He stated, “America deserves better than the Senate’s status quo.”
The House, facing its second vote to impeach Biden’s top border official, could resort to a “discharge petition” if Johnson refrains from scheduling a vote on the bill.
This procedural move requires the signatures of a majority of the House’s members and could be initiated by House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who vowed to utilise all available legislative tools to secure passage.
The aid package encompasses support for Israel, humanitarian assistance for Palestinians, and aid for Taiwan and other U.S. partners in the Indo-Pacific to counter China.
Despite objections from some Republicans, Ukrainian officials welcomed the passage of the bill, highlighting its importance amid weapons shortages and ongoing Russian aggression.