Speaker of the House Mike Johnson talks to reporters just after lawmakers pushed a $95 billion nationa.
A package of foreign aid legislation, approved by the House of Representatives on Saturday, allocates $60.8 billion to Ukraine, $26.4 billion to Israel, and $8 billion to Taiwan and other allies in the Indo-Pacific region.
A separate bill, approved by a vote of 360 to 58, would compel TikTok to be sold and impose severe penalties on Russia, China, and Iran. The Treasury Department is required to provide a report on Iranian assets and sanctions exemptions in accordance with a congressional amendment.
avc
deThe Senate will now receive the four pieces of legislation together. On Saturday, Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer stated that the proposals would be discussed in the Senate on Tuesday afternoon.
By a vote of 385-34-1, the bill granting $8 billion in security assistance for the Indo-Pacific region—which includes Taiwan—passed the House with overwhelming support. The sole member present to cast a vote was Michigan's Democratic Representative Rashida Tlaib.
The House approved the foreign aid bill for Ukraine by a vote of 311-112-1.
The Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act was passed by the House with a vote of 366 to 58.
House Speaker Mike Johnson reminded Democrats that it was against the law for members to wave flags on the floor after they momentarily raised Ukrainian flags during the vote.
A GOP border security plan had already been defeated by a vote of 215–199. It failed to receive the support of two-thirds of the vote and was deemed suspended. The four bills pertaining to foreign aid did not include this one.
abc
deLegislators deliberated amendments and held a debate on Saturday before voting on the legislation's final passage, following Speaker Mike Johnson's victory over Democrats on Friday.
In addition to thanking House members for enacting the foreign aid package, President Joe Biden stated that Ukraine and Israel are at a "critical inflection point" with regard to these countries.
"It comes at a moment of grave urgency, with Israel facing unprecedented attacks from Iran, and Ukraine under continued bombardment from Russia," Biden said in a statement on Saturday.
abc
deAdditionally, Biden highlighted the funding's inclusion of "desperately needed humanitarian aid to Gaza, Sudan, and Haiti". Biden praised the efforts of House leaders and the group of legislators from both parties who, in his words, "voted to put our national security first," and he urged the Senate to get the package to his desk.
"I urge the Senate to quickly send this package to my desk so that I can sign it into law and we can quickly send arms and equipment to Ukraine to meet their urgent battlefield needs," Biden added.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised the bill's passage with bipartisan support in a statement on X, formerly Twitter.
"I am grateful to the United States House of Representatives, both parties, and personally to Speaker Mike Johnson for this decision that puts history on the right track. Democracy and freedom will always have global significance and will not fail as long as America helps protect it. It," Zelensky said in a statement.
He added, "The important U.S. aid bills passed by the House today will keep the war from expanding, save thousands of lives, and help both of our countries grow stronger. We hope those bills will be supported in the Senate and sent to President Biden's desk." Thank you, America!"
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also thanked the House for approving the aid.
"The US Congress just passed an acclaimed aid bill that demonstrates strong bipartisan support for Israel and protects Western civilization. Thank you, friends, thank you America!" Netanyahu said in a tweet on....
0 Comments