House passes $95 billion foreign aid package after months-long delay
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House Speaker Mike Johnson. Photo: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images.
The U.S. House on Saturday voted on a bipartisan basis to pass a $95 billion foreign aid package for Ukraine, Israel and the Indo-Pacific.
Why it matters: The vote puts Congress on track to send long sought-after aid to Ukraine more than two months after similar legislation was sent over from the Senate.
Driving the news: The package was passed in four separate bills, one each for Israel, Ukraine and the Indo-Pacific and another containing sanctions on Russia, China and Iran, including the REPO Act and TikTok ban legislation.
- Included in the package is $9.15 billion for global humanitarian aid.
- Each bill passed by substantial bipartisan majorities with conservatives as the largest bloc in opposition.
- The package now heads to the Senate, which is expected to stay in session through next week to pass it.
The backdrop: The vote comes after Democrats took several rare steps to help the bill overcome key procedural hurdles.
- House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) moved forward with the legislation despite fierce opposition and threats of removal from his rebellious right flank, who decried the funding for Ukraine and lack of border policy.
What he's saying: Johnson said in remarks after the vote the national security legislation does not represent a "blank check" and it was passed in light of aggression from Russia, Iran, and China, posing a "global threat to our prosperity and our security."
- "If we turn our backs right now the consequences could be devastating," he said.
- Johnson noted the legislation is not perfect but "the House has made many strong improvements to the Senate bill," including language preventing funding from going to Hamas or "any other bad actors."
- "It's an old military adage," Johnson said, "but we would rather send bullets to the conflict overseas than our own boys, our troops."
Go deeper: Democrats mount last-ditch efforts to restrict U.S. arms to Israel
Editor's note: This story has been updated to include Johnson's remarks and details of humanitarian aid in the package.
