US Congress to vote on aid to Ukraine and Israel on Saturday, Democrats will support the package - Bloomberg
Kyiv • UNN
The long-awaited USD 95 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan is expected to pass Congress with the support of House Democrats, despite opposition from some ultra-conservative Republicans.
The aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, which has been postponed for a long time, is likely to be passed by Congress, as it was supported by House Democrats. Bloomberg writes , UNN reports.
Details
The House is expected to hold a series of votes on the aid package on Saturday, and the Senate is expected to take it up for consideration next week. The plan largely mirrors the $95 billion foreign aid package passed by the Senate in February, with about $10 billion of economic aid to Ukraine converted into a loan.
We will do everything we can to make sure that the national security bill gets to the finish line. This is not a Johnson foreign aid package. This is America's foreign aid package in terms of meeting our national security needs.
The newspaper notes that Johnson will need Democratic votes to pass this aid plan. After all, ultra-conservatives in the House Freedom Caucus have previously said they would vote against the procedural measure to start discussions. Minority Democrats had to do the same in May to pass a measure to raise the debt ceiling and prevent a U.S. default.
Optional
The $95 billion aid package includes national security and sanctions provisions with bipartisan support. It also allows for the confiscation of assets in Russian dollars, which critics say could weaken the US dollar's status as the world's reserve currency.
The package also includes sanctions against Iranian oil, but does not accelerate natural gas exports due to Democratic objections.
Democrats are also likely to have to help Johnson keep his job, which was jeopardized by his decision to allow a vote on aid to Ukraine without tying the package to US border security provisions.
It is noted that Georgia Republican Marjorie Taylor Green can initiate a vote on the motion to remove the speaker at any time, and she would only need a few other conservatives to support her if Democrats agree. Some moderate Democrats have already pledged to protect the Speaker from such an attempt by voting to reject the motion to remove.
Recall
President Joe Biden first asked for help from Ukraine and Israel in October, but he quickly fell victim to congressional bickering over immigration policy.
Johnson told reporters on Wednesday evening that he did not ask the Democrats to help him, and he is willing to risk his job to help Ukraine stop Russia's invasion.
My philosophy is that you do the right thing and let the chips fall where they may. ... I am a Reagan Republican. I believe in peace through strength.
