Speaker Mike Johnson says House will move separate funding bills for Ukraine, Israel
By: nypost (New York Post)
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
House Speaker Mike Johnson unveiled plans Monday for the House to hold votes this week on four separate funding bills for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan and national security — just days after Iran escalated conflict in the Middle East by launching its first direct attack on the Jewish state.
House Republicans huddled for a conference meeting on Capitol Hill to discuss a roadmap for passing the long-stalled funding for the war-torn nations — even as Johnson faces a threat from far-right Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (Ga.) to oust him over further US aid for Ukraine.
Johnson teased that the House's aid package for Ukraine will differ from the Senate's version that passed in February and would've allocated $60 billion to the war-torn ally.
6House Speaker Mike Johnson told lawmakers Monday that the House will hold votes on separate aid funding bills for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. via REUTERS
"The underlying text will have some of our innovation in it with regard to accountability for funding and some of these other metrics," he said, citing the "loan concept" as an example.
"I think you'll see the text differs in those ways, but the overall concept is the same. It's the same places that the funding would be sent. And you'll see the House's take on it."
"Importantly, 68% of his package is the replenishment of our own munitions, our own weapons," Johnson emphasized, before acknowledging Ukraine was "the most difficult part of this."
Most Republican lawmakers exited the meeting supportive of the plan but were fuzzy on some of the specifics such as the details of the fourth bill planned to tackle national security issues, given that those four bills haven't been drafted yet.
"I think the speaker is doing the right thing," Oklahoma Rep. Kevin Hern, who chairs the influential Republican Study Committee, told reporters after leaving the closed-door session.
"The speaker's saying, regardless of what he does or who calls for a motion to vacate, 'I need to do the right thing,'" Hern said. "He said the conference needs to be able to vote on each one of those bills."
6Iran escalated conflict in the Middle East by launching its first direct attack on the Jewish state on Saturday. AP
"He is doing the right thing," moderate Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) affirmed. "I say if you lose your job while doing the right thing … it's a profile in courage."
On Saturday, Tehran fired more than 300 missiles and drones at Israel, only to have 99% intercepted through a joint military effort from Israel, the US and Jordan — adding urgency to the $95 billion in military aid already passed in the Senate in February for foreign allies.
Not everyone was pleased.
Greene, who looked animated as she exited the meeting, blasted Johnson for taking the GOP conference in the "wrong direction," and warned that people "are going to be angry about it."
Last month, Greene filed a motion to vacate as the House held its final votes to pass government spending legislation for the 2024 fiscal year — but has yet to privilege the resolution in order to bring it up for a vote.
She played coy when asked about the possibility by reporters on Monday.
6"Importantly, 68% of his package is the replenishment of our own munitions, our own weapons," Johnson emphasized, before saying he wasn't thinking about a looming motion to vacate his speakership. AFP via Getty Images
"I haven't decided on that yet," she said. "It's a very serious matter."
"I support the majority, and I want it next time, so I'm being careful. I also respect my colleagues," she added. "A motion to vacate is such a serious issue [it] should be handled responsibly, not just willy nilly."
Johnson held a private meeting with Greene last week to hear some of her concerns and later met with former President Donald Trump, who backed his speakership, though not necessarily his push for replenishing Ukraine aid.
The speaker has previously floated paying for some of the Ukraine military assistance with the seized assets of Russian oligarchs through a bill known as the REPO for Ukrainians Act, which lawmakers said would also be under consideration along with other "additional measures to counter our adversaries and strengthen our national security," Johnson added on X.
Some members told reporters that the fourth bill pertained to TikTok, though they were unclear about what the distinction would be with the TikTok divestment bill that passed the House last month.
6The speaker has previously floated paying for some of the Ukraine military assistance with the seized assets of Russian oligarchs through a bill known as the REPO for Ukrainians Act. AFP via Getty Images
Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) suggested some border security provisions could be tucked into the standalone bills through amendments. Such a move could frustrate Democratic support.
Hern said the foreign aid would be packaged under a rule, which if passed would only require a majority of the lower chamber to vote it through.
Though previously common, the 118th Congress has passed much of its legislation under suspension of the rules — and recently failed to put a bill reauthorizing the federal government's foreign spying capabilities up for a vote on the first try.
6Many Republicans have pushed back against more funding for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's war with Russia. ZUMAPRESS.com
Conservative GOP lawmakers — many of whom are associated with the House Freedom Caucus — have opposed bills considered under regular order, as it's known, but Hern added that he expected those caucus members to back the speaker's plan.
"How you fund matters," Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), a Freedom Caucus member, told reporters following the conference meeting, while also noting: "Anytime you separate into single-subject bills, I think that's a good strategy."
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters during a Monday press briefing that President Biden would oppose standalone bills for either nation.
6White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters during a Monday press briefing that President Biden would oppose standalone bills for either nation. AP
"A standalone would actually not help Israel and Ukraine," she said, adding that it would only "delay" needed aid.
Biden, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) have all pressured Johnson to instead pass the $95 billion Senate bill with military assistance for Ukraine, Israel and the Indo-Pacific region.
"We're not going to come to any conclusion on process until we understand the substance," Jeffries said Monday, per Punchbowl News.
"This is a very important moment for America not to shirk from its responsibility," New York Republican Rep. Marc Molinaro told reporters Monday evening, before suggesting that passing each of the bills would force Biden and the Senate to act.
"The president has allowed us to look weak too many times around the world. And there are allies hoping and waiting for us to step up."
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Ok Chuck, let us get the people's work done.
Chuckie got the bill passed in the Senate by a 70 to 29 vote over 2 months ago, what was keeping Mikie sitting on his hands in Mar-a-Lago over the weekend ... a certain puppet master?
Perhaps but also a very different culture or lack there of in the House.
There is a lack of culture warriors in the House? News to me.
Well there you go, busy fighting culture wars not funding battles.
Is it a good bill?
I'd rather no bill than a bad one.
I had no issues with it, but then unlike you I have few if any with Brandon and do not feel pressed to damn him for all that can be named. Just why do you think it is a bad bill? Was it because Donald and Marjorie didn't like it? If so, yikes!
Yes, we live in different worlds.
Putin invades Ukraine? Blame Biden
Hammas attacks Israel? Blame Biden
Iran bombs Israel? Blame Biden
Little Kim tests a missile? Blame Biden
Who thinks like that? Maga Hats
Everyone knows that if Trump were president when all of those things happened, the lunacy of the left would come out in force. Screaming at the sky would be rampant, all as they blame Trump for all of them.
Who would think like that?
The lunatic left
No, that is not true and not justification!
"We bad cause we bet you'd be bad too".
How about blaming who is responsible and backing America and our President?
As Joe Biden is leading the Free World...
MAGA Hats blame Biden for everything.
How cute; but Schumer also has bills sitting on his desk that he won't even bring to the floor.
Like the House bill that would actually secure our own borders. Which Democrats don't give a fuck about.
Passed in 2023- yet little boy Chuckie is still sitting on it. What is he afraid of? Maybe that the border is such a toxic issue that even his Democrats in the Senate will vote for the bill?
And the Democrats will approve them in the following order:
Then they'll complain about funding issues and cry about another possible shutdown.
It is getting to be pathetic.
Especially given that National Security will get the least funding (if any).
Have you read about how much less the Navy is getting.
They had to give up on the idea of a new sub being constructed as well as other scaling down.
They can't meet recruiting needs either.
If only it was so simple ...sheesh!
Did you even read your link?
"However, the Navy also asked for $3.3 billion more in the supplemental funding package that stalled in Congress. The package was meant to fund support to Ukraine and Israel, operations at the U.S.-Mexico border, and other emerging defense needs — including submarine-industrial base support, couched as pivotal to deterring China from attacking Taiwan.
Neither the FY24 defense spending bill nor the supplemental spending bill have passed Congress, so it’s unclear when or if any of that money will make it to the supply chain."
I also read the following link:
Me thinks you are bitching for the sake of bitching.
Meanwhile, lawmakers denied the Navy’s request to divest four ships, according to a summary of the bill.
You may want to read this:
Navy Says FY 2025 Budget Caps Imposed 'Hard Choices' To Lower Ship Procurement - Defense Daily
Navy expects to miss recruiting goal by more than 6,000 amid worldwide threats from China, Russia (msn.com)
Outstanding and about time.
Well, the unbiased liberal press have certainly gotten away with lying to the American public. Chuck Schumer (and Joe Biden) started this by refusing to bring to the Senate floor for a vote. Mike Johnson is still trying to get the Senate to debate and vote on that piece of legislation.
Republicans have placed first priority on border security which, naturally, makes border security last on Democrats' list of priorities.
Biden needs the supplemental for Ukraine to hide the fact that he has deliberately weakened our own national security. A sizeable portion of that so-called aid is intended to resupply our own stockpiles because Biden botched up the entire affair. Did Biden really think sanctions would cause Russia to pull back? Those economic threats only work against the American public, as we have seen.
Democrats are also worried that aid to Israel would draw fire from within its own party. Support for Israel divides Democrats the same way support for Ukraine divides Republicans. So, Democrats' demands to support the omnibus supplemental is really about hiding their own dirty laundry.
The whole mess could have been avoided by Schumer allowing the Senate to debate and vote on H.R. 2 last year. Schumer was following the usual playbook of opposing anything Republicans wanted. But Biden has so little influence over global politics that the Democrats' normal playbook has become a problem. Biden, Schumer, and Jefferies are forcing Democrats to die on the policy hill of border security and opposition to H.R. 2.
This is Democrats' pooch. They've screwed that pooch. And the unbiased liberal press is doing everything it can to hide that fact. Build the damned wall and get on with it. Democrats are already wasting far more taxpayer dollars to oppose the wall than could possibly be wasted building the wall.