Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan Aid Moves to the Senate
The Senate was scheduled to be in recess this week, but instead returns today poised to pass the most consequential legislation of 2024. On Saturday, the House cleared an aid package for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan and a side care bill that included additional sanctions and legislation forcing a sale of the social media app TikTok. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson decided to move the long-stalled supplemental appropriations package – throwing the House into additional chaos and intra-party warfare. But it passed. To do so, the Speaker built a bipartisan coalition for each separate piece. Those who supported or opposed Ukraine got a clean vote on aid for Ukraine. Those who supported or opposed Israel got a clean vote on aid for Israel. And so on. The rule under which the bill came to the floor combined all four into one bill with no vote on final passage and was sent to the Senate for its consideration this week. In essence, the vote on final passage was the first vote – the vote on the rule bringing the bills to the floor.
FINAL PASSAGE OF H.R. 8035 – “Making emergency supplemental appropriations to respond to the situation in Ukraine and for related expenses for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024” – PASSED 311 - 112, 1
FINAL PASSAGE OF H.R. 8034 – “Making emergency supplemental appropriations to respond to the situation in Israel and for related expenses for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024” – PASSED 366 - 58
FINAL PASSAGE OF H.R. 8036 – “Making emergency supplemental appropriations for assistance for the Indo-Pacific region and for related expenses for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024” – PASSED 385 - 34, 1
FINAL PASSAGE OF H.R. 8038 – “To authorize the President to impose certain sanctions with respect to Russia and Iran, and for other purposes” – PASSED 360 - 58
Republicans in the House find themselves back in a divisive fight over the direction of the conference – and whether Speaker Johnson should remain as speaker. The Ukraine package did not receive support from a majority of Republican members. Only 101 GOP members voted for Ukraine assistance. Speaker Johnson had to rely on Democratic votes – enraging hard right members. Three Republican members – Marjorie Taylor Greene (GA), Thomas Massie (KY) and Paul Gosar (AZ) have said they support a Motion to Vacate the Chair – the procedure to remove the Speaker from office. With just a one-vote margin, Speaker Johnson would need help from Democrats to stay as speaker if one of these members moves to call a vote. The overwhelming majority of Republican members support Speaker Johnson and do not want to go through the chaos of last October when it took three weeks to elect a new Speaker after Kevin McCarthy was ousted. Members are home this week – and time will tell if the break lowered the temperature or whether rank and file members heard pressure from their constituents to support or oppose Speaker Johnson.
Biden Administration
- Today, the President will travel to Tampa, Florida, for a pair of campaign events.
- Tomorrow, the President will participate in a campaign event in Washington DC.
- On Saturday, the President, First Lady, Vice President, and Second Gentleman will attend the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, DC, where the President will deliver remarks.
