House Committee Approves Foreign Aid Bills, Setting Stage for Full House Vote
Bipartisan Coalition Clears Procedural Hurdle
$95 Billion Aid Package Advances in House
A bipartisan coalition in the House of Representatives has cleared a key procedural hurdle to advance a $95 billion foreign aid package. The package includes funding for Israel, Ukraine, and the Indo-Pacific region.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) announced Wednesday that he would proceed with his plan to bring the aid bills to the floor for a vote. The move tees up four votes that are expected to take place on Saturday afternoon.
The legislative package that Johnson is attempting to advance roughly mirrors the $95 billion aid bill that the Senate passed two months ago. That bill included aid to Ukraine, Israel, and other countries.
Johnson said that the House bill package also includes a requirement for the Biden administration to provide Congress with a plan and a strategy for how it will use the aid. This requirement is intended to ensure that the aid is used effectively and efficiently.
The House vote on the aid package is expected to be close. A number of Republicans have expressed opposition to the bill, arguing that it is too expensive and that it does not do enough to address the needs of the American people.
However, Johnson and other supporters of the bill say that it is essential for the United States to continue to provide foreign aid to its allies and partners. They argue that the aid is in the national interest and that it helps to promote peace and stability around the world.
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