Democrats stepped in to support bringing the Ukraine and Israel aid package to the floor, in a remarkable breach of custom. Haiyun Jiang for The New York Times
The House took a critical step today toward approving a long-stalled package of aid to Ukraine, Israel and other American allies. A majority of Democratic and Republicans lawmakers voted to advance the bills past a procedural hurdle, setting up the legislation to pass the House tomorrow.
The measures, which are all expected to pass in the House with bipartisan support, provide $60.8 billion in aid to Ukraine, $26.4 billion for Israel and aid for Palestinians, and $8 billion for Taiwan and other allies.
In order to steer around opposition from members of his own party, Speaker Mike Johnson broke down the package into three pieces, adding a fourth bill to sweeten the deal for conservatives. That bill would require TikTok’s Chinese owners to sell it within nine months, otherwise the app could be banned.
After the House, the measures head to the Senate, which has already approved a similar package, and then to President Biden, who has vowed to sign them. Final approval would be an enormous victory in the long effort to fund Ukraine, and a defeat for the voices of isolationism in the Republican Party.
In Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky said his country could not win the war without more American aid.
