Mike Johnson unveils separate aid plans for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan
House Speaker Mike Johnson has introduced four separate bills regarding U.S. funding assistance for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, and other national security priorities during a closed-door conference of the Republican Party through the House of Representatives, The Hill reported.
Read also: Bipartisan consensus reached on Israel and Ukraine aid package
The plan involves consolidation of four bills under one procedural norm, facilitating the amendment process, two Republican lawmakers, present at the meeting, said.
The fourth bill, related to national security, will include provisions such as allowing the U.S. to utilize confiscated Russian assets to aid Ukraine, a lend-lease act for military aid, converted credits to facilitate humanitarian aid, and a ban on TikTok.
Blocking the Ukraine funding bill in the U.S.
Republicans have been blocking the Ukraine aid bill since October 2023, initially citing the need to bolster U.S. immigration policy.
The U.S. Senate passed a bill providing $95 billion in aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, with $60 billion allocated to Ukraine on Feb. 13.
House Speaker Mike Johnson criticized the Senate proposal and refused to submit it for consideration.
Read also: U.S. House Speaker Johnson engages in high-stakes talks for Ukraine aid at White House
He said he would bring the aid extension to a vote “in a timely manner,” noting the urgent need for aid to Ukraine, Johnson promised after a meeting with President Joe Biden on Feb. 28. Biden emphasized the "urgent need" to assist Ukraine during the meeting with congressional leaders from both parties.
Speakers of 23 parliaments and European Parliament President Roberta Metsola appealed to Johnson on Feb. 28 to consider the bill. The next day, he announced that the House of Representatives would not take up the issue of providing aid to Ukraine until the U.S. government receives funding. Johnson advised Republicans to prepare a proposal to at least partially convert military aid for Ukraine into a loan, Politico reported on March 19.
Read also: Republicans in U.S. need to stop believing Putin’s lies – UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron
The U.S. House of Representatives approved a $1.2 trillion funding package for government agencies on March 22, while the Senate passed the same package on March 23, leading President Biden to sign it and call on the House to pass a bill supporting Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan.
Ukraine aid bill would be brought to a vote in the U.S. House of Representatives immediately after the Easter recess, which lasts in the States until April 9, Republican Congressman Don Bacon said on March 31.
Read also: Zelenskyy calls for unity on Ukraine aid in US Congress
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