Senate Passes $95 Billion in Aid for Ukraine and Allies, Putting Pressure on House Speaker Johnson Over Border Policies
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The Senate passed $95 billion in aid for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, putting pressure on House Speaker Mike Johnson to act. Johnson wants to pair any Ukraine aid with strict border policies.
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Options for Johnson include put the Senate bill up for a House vote (unlikely); split the package and vote separately on Ukraine and Israel aid (procedurally difficult); use a "discharge petition" to force a vote (rarely successful); add the aid to must-pass funding bills (faces GOP skepticism); attach House border security bill to aid package (dead on arrival in Senate).
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Administration warned Johnson that Ukraine could lose the war within weeks without more U.S. support. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy praised Senate passage of aid package.
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Some lawmakers have proposed temporarily replacing Johnson as Speaker if he fails to act on the aid bills.
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Johnson has indicated support for lethal aid to Ukraine but not economic assistance that is in Senate bill. Significant House GOP support for aiding Israel.