With conservative opposition, House Speaker Mike Johnson relied on Democrats’ help to pass the foreign aid bills that includes a measure that could ban TikTok.
The House of Representatives has passed legislation that would give financial assistance to American partners in the Indo-Pacific, Ukraine, and Israel, in addition to a bill that includes measures such as forcing Chinese divestment of TikTok.
This comes as House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) faces growing discontent among conservatives over the package, particularly the billions in funding for Ukraine and its lack of border security measures.
The House passed the $61 billion aid package for Ukraine in a 311–112 vote. The measure providing for Indo-Pacific and Taiwanese security passed in a 385–34 vote. Another bill funding Israel passed 366–58. The bill wrapping together a TikTok ban and allowing for the seizure of Russian assets passed in a 360–58 vote.
Democrats cheered on the floor after Ukraine assistance passed, waving Ukrainian flags and chanting “Ukraine, Ukraine,” at which point they were chastised by Mr. Johnson for violating House rules on decorum.
Now that it’s been passed by the House, the legislation will go to the Senate as a single package, where it’s expected to easily pass.
President Joe Biden has expressed support for the package, and urged the Senate to swiftly send it to his desk.
President Biden said of the legislation that members of both parties “came together to answer history’s call, passing urgently needed national security legislation that I have fought for months to secure.”
Just before authorizing passage of the four-part foreign aid and geopolitical security package, the House blocked a bill that would have strengthened border security amid an unprecedented crisis along the southern border.
On Friday, Democrats stepped in to help advance the package on the House floor in a 316–94 vote. While these so-called rules votes typically advance along party lines, Republicans have increasingly used them to protest against leadership. Fifty-five Republicans voted against the rule.
Democrat help was needed again to pass each bill, which will be merged into a single package before being sent to the Senate.
By Jackson Richman and Joseph Lord
