US House advances – Firstpost
On Friday, the US House of Representatives voted 316-94 over the aid package, garnering more support from the Democrats than Republicans who hold a razor-thin majority in the House
In a breakthrough from months of deadlock, the US House has finally advanced a $95 billion legislative package providing aid to Ukraine, Israel and the Indo-Pacific region in a bipartisan vote that overcame opposition from the Republicans that was keeping it stuck in the first place.
On Friday, the US House of Representatives voted 316-94 over the aid package, garnering more support from the Democrats than Republicans who hold a razor-thin majority in the House.
Democratic President Joe Biden, Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, top Senate Republican Mitch McConnell and top House Democrat Hakeem Jeffries had been pushing for a House vote since then. Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson had held off in the face of opposition from a small but vocal segment of his party.
Biden on Thursday said on X, “The national security supplemental package will get urgent aid to Ukraine as they face continued bombardment from Russia.”
The national security supplemental package will get urgent aid to Ukraine as they face continued bombardment from Russia.
I urge Congress to pass this package as soon as possible and show the world that America stands with our friends.
— President Biden (@POTUS) April 18, 2024
“I urge Congress to pass this package as soon as possible and show the world that America stands with our friends,” the president added.
In fact, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has time and again pushed for the passage of the aid, warning of devastating repercussions if the House fails to do so.
The aid package for the allies also includes a provision to transfer frozen Russian assets to Ukraine, sanctions targeting Hamas and Iran and force China’s ByteDance to sell social media platform TikTok or face a ban in the US.
Following its passage in the House, the Senate will be required to follow suit and send it to Biden for him to sign it into law.
Schumer on Friday told senators to be prepared to come back over the weekend if needed.
With inputs from agencies