After more than two months since the Senate passed a combined bill for the two countries, the US House of Representatives will vote this week on separate bills for aid to Israel and Ukraine, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson said on Monday, the 15th of April, reports Reuters.
The House of Representatives will also consider aid to Taiwan, US allies in the Indo-Pacific region and national security priorities, with a total of four bills.
“The world is watching us to see how we respond,”
Johnson told reporters. “They are watching to see if America will stand up for our allies and our own interests around the world. And we will.”
Johnson said the new House of Representatives bills offer a similar amount of aid as the Senate bill, but with differences such as some of the aid being given as loans.
The Senate passed a bipartisan bill in February for 95 billion US dollars, which included 14 billion US dollars for Israel, 60 billion US dollars for Ukraine, as well as funds for strengthening allies in the Indo-Pacific region and for international humanitarian aid.
Johnson said a vote on their adoption could take place on Friday.
Johnson postponed the Senate’s broadly supported foreign aid package, citing a focus on domestic political issues and a need for more information. He also faces opposition from hard-right Republicans, including Trump allies who are threatening to oust him as Speaker if he pushes through the Ukraine aid bill, and who oppose increasing aid to Ukraine.
The outcome of the aid bill is being closely watched, in particular by defence contractors who could benefit from arms supplies to Ukraine and other US partners if the funding is approved. Aid supporters stress that the passage of the Ukraine bill would create many jobs in the US.
Ukraine on Monday appealed to allies to take “extraordinary and courageous measures” to provide air defences to help defend against Russian air strikes.
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