The House has passed a $95 billion foreign aid package for Ukraine, Israel, and other U.S. allies during a weekend session, marking a rare display of bipartisan cooperation following months of resistance, particularly from the hard-right, regarding renewed American support to push back against Russia’s invasion.
With an overwhelming vote on Saturday, the $61 billion in aid for Ukraine passed in a matter of minutes, a strong showing as American lawmakers race to deliver a fresh round of U.S. support to the war-torn ally. Many Democrats cheered on the House floor and waved blue-and-yellow flags of Ukraine.
Aid to Israel and the other allies also won approval by healthy margins, as did a measure to clamp down on the popular platform TikTok, with unique coalitions forming to push the separate bills forward. The whole package will go to the Senate, which could pass it as soon as Tuesday. President Joe Biden has promised to sign it immediately.
“We did our work here, and I think history will judge it well,” Speaker Mike Johnson said.
“President Biden spoke separately with Johnson and Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries to thank them for “putting the national security first” by advancing the legislation,” the White House said.
“I urge the Senate to quickly send this package to my desk so that I can sign it into law and we can quickly send weapons and equipment to Ukraine to meet their urgent battlefield needs,” the President said.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine said he was “grateful” to both parties in the House and “personally Speaker Mike Johnson for the decision that keeps history on the right track.
“Thank you, America!” he said on X, formerly known as Twitter.
AP