The American president Joe Biden expressed on Wednesday his support for the proposal of the leader of the House of Representatives, Michael Johnsonto send help to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan.
He announced Wednesday that a massive military aid package that includes some 61 billion dollars for Ukraine, as well as billions for Israel and Taiwan.
Republican Johnson, faced with the dilemma of retaining his position or approving aid for Ukraine, notified lawmakers that he will ask that the matter be put to a vote this week. Shortly after Johnson released the proposal, Biden issued a statement expressing his support.
“The House must approve this package this week, and the Senate must do the same soon,” Biden declared. “I will sign this into law and to send a message to the world: We stand with our friends, and we will not let either Iran or Russia succeed.”
After debating the issue for days, Johnson notified Republicans on Wednesday that he will vote on proposals to send aid to Ukraine, Israelallied countries in the Indo-Pacific region and a fourth proposal with other foreign policy issues.
Johnson has proposed giving Ukraine aid in the form of cancelable loans and with stricter supervision, but the sole decision to help kyiv has angered right-wingers of his party and has given impetus to an attempt to remove him.
The proposals “will fund American national security interests and allies in Israel, the Indo-Pacific region and Ukraine,” Johnson wrote in a text message to lawmakers that was shared by two of them. He added that voting will take place on Saturday night.
But to get there, you won’t have an easy road. He will need help from Democrats to overcome procedural hurdles to advance his complex plan to subject each aid package to a separate vote.
The top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, Rosa DeLauro, said in a statement that the separate proposals for aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan “reflect” the $95 billion foreign aid package which the Senate approved in February.
In order to retain Democratic support, Johnson’s proposal maintains $9 billion in humanitarian assistance for Gaza civilians intact and other conflict zones.
Meanwhile, the threat from the Republican representative was gaining momentum Marjorie Taylor Greene to remove Johnson. Another Republican, Thomas Massie, said he was joining Greene’s campaign and called on Johnson to resign. Other Republicans have openly complained about Johnson.
In addition to the $61 billion for Ukraine, the bills allocate more than 26 billion dollars to Israel. They also include $8 billion for Taiwan, which China considers part of its territory and has vowed to take back by force if necessary.
“I strongly support this package to give Israel and Ukraine this crucial support,” Biden, who has been calling for a renewal of aid to kyiv for months, said in a statement.
Once passed, “I will sign this law immediately to send the following message to the world: we stand with our friends and we will not let Iran or Russia succeed”Biden added.
(With information from AP and AFP)
