US House Speaker Jonson promises Ukraine aid bill vote with “innovations” after recess
US House Speaker Mike Johnson intends to move a Ukraine aid package featuring "important innovations" after recess, but if passed, the House's alternative bill would require Senate approval, leading to further aid delays.
On 31 March, Republican Mike Johnson, the US House Speaker, announced plans to advance a package containing aid for Ukraine after the House returns from recess on 9 April, with expectations for the package to feature “some important innovations,” The Hill reports.
In an interview on Fox News, Johnson highlighted the challenges of his historically narrow House majority but expressed ongoing efforts to develop a package during the current work period and aims to present it when the House reconvenes.
“Look, what we have to do in an era of divided government – historically, as we are – you got to build consensus. If we want to move a partisan measure, I got to have every single member, literally,” said Johnson. “And some things need to be bipartisan.”
The House Speaker added:
“But when it comes to the supplemental [foreign aid package], we’ve been working to build that consensus. We’ve been talking to all the members, especially now over the district work period. When we return after this work period, we’ll be moving a product, but it’s going to, I think, have some important innovations,” Johnson said.
If the House opts not to pass the Senate-approved aid bill from February and instead votes on its own bill, the House legislation would require Senate approval once more. For a bill to become law, it must be passed by both chambers of Congress and receive the President’s approval. This would further delay the Ukraine aid, which has already been stalled for half a year by Congressional Republicans.
Johnson’s plans suggest that the House is drafting an alternative bill, further delaying military assistance to Ukraine, crucial for enhancing Ukraine’s air defenses against escalated Russian air attacks and addressing the ongoing shell shortage, which has given Russia a months-long advantage on the front lines.
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