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Post by Webster on Apr 19, 2024 15:57:34 GMT -5
(The Guardian) House Democrats rescue Mike Johnson to save $95bn aid bill for Ukraine, Israel and TaiwanHouse Democrats came to the rescue of Mike Johnson, the Republican speaker, in a rare move for a committee that normally votes along party lines, in order to save the Ukraine aid legislation from rightwing rebels. Johnson now looks set to push forward this weekend on a $95bn aid bill for Kyiv, Israel, Taiwan and other allies, which has stalled in the House after passing the Senate. This despite a firestorm of protest from hardline Republicans that could lead to an attempt to oust him. The House is expected to vote as early as Saturday on the aid legislation that provides $61bn to address the conflict in Ukraine, including $23bn to replenish US weapons, stocks and facilities; $26bn for Israel, including $9.1bn for humanitarian needs, and $8.12bn for the Indo-Pacific. Republicans hold a narrow House majority, 218-213 , a margin so scant that Mike Gallagher is postponing his mid-session retirement, originally set for Friday, so the Republican representative can be present to vote for the bill. On Thursday night, the four Democrats on the House rules committee voted with five Republicans to advance the aid package that Johnson has devised, agreeing procedures, which could now go forward to a vote on the House floor on Friday ahead of voting on the legislation itself. The rules committee would normally be a safely partisan affair for the Republican majority, but Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Ralph Norman of South Carolina and Chip Roy of Texas, all on the far right, are voting against advancing the bill, prompting Democrats to step in to save it. Kevin McCarthy, the former speaker, put them on the committee to placate the far-right contingent of his caucus in the House.
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Post by Webster on Apr 19, 2024 16:24:00 GMT -5
(The Guardian) The Ukraine aid legislation is the latest in a series of must-pass bipartisan measures that the speaker, Mike Johnson, has helped shepherd through Congress, including two huge spending bills and a controversial reauthorization of federal surveillance programs. The dramatic action took place on Capitol Hill on Thursday night as, on Friday morning Antony Blinken, the secretary of state, warned that if US aid was further delayed for Ukraine “there is a real risk it will arrive too late” to help the grinding resistance to Russia’s invasion. Johnson has won praise from Republican centrists and even Democrats by taking the line that he is doing “the right thing” on the aid legislation even if it brings challenges to his position from his own party, which has the power very easily to force a vote to oust him. Johnson got a boost from Donald Trump last week when they held an event together at the former president’s residence in Florida and, again, on Thursday when Trump made a post on social media that did not actively oppose aid for Ukraine. Trump appeared to warm to the idea after having dinner with Andrzej Duda, Poland’s far-right president, in New York on Tuesday, with Poland very wary about the power of an emboldened neighbor Russia to threaten eastern Europe.
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Post by Webster on Apr 23, 2024 12:43:34 GMT -5
(The Guardian) Ukraine, Israel aid, TikTok ban saga nears end as Senate plans voteThe long and winding road of Joe Biden’s proposal to send tens of billions of dollars in foreign aid to Ukraine, Israel and other US allies may finally reach its conclusion today. Beginning at 1pm ET, the Senate is set to vote on a bill approved by the House of Representatives last week that authorizes the assistance – and forces TikTok’s parent company ByteDance to divest from the social media app in a year, or face a nationwide ban. The legislation is expected to pass, but not without some drama – independent senator Bernie Sanders says he will offer amendments to cut funding for Israel’s offensive operations, citing the humanitarian impact of its invasion of Gaza, and you may see other amendments offered by Republicans wary of backing Kyiv. Assuming none of the amendments manage to stall its progress, and the bill makes it through the Senate, today will cap an odyssey that began in October when Joe Biden paired another round of funding for Ukraine’s defense against Russia with aid for Israel that he said was necessary in the wake of Hamas’s October 7 attack. For months, the bill had no clear path to passage, largely due to Republican resistance to funding Ukraine, and their demands for strict border security measures. But that resistance crumbled last week when House speaker Mike Johnson decided to allow a vote on the aid despite not getting the immigration changes he wanted, handing Biden and Ukraine’s supporters in the GOP, notably top Senate Republican Mitch McConnell, an important foreign policy victory. We’ll let you know how it’s looking as the Senate convenes later today.
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Post by Webster on Apr 23, 2024 12:45:34 GMT -5
(The Guardian) Sanders seeks to strip funding for Israel's 'offensive military' operations from foreign aid billMuch has changed since October, when Joe Biden first proposed pairing another round of military assistance to Ukraine with new aid to Israel, as well as other American allies. Many of the president’s allies are today in open revolt over his support for the country’s invasion of Gaza, which Biden has continued even as he has publicly worried over its humanitarian impact and called for a ceasefire. The foreign aid bill that Senate is expected to approve today will include about $4.4bn to replenish depleted US supplies given to Israel, $3.5bn to help Israel buy weapons, and more than $5bn for its missile defense systems. It will also make it easier for Israel to buy US weapons from other countries. Independent senator Bernie Sanders, a progressive who caucuses with the Democrats, plans to make a stand against that funding by offering an amendment that would strip the aid for offensive weapons from the package. Here’s what the Vermont lawmaker had to say: I look forward to offering amendments tomorrow to cut billions in offensive military funding to Israel from the proposed national security supplemental package and protect essential humanitarian operations. The Senate should have a chance to debate and vote on the key components of such a massive package.
In poll after poll, Americans have showed their increasing disgust for Netanyahu’s war machine and the humanitarian disaster it has caused in Gaza.
Enough is enough. We cannot continue to fund this horrific war.
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Post by Webster on Apr 23, 2024 13:43:18 GMT -5
(The Guardian) Top Senate Republican McConnell calls foreign aid vote 'a test of American resolve'In remarks on the Senate floor, the chamber’s top Republican, Mitch McConnell, said today’s vote on the foreign aid bill for Ukraine, Israel and other US allies was “a test” of America’s leadership on the global stage. “Today, the Senate sits for a test on behalf of the entire nation. It is a test of American resolve, our readiness and our willingness to lead, and the stakes of failure are abundantly clear,” McConnell said. “Failure to help Ukraine stand against Russian aggression now means inviting escalation against our closest treaty allies and trading partners. It means greater risk that American forces would become involved in conflict.” While conservative Republicans, many of whom are in the House, oppose further aid to Ukraine, McConnell has been a steadfast ally of Kyiv. That created a rift with the House speaker, Mike Johnson, until he relented last week and allowed Congress’s lower chamber to approve the military aid package the Senate will vote on later today. Schumer says Senate should 'finish the job' with foreign aid voteIn brief remarks on the Senate floor, the Senate’s Democratic leader, Chuck Schumer, called for lawmakers to pass the foreign aid bill “as expeditiously as possible”. “The time has come to finish the job to help our friends abroad once and for all,” the New Yorker said. He continued: I ask my colleagues to join together to pass the supplemental today as expeditiously as possible, send our friends abroad the aid they have long been waiting for.Let us not delay this. Let us not prolong this. Let us not keep out friends around the world waiting for a moment longer. He noted that voting will begin at 1pm, starting with a procedural vote and then a motion to invoke cloture.
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Post by Webster on Apr 23, 2024 13:46:09 GMT -5
(The Guardian) US plans to quickly ship $1b to Ukraine once aid bill passesThe United States will send $1b in weapons to Ukraine once the foreign aid bill is approved by Congress and signed by Joe Biden, with an emphasis on munitions that can quickly be deployed on the battlefield, Reuters reports. The weapons will arrive in Ukraine amid warnings of a looming offensive by Russia, which has made some gains on the battlefield in recent months. Citing US officials, Reuters reports the weapons to be delivered will include Stinger air defense munitions, vehicles, anti-tank munitions and ammunition for artillery systems the United States has already provided.
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Post by Webster on Apr 23, 2024 14:10:41 GMT -5
(The Guardian) Senators are inching towards a procedural vote on the $95.3bn foreign aid package, expected close to the top of the hour. Arizona Democrat Mark Kelly has just been on the chamber floor, lamenting that it took so long for Congress to pass a bill he said 71% of members ultimately voted for. “Because of delays, Ukraine’s fighters are desperately low [on weapons and ammunition],” he said. “That’s tying the hands of their commanders at the same time Russia is revitalizing its war effort.” But, he says, “Ukraine can win this war. Passing this bill will allow the transfer to them more of what Ukraine needs to turn the tide.” Republican Maine senator Susan Collins concurs. “[This is] a volatile and dangerous time in world history,” she says: If [Russia’s president Vladimir] Putin is allowed to succeed in Ukraine, he will continue to pursue his goal of recreating the Soviet Union. He’s made no bones about that.She fears Moldova, Georgia, the Baltic nations and Poland are in Putin’s sights. -- “Then our troops would be involved in a much larger war,” she says.
The Senate’s procedural vote on the foreign aid bill is being delayed by Republicans complaining they can’t offer amendments to it. Eric Schmitt, of Missouri, and Utah’s Mike Lee are accusing the Democratic majority leader, Chuck Schumer, of effectively railroading through his version of the bill “with minimal debate and perhaps no amendments”, Lee said. He insists, as extremist House Republicans who opposed the bill last week did, that money for Ukraine is unpopular. Bernie Sanders, independent senator for Vermont, says he agrees with Lee. He says he wants to offer two amendments, one to ensure there’s no money for Israel’s “war machine”. The second is removing a block on aid money for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (Unrwa), which Israel says has been infiltrated by “Hamas terrorists” stealing funds. “Members can agree with me or disagree with me on the issues, but they should be voted upon,” Sanders said. Senators are voting now whether to adopt a motion by Lee to table (kill) Schumer’s motion to
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Post by Webster on Apr 23, 2024 14:11:58 GMT -5
(The Guardian) Foreign aid bill on course for passage after key Senate voteThe Senate invoked cloture on the $95b bill to provide military assistance to Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan, an important procedural step that clears the way for a final vote on its passage later today. The bill advanced with 80 votes in favor, and 19 opposed. The measure has already been approved by the House, and will be signed by Joe Biden after it passes the Senate. Lawmakers are now expected to debate the legislation and offer a limited number of amendments. Schumer hails bipartisanship, thanks Johnson as foreign aid bill heads for passageThe Senate’s Democratic leader Chuck Schumer once again spoke from the chamber’s floor after lawmakers voted overwhelmingly to advance the $95b bill authorizing military aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. Passing the legislation was a top priority for Joe Biden, his Democratic allies and some Republicans, including Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell. It faced resistance from others in the GOP, among them Republican House speaker Mike Johnson. But Johnson relented earlier this month, and allowed it to be voted on in the House, where it passed with more Democrats in favor than Republicans. In his remarks, Schumer thanked Johnson and McConnell, while saying the bill’s passage was a sign that bipartisanship is alive and well in a Congress better known for intractable partisan stalemate. “Today’s outcome yet confirms another thing we’ve stressed from the beginning of this congress. In divided government, the only way to ever get things done is bipartisanship,” Schumer said. “I thank Leader McConnell, as I’ve mentioned before, working hand in hand with us, not letting partisanship get in the way. I thank Speaker Johnson who rose to the occasion, in his own words, that he had to do the right thing, despite the enormous political pressure on him. And I thank leader Jeffries, who worked so well together in his bipartisan way, with Speaker Johnson.” The last name is Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic House minority leader.
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Post by Webster on Apr 24, 2024 18:06:08 GMT -5
(The Guardian) Biden signs foreign aid package including $26.3bn for IsraelJoe Biden has signed into law legislation that rushes $95bn in foreign aid more than $26bn for Israel and humanitarian relief for civilians in conflict zones, including Gaza. The legislation includes $60.8bn to replenish Ukraine’s war chest as it seeks to repel Russia from its territory; $26.3bn for Israel and humanitarian relief for civilians in conflict zones, including Gaza; and $8.1bn for the Indo-Pacific region to bolster its defenses against China.
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