The House passed a foreign aid bill tied to a TikTok ban
Image: WLBT
Following several months of debate, House lawmakers on Saturday approved a series of four standalone bills that include $95+ billion in aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, as well as a potential TikTok ban in the US.
More details: The vote on ~$61 billion in aid for Ukraine was the most contentious of the four bills, with all Democrats supporting the measure and more than half of Republicans opposing in a 311-112 vote.
The other two House-approved measures for foreign aid â which passed with 350+ votes apiece â contain $26 billion in funds to support Israel and provide humanitarian aid in Gaza, along with $8 billion to support Taiwan and other US allies in the Indo-Pacific.
- House lawmakers also overwhelmingly voted for a bill that would force Chinese tech giant ByteDance to sell TikTok within the next ~9 months or face a US ban (up from six months in a previous House-approved bill).
- The TikTok ban is featured alongside measures that would impose new sanctions on Iran, and would help fund the Ukrainian war effort by selling some frozen Russian assets.
The bills passed despite some pushback from House lawmakers. A group of ~20 hardline Republicans voted against all three foreign aid bills, saying the money would be better spent on domestic needs like paying down the US governmentâs $34+ trillion national debt.
- A few dozen progressive Democrats also voted against aid to Israel, which they characterized as helping fuel Israeli violence against Palestinian civilians, while a similar number of Dems opposed the TikTok ban due to First Amendment concerns.
đ Looking ahead⌠The four bills will be bundled together and sent to the Senate, which is expected to give its approval later this week. President Biden has promised to sign the package as soon as it reaches his desk.
đ Flash poll: Do you support the package of four bills that passed the House this weekend?
See a 360° view of what media pundits are saying â
Sprinkles from the Left
- Some commentators argue that Speaker Johnsonâs act of political bravery in bringing the series of four bills to a vote should be lauded, since doing such acts hasnât always been the way the GOP operates in recent years.
- Others contend that Speaker Johnson should have brought the foreign aid bills to a vote months ago, when Ukraine desperately needed the funds, but the fact that the measures passed at all despite some GOP opposition is a significant step forward.
- âMike Johnson showed courage and rose to historyâs call on Ukraineâ âKaren Tumulty, WaPo
- âSpeaker Mike Johnsonâs Ukraine aid bill is better late than neverâ âLA Times Editorial Board
- âOn an important vote for Israel, some Democrats took a standâ âShadi Hamid, WaPo
Sprinkles from the Right
- Some commentators argue that credit is due to the House and Speaker Johnson, who recognized the worldâs current dangers and decided to meet the occasion with a series of bills that address several key issues facing America.
- Others contend that Speaker Johnson should be commended for not capitulating to the tiny sliver of the Republican caucus that believes it can get its own way, and for passing a bill that helps address some of the USâ critical needs.
- âThe House Votes for a âStrong Americaââ âWSJ Editorial Board
- âSpeaker Johnson Takes On the Arsonistsâ âCharles C. W. Cooke, National Review
- âOK, Biden, you have your aid bill -- now stop being intimidated by Russia and give Ukraine the weapons it needsâ âDalibor Rohac, NY Post
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