Republican Proceeding with Discharge Petition on Ukraine

Representative Brian Fitzpatrick, a Republican from Pennsylvania and co-chair of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus, announced on Thursday his intention to proceed with a discharge petition to bring a foreign aid package for Ukraine to the House floor.

Although some may view the petition as a way to bypass House Speaker Mike Johnson, Fitzpatrick described it as an “additional pressure point” in a recent interview on CBS News’ “Face the Nation.”

If Fitzpatrick and his allies can gather 217 signatures, a vote will be held to decide if the aid package should be considered for a House floor vote. The package must first spend seven days in the House Rules Committee.

Fitzpatrick informed reporters that there is more Republican support in the House than is widely believed, stating that “a lot of people know it’s the right thing to do.”

“We must take action,” Fitzpatrick emphasized to reporters on Thursday, as reported by the Washington Examiner. “It’s existential; it’s time-sensitive. Whether it’s our plan or someone else’s, we simply need to get the funding to them.”

It remains uncertain which Ukraine aid package Fitzpatrick intends to push to the floor. Axios reported that Fitzpatrick is deliberating between the bipartisan $66 billion House bill he co-sponsored and the $95 billion Senate-passed bill.

Both options have challenges. Fitzpatrick’s ‘Defending Borders, Defending Democracies Act’ may lack Democrat support due to its “Remain in Mexico” asylum policy, while Johnson has indicated he will not bring the Senate package to the House floor due to conservative opposition.

Representative Pete Aguilar, a Democrat from California and head of the House Democratic Caucus, expressed skepticism about Fitzpatrick’s discharge petition on Thursday.

“I don’t believe this is the appropriate solution,” Aguilar told reporters, as reported by The Hill. “The actual solution is clear. It is the bipartisan solution with 70 votes in the Senate.”

Fitzpatrick stated on Wednesday that he is aiming to spur progress.

“The political landscape is incredibly challenging, with a slim margin in both the House and Senate on critical, urgent matters,” he observed. “Therefore, we are not seeking to bypass or evade anyone. On the contrary, we are looking to add additional pressure to address a pressing issue.”