UPDATE 1: US House Approves Initial Portion of $95 Billion Aid Package for Ukraine and Israel

The U.S. House of Representatives, controlled by Republicans, passed the first of several bills in a $95 billion legislative package providing security assistance to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, despite objections from party hardliners.

It has been over two months since the Democratic-majority Senate passed a similar measure, and leaders like Democratic President Joe Biden and top Senate Republican Mitch McConnell have been urging House Speaker Mike Johnson to bring it up for a vote.

Ignoring threats from hardline members, Johnson pushed forward the measure, which includes funds for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, allies in the Indo-Pacific, and potential sanctions against China, TikTok, and the transfer of seized Russian assets to Ukraine.

The bill imposing limits on TikTok was the first to pass on Saturday, with the White House emphasizing the importance of Congress passing this legislation to show strong American leadership.

A bipartisan House majority voted to advance the bill, and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer instructed senators to be prepared to work over the weekend if the bill passes as expected in the House.

Johnson acknowledged that the legislation is not perfect but emphasized the importance of meeting these obligations under current circumstances.

While some hardline Republicans oppose further aid to Ukraine due to the national debt, others, like Representative Bob Good, believe the bills represent a decline into fiscal crisis and America-last policies.

Despite this, former President Donald Trump expressed support for Johnson and stressed the importance of Ukraine’s survival for the U.S.

The bills allocate $60.84 billion for the conflict in Ukraine, $26 billion for Israel, including humanitarian aid, and $8.12 billion for the Indo-Pacific region.