Get you up to speed: House approves new Ukraine aid as over a dozen Republicans defect
The House approved a measure to provide up to $8 billion in military loans and reconstruction assistance to Ukraine, supported by a coalition of Democrats and several Republicans. The legislation passed with a vote of 226 to 195 after a procedural discharge petition was successfully launched by Democratic Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York.
The House’s legislation, which passed with a vote of 226 to 195, authorises up to £8 billion in military loans for Ukraine and includes provisions for post-war reconstruction and new sanctions targeting Russia. The bill’s trajectory in the Senate remains uncertain, especially as bipartisan legislation imposing further economic sanctions on Russia has been stalled for over a year.
The House’s approval of up to $8 billion in military loans for Ukraine follows Democratic Rep. Gregory Meeks’ year-long effort using a discharge petition, now supported by both parties. The bill’s future in the Senate remains uncertain, with Republican Rep. Don Bacon expressing hope that it will prompt action among senators regarding new economic sanctions on Russia.
What remains unclear — The fate of the House bill in the Senate is uncertain.
House approves new Ukraine aid package as several Republicans join Democrats
Washington — The House approved an effort on Thursday to send fresh assistance to Ukraine after a few Republican members joined with Democrats to force a vote on the issue.
The procedural tactic, known as a discharge petition, was launched by Democratic Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York nearly a year ago. A discharge petition allows a majority of House members to bring a bill to the floor.
It had amassed most of the signatures it needed to force a floor vote months ago, but was one name short until May 13 when Rep. Kevin Kiley of California, an independent who caucuses with Republicans, was the decisive 218th signature. Every Democrat and two Republicans — Reps. Don Bacon of Nebraska and Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania — also signed the petition.
In a key vote Wednesday to discharge the measure from the House Rules Committee, half a dozen Republicans voted with Democrats to propel it toward a final passage vote.
The underlying legislation, also introduced by Meeks, who is the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, passed in a 226 to 195 vote. More than a dozen Republicans supported it. Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, who signed the petition, voted against it.
The legislation would authorize up to $8 billion in military loans for Ukraine. It also includes assistance for post-war reconstruction in Ukraine and new sanctions targeting Russia while reaffirming the importance of NATO.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has pleaded for more support from the U.S. as Russia intensifies attacks on Ukraine. Last week, Zelenskyy sent a letter to President Trump and Congress requesting additional Patriot ballistic missile interceptors.
In a news conference shortly after the vote, Meeks said the bill “works to end one of the world’s deadliest conflicts by ensuring Ukraine is able to negotiate from a position of strength and not weakness.”
The House’s effort to circumvent leadership on support for Ukraine comes as bipartisan legislation in the Senate to impose new economic sanctions on Russia has languished for more than a year, with senators waiting for a green light from the White House. The fate of the House bill is uncertain in the Senate.
Bacon said he’s hopeful that Thursday’s vote will “shake up the Senate.”
“I don’t know if they’ll pass this bill, but they’re going to now know that we could pass something,” he said.