The Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, showed good signs of willingness to consider a bill on continuing aid to Ukraine.
Johnson met privately with House Republicans who were trying to garner support for a new bipartisan foreign aid package that would include restrictions on the border with Mexico.
Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul has taken the lead role in trying to finalize the proposal and build consensus as part of the push for a decision by late March or April.
It is noteworthy that Johnson has not yet made his decision on this plan and has not pledged to put it to a vote, noting that it was first necessary to finalize government financing legislation.
Far-right Republicans are threatening to remove Johnson from office if the foreign aid bill is put to a vote.
In addition, its adoption would require broad democratic support, while the far left opposes border restrictions and aid to Israel.
A bipartisan group of lawmakers suggested they would collect enough signatures for the bill to bring it to a vote even without the House Speaker’s initiative.
Attempts to pass a foreign aid bill remained stalled for months due to internal disagreements within the Republican Party. Initially, Republicans called on Congress to take tougher measures on the border before promoting Ukrainian aid.
But after nearly five months of negotiations that led to a bipartisan border security agreement in the Senate, Speaker Johnson, as well as former President Donald Trump, declared it too weak, thus thwarting progress.
Read also: Russian assets are not a substitute for US aid to Ukraine – US Treasury
Thus, the Senate rejected the border agreement through the opposition of Trump supporters, and in February approved an aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, which did not include any restrictions on immigration.
But the Speaker of the House of Representatives said that he would not put the bill to a vote because it failed to take into account the aforementioned restrictions.
At the same time, he indicated on Thursday that he was ready to consider appropriate measures developed in the House of Representatives.
“The House is actively considering options moving forward,” Johnson said. “So, we’re getting the state funding done, and then we’ll move on to these other priorities.”
The foreign aid plan developed by a bipartisan group calls for $66 in military aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. It also includes humanitarian aid for the Palestinians, a priority for many Democrats.
The bill bars illegal immigrants from entering the United States until practical border control is achieved, while sending immigrants to Mexico or their country of origin while they wait for their claims to be adjudicated in the United States – a policy known as “Remain in the United States.” Mexico.”
The group is also considering other provisions, including seizing Russian assets frozen in the United States and transferring them to Ukraine.
