Lawmakers in the US House of Representatives are currently debating ahead of voting on crucial aid for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, and a potential ban on TikTok. The votes on the $95 billion foreign aid and arms bills are expected to begin at 1:00 pm (1700 GMT). Republican Speaker Mike Johnson will require Democratic votes in order to pass these bills, as they are the result of months of negotiations and pressure from US allies, as well as requests for assistance from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Funding for Ukraine has been a contentious issue, with the last Republican speaker losing his job due to spending bills and the partisan disagreements over Ukrainian assistance. The United States has been Ukraine’s primary military backer in its conflict with Russia, but large-scale funding has not been approved for over a year and a half due to political disputes. President Joe Biden and Democratic lawmakers have been advocating for a significant weapons package for Ukraine, while Republicans, influenced by Donald Trump, are hesitant to provide funding for the prolonged conflict.
Ahead of the upcoming presidential election in November, the financing of the war has become a point of contention. Johnson, after months of hesitation, has now offered support for a $61 billion package for Ukraine, which includes economic assistance and weapons. Additionally, the bill allows President Biden to confiscate and sell Russian assets and use the proceeds to fund reconstruction in Ukraine. This move has been welcomed by other G7 nations.
If the bill passes in the House, the Senate could take it up as early as Tuesday. $13 billion in military assistance has been allocated for Israel to reinforce its Iron Dome air defenses in the ongoing conflict with Hamas in Gaza. Over $9 billion will be earmarked for humanitarian assistance in Gaza and other vulnerable populations globally. At the request of President Biden, $8 billion will be allocated to counter Chinese influence through investments in submarine infrastructure and competition with Beijing on projects in developing countries. Additionally, several billion dollars will be dedicated to providing weapons for Taiwan, a self-ruled island that China claims.
In addition to aid packages, there is a provision in the bills that would require TikTok to divest from its Chinese parent company ByteDance or face a nationwide ban in the United States. TikTok, with approximately 170 million users, has raised concerns among Western officials who allege that it is subservient to Beijing and a conduit for spreading propaganda. These claims have been denied by the company.
On Friday, the White House issued a statement strongly supporting the legislation and emphasizing that the world is watching the actions of Congress. President Biden has indicated that he will sign the bills as soon as they are passed by both chambers of Congress. While US allies are expected to welcome the passage of these bills in the House, it could cost the Republican House speaker his position, as some far-right isolationist Republican lawmakers have threatened to oust Johnson for supporting them.
© 2024 AFP
