House Approves $95 Billion Aid Bill for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan

On Saturday, the House made a resounding decision to approve $95 billion in foreign aid, allocated for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. Speaker Mike Johnson took a bold step by rallying support from both mainstream Republicans and Democrats, even putting his own position at risk to push forward the long-delayed aid package.
Through four consecutive votes, bipartisan coalitions within the House endorsed additional funding for these key U.S. allies, alongside a supplementary bill designed to appeal to conservatives, potentially leading to a nationwide ban on TikTok.
The atmosphere on the House floor underscored the widespread congressional backing for aiding the Ukrainian military against Russian aggression. Simultaneously, it highlighted the significant political gamble undertaken by Mr. Johnson, as he defied the anti-interventionist faction within his party that had sought to block the measure. Just before the vote on aid for Kyiv, Democrats proudly waved small Ukrainian flags while encountering jeers from hard-right Republicans.
The approved legislation allocates $60 billion for Kyiv, $26 billion for Israel, including humanitarian assistance for civilians in conflict zones like Gaza, and $8 billion for the Indo-Pacific region. Notably, it mandates the president to pursue reimbursement of $10 billion in economic assistance from the Ukrainian government, a notion previously supported by former President Donald J. Trump, who advocated for aid to Kyiv to take the form of loans. However, it also grants the president the authority to forgive these loans beginning in 2026.