As early as this week, the US Congress may begin collecting signatures to put a bill on aid to Ukraine and other partners to a vote in the House of Representatives, bypassing Speaker Mike Johnson.
Collection of signatures for consideration of bill on aid to Ukraine
Republican congressman Brian Fitzpatrick said on March 6 during a press briefing in the Capitol that this could happen if Speaker Johnson does not bring the bill to the floor by then.
It's a pressure point, an attempt to apply pressure to get something into the voting hall. If the House of Representatives cannot reach a consensus on the bill to be introduced, the alternative cannot be that Ukraine is defeated and our border remains open. We cannot allow this to happen.
He said he is working with Johnson's office to get the bill to the House through the regular channels.
However, if the speaker refuses to fulfill the demands, supporters of the draft law will start collecting signatures for a petition to bypass the speaker on Friday this week.
Fitzpatrick stressed that he is "very confident" that the petition can get the 218 signatures needed to pass.
Delay in aid to Ukraine from the US
On Feb. 13, the US Senate approved a bill on international aid to US allies — Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan — for $93 billion.
It is planned to allocate $60 billion to Ukraine, $14 billion to Israel, and $4.83 billion to support partners in the Indo-Pacific region, including Taiwan, and deter aggression from China.
$9.15 billion is intended for humanitarian aid for civilians in Gaza, the West Bank, and Ukraine.
The House of Representatives must vote on the package to approve it, but Speaker Johnson says that the most urgent issue for the United States is protecting the southern border. Therefore, he is not putting the aid package for allies to a vote.
After the bill is passed, it must be signed by President Joe Biden.
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