Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) said House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) will call a vote on Ukraine aid. Party differences over Ukraine have plagued the 118th Congress. Democrats have supported Ukraine, while Republicans have advocated for reducing, auditing, or denying funding.
Both houses of Congress have postponed Ukraine funding due to party-line disputes. But if Mr. Bacon is correct, Mr. Johnson may finance Ukraine again, even as he faces expulsion from the speakership.
On “Meet the Press” on Sunday, March 31, Mr. Bacon said Mr. Johnson “is committed to making [Ukraine] the first, the top priority” when legislators return to Washington.
Lawmakers are in their districts for Easter, so they will not return until later in April. But when Congress returns, Mr. Bacon said, “I have a commitment for the speaker and the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee that we’re going to put this on the floor and get a vote.”
Mr. Bacon said this financing may be a loan. Former President Donald Trump, the expected 2024 Republican contender, proposed that before. Many Republicans supported this approach, and Mr. Bacon expects at least some of the legislation to follow suit.
“I think there'll be segments to this funding that will be a loan, it will not be the whole thing,” Mr. Bacon added. Mr. Bacon said this measure should please both houses and parties since prior Ukraine financing initiatives failed.
“I want to make sure we have Senate support,” Mr. Bacon added. I do not want to ping-pong with the Senate and have them accomplish nothing. So this must be bicameral and bipartisan.”
On CNN's “State of the Union” on March 31, Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) also predicted a vote on a new Ukraine financing package. He remarked, “I believe there will be a vote when we get back from Easter recess.”
“Certainly, this is critically important for our allies,” said Lawler. “We are the leader of the free world and must uphold and defend democracies worldwide.”
Mr. Lawler supported a discharge petition on a Ukraine assistance measure, forcing a vote without Mr. Johnson's support.
When asked why he thought there would be a vote, Mr. Lawler said, “I am confident that [Johnson] is going to bring a bill to the floor and that we will have a vote. He knows our responsibility.”
Both houses of Congress have postponed Ukraine funding due to party-line disputes. But if Mr. Bacon is correct, Mr. Johnson may finance Ukraine again, even as he faces expulsion from the speakership.
On “Meet the Press” on Sunday, March 31, Mr. Bacon said Mr. Johnson “is committed to making [Ukraine] the first, the top priority” when legislators return to Washington.
Lawmakers are in their districts for Easter, so they will not return until later in April. But when Congress returns, Mr. Bacon said, “I have a commitment for the speaker and the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee that we’re going to put this on the floor and get a vote.”
Mr. Bacon said this financing may be a loan. Former President Donald Trump, the expected 2024 Republican contender, proposed that before. Many Republicans supported this approach, and Mr. Bacon expects at least some of the legislation to follow suit.
“I think there'll be segments to this funding that will be a loan, it will not be the whole thing,” Mr. Bacon added. Mr. Bacon said this measure should please both houses and parties since prior Ukraine financing initiatives failed.
“I want to make sure we have Senate support,” Mr. Bacon added. I do not want to ping-pong with the Senate and have them accomplish nothing. So this must be bicameral and bipartisan.”
On CNN's “State of the Union” on March 31, Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) also predicted a vote on a new Ukraine financing package. He remarked, “I believe there will be a vote when we get back from Easter recess.”
“Certainly, this is critically important for our allies,” said Lawler. “We are the leader of the free world and must uphold and defend democracies worldwide.”
Mr. Lawler supported a discharge petition on a Ukraine assistance measure, forcing a vote without Mr. Johnson's support.
When asked why he thought there would be a vote, Mr. Lawler said, “I am confident that [Johnson] is going to bring a bill to the floor and that we will have a vote. He knows our responsibility.”
