House Speaker Mike Johnson: Defends Ukraine Aid Passage Despite Imperfections

  • by:
  • Source: Wayne Dupree
  • 04/22/2024
Insisting that "history will judge it well," Representative Mike Johnson (R-La.) justified his supervision of the Ukraine assistance package's approval, claiming it was in line with the "will" of the House.

A $95 billion package that gives foreign assistance to Israel, Ukraine, and other U.S. allies was approved by the House of Representatives on Saturday. Despite strong resistance from a few Republicans, the bill passed 311–112. Now that the Senate is controlled by Democrats, it is anticipated that the measure would pass with ease.

Mr. Johnson gave his explanation for the bill's passing to reporters on Saturday. "I need to finish my work. Indeed, we did. I have done what I think is proper in this situation, which is to let the home do its own thing. You take the proper action and let the cards fall where they may, as I have already said.

In response to a reporter's question about why the Ukraine assistance took so long to approve and why it was authorized at this time, Mr. Johnson said that the House was preoccupied with "a lot of important work" that needed to be done.

"During the appropriations process, we had to secure funding for the government. Reauthorization of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act was necessary. We moved as swiftly as possible to complete the several crucial tasks at hand.

According to Mr. Johnson, the approval of funding for Ukraine has been "timely," noting that "leaders around the world, including in Ukraine, have told me that this is being done on a timely basis." Additionally, the House needed enough time to think things through and handle this properly.

"I think history will judge this well—I think we did our work here."

A large number of Republicans denounced the bill's passing. The United States should not be securing the borders of other countries when it is dealing with a problem of illegal immigration along its border with Mexico, according to Rep. Harriet Hageman (R-Wyo.).

"We will not spend the same kind of money here to secure our own border, but we are sending $300 million to Ukraine for their state border guard services," the speaker said.







 

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