A bill that includes measures in the field of national security was approved by a majority of 360 to 58. The proposal includes a ban on TikTok activity in the US if it does not break away from China, as well as critical security aid totaling 60.8 billion dollars for Ukraine and $8.1 billion for Taiwan and other allies in the Indo-Pacific region.
The four separate proposals will now be consolidated into one bill that will go to the Senate for consideration. A similar proposal was already approved by the Senate two months ago, which included an allocation of 14 billion dollars for Israel, 60 billion dollars for Ukraine, and 5 billion dollars for aid to allies in the Indo-Pacific region in response to China. The vote in the Senate is expected to take place on Tuesday after the Passover holiday, with an estimated approval by a large majority before reaching President Biden for signature to allow the transfer of critical aid to Israel and Ukraine.
Today’s vote marks a significant victory for Republican House of Representatives Chairman Mike Johnson. He decided to split the original Senate proposal into four separate proposals to facilitate their passage, including humanitarian aid to Gaza in the aid proposal to Israel. The inclusion of the TikTok boycott was intended to secure the support of most Republican lawmakers.
This shift in position by Johnson came after weeks of refraining from holding a vote on the Senate’s proposal due to pressure from members of the extreme current in the Republican Party, including former President Donald Trump. Trump had demanded that aid to Ukraine be tied to measures tightening security on the southern border with Mexico. However, increased Russian attacks on Ukraine, prompting urgent pleas for aid, led to a change in Johnson’s stance.
