The White House approved a substantial $300 million aid package for Ukraine with a vote of 311-117.
This decision followed an earlier move by House GOP leaders, who had taken out the Ukraine aid from a Pentagon budget bill. Interestingly, all those opposing the decision were Republicans.
This funding, while supported by many, has stirred controversy over the past week. Initially, the $300 million was a part of the 2024 fiscal Department of Defense budget. This inclusion faced resistance, especially from staunch Republicans.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, a Republican from California, had previously indicated his intention to separate the Ukraine aid from the defense budget, particularly after Rep.
Marjorie Taylor Greene from Georgia, along with other conservative members, halted a preliminary vote on the Pentagon’s budget. However, McCarthy reversed his stance the following day.
This change of heart was because the budget for the State Department also contained provisions for aid to Kyiv.
Extracting the Ukraine’s aid from this legislation, according to him, would be too challenging, so he opted to leave both intact.
Subsequently, the House established a combined rule to dictate discussions on the two pieces of legislation and other financial bills. Only Greene voted against this rule.
