Pres. Biden urges the House to pass national security supplemental

The Senate passed the foreign aid bill 70-29
Published: Feb. 13, 2024 at 5:36 PM EST
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WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - Just hours after the Democratic-controlled Senate passed a bipartisan $95 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan 70-29, President Biden urged the Republican-controlled House to take up the plan and allow all 435 members to have an up-or-down vote.

“I say to House members, House Republicans, you gotta decide. Are you going to stand up for freedom? Or are you going to side with terror and tyranny? You gonna stand with Ukraine? or you gonna stand with Putin? You gonna stand with America or Trump?”

22 Senate Republicans joined all most all Senate Democrats supporting the supplemental aid package. The President said the aid is necessary for Ukraine, which has been running short of weapons and equipment after a failed counteroffensive against Russia last year.

“This bipartisan bill sends a clear message to Ukrainians and to our partners and to our allies around the world that America can be trusted. America can be relied upon and America stands up for freedom. We stand strong for our allies. We never bow down to anyone, certainly not Vladimir Putin. Let’s get on with this.”

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is also urging House Speaker Mike Johnson to allow a vote on Ukraine aid telling Politico he hopes the speaker will find a way to allow the House to work its will on the issue of Ukraine aid and the other parts of the bill as well.

The bill faces an uncertain future in the House. because of a vocal group of Republicans – and presidential front-runner Donald Trump – both of whom are strongly opposed to providing more aid to Ukraine. In addition, Speaker Johnson called the bill Dead on arrival, any aid for Ukraine would be conditioned on tighter control of the U.S. border with Mexico. ““House Republicans were crystal clear from the very beginning of discussions that any so-called national security supplemental legislation must recognize that national security begins at our own border. The House acted ten months ago to help enact transformative policy change by passing the Secure Our Border Act, and since then, including today, the Senate has failed to meet the moment.”