The House advanced Speaker Mike Johnson's comprehensive foreign aid legislation through a procedural vote on Friday, largely due to House Democrats who assisted in pushing it through, paving the way for a final vote on the package this weekend.
On Friday, over 50 House Republicans voted against the rule, but ultimately, more than 160 Democrats joined Republicans in supporting it, resulting in its passage with a vote of 316 to 94.
The measure also encompasses aid to Taiwan and a set of incentives, including a bill mandating the sale of TikTok by its Chinese owner or potentially banning the app in the United States.
The unfolding events occurred just hours after Republicans joined forces with Democrats on Thursday night, taking a significant step towards advancing the bill. A bipartisan vote of 9-to-3 in the Rules Committee marked one aspect of the complex process the House is anticipated to undergo in the next few days to approve the $95 billion aid package.
Three Republicans on the panel, responsible for determining which legislation reaches the House floor, declined to support the rule required to bring up the foreign aid bill, potentially derailing it in committee. However, Democrats on the panel intervened to salvage the bill in a remarkable departure from tradition.
The three Republicans on the panel who aimed to block the measure were Representatives Chip Roy of Texas, Ralph Norman of South Carolina, and Thomas Massie of Kentucky.
This act of rebellion left Democrats to come to the speaker's aid and navigate the measure through the panel.
Johnson has scheduled House votes on the aid package for Saturday.
Source: The Washington Examiner
