Johnson Bucks Conservatives, Targets Saturday For Foreign Aid Vote

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has issued a statement confirming that he will press forward with his plan to hold votes on new supplemental aid for Ukraine, Israel, and allies in the Indo-Pacific. Votes are expected to take place on Saturday evening.

• Johnson says he will hold votes on four separate bills under one House rule. Johnson will need Democrat support to move the package out of the Rules Committee, which they are likely to provide.
• The fourth bill will include the REPO Act - the legislation to empower the president to seize Russian sovereign assets, the House-passed TikTok divesture bill, and "sanctions and other measures to confront Russia, China, and Iran."
• Johnson confirms that a fifth bill will be considered under a separate rule which includes H.R. 2 - the hardline House Republican border security bill and will be open for amendments.
• Whatever passes the House is expected to be merged into a single piece of legislation for the Senate to consider.
• Splitting H.R. 2, a bill that is DOA in the Senate, from the national security package significantly improves the prospects of the entire package passing on Saturday.
• Johnson says text of the final bills will be posted shortly but early indications are that it appears to track closely with the USD$95 billion Senate package. The lack of significant conservative 'poison pills' will anger Johnson's right flank but increases the likelihood Democrats will insulate Johnson from ouster if Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) triggers her motion to vacate.