House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La. ) is drafting legislation to provide additional aid to Ukraine and will be made known when members return from their current recess. said on March 31.
” Look, what we have to do in an era of divided government—historically, as we are —is you got to develop consensus. If we want to walk a political measure, I got to own every single member, actually. And some items need to be bipartisan”, he said.
” When it comes to the optional, we’ve been working to build that discussion. We’ve been talking to all the people, especially now over the city work time. When we return after this function time, we’ll be moving a solution, but it’s going to, I think, have some significant enhancements”, he continued.
Additional possibilities he mentioned included a loan—a idea originally made by former President Donald Trump—and cutting off Russia’s main money supply, its fuel exports, by offering National alternatives.
Zelenskyy Demands Assistance
Mr. Johnson’s news comes on the heels of his March 28 telephone contact with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, during which the former urged Congress’s “quick section” of support for Ukraine.
Mr. Zelenskyy acknowledged the speaker and the American people’s” critical help” of Ukraine’s war effort and gave him a briefing on the current battle situation in the wake of Russia’s increased airstrikes.
” Last week only, 190 weapons, 140′ Shahed ‘ robots, and 700 guided underwater weapons were launched at Russian cities and communities”, he said. “Ukraine’s largest hydroelectric power plant has gone online”.
While Mr. Zelenskyy acknowledged the continuing debate in Congress regarding additional funding for his war-torn nation, he referred to the help from the United States as “vital.”
We even discussed how important it is to use freezing Russian assets for Ukraine’s profit and cut off Russia’s revenue sources as soon as possible. We also rely on the authority of Congress in this regard”, he added.
Members of Congress are taking a two-week Easter break. Next year, they are scheduled to visit the Capitol.
Second Downs and Hail Marys
Johnson has praised the need to keep support for Ukraine, but he has also stressed the importance of putting the United States ‘ own edges first. He led the opposition in the House when the Senate passed legislation that gave Ukraine and immigration enforcement funding, arguing that the legislation placed Ukraine first and did n’t offer any significant changes to border policy.
As of yet, there has been no deal reached on the issue at the U. S. –Mexico borders. Republicans believe the president already has the resources and power to address the issue, despite President Joe Biden and Democrats ‘ claim that more money is required to prevent the country’s historically high flow of illegal immigrants.
Mr. Johnson’s status in his own party has been complicated by the conflict. The right side is convinced that no more money be directed toward foreign war when the United States ‘ personal national safety is in danger, even though the more moderate party of the GOP is urging further actions on Ukraine and Israel.
The speaker, however, presides over a razor- narrow majority in just one- quarter of Congress. Without the backing of Democrats, who control the Senate and the White House, he can only manage one Democrat departure on any expenses he wants to pass.
According to Mr. Johnson, those obstacles effectively prevent Republicans from achieving their parliamentary goals.
” Therefore, we’re not going to get the policy that we all need and want. If Republicans were in command, as we were several years ago, we may be acting in the same way as we would if we had the Senate and the White House. But right today, often, we have to play defense. We got to stop the Biden mission, and by God’s grace, we’ve been allowed to do that”.
The listener continued that he was optimistic that the November vote may increase the GOP’s majority in the House and give him more bargaining power. But in the meantime, he stressed, Republicans need to band together to stable the “incremental win” that are still possible.
” We are for securing the frontier, standing up to China, unleashing British electricity, saving American work, doing the things that the American citizens want us to do”, Mr. Johnson noted.
” But we need to realize that I ca n’t make a Hail Mary pass for every play.” It’s three miles and a cloud of dust, right? We’ve got to get the following initial down, keep moving, and we’ll do that, and we can present the British people what we’re for”.
Jackson Richman wrote this article for us.