House Passes Ukraine Aid Amid Republican Defections

Washington approved a measure on Thursday to send additional aid to Ukraine after several Republican members joined Democrats in forcing a floor vote. The discharge petition, initiated by Democratic Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York nearly a year ago, required signatures from 218 House members to be released from the Rules Committee. It secured the necessary votes with the addition of Rep. Kevin Kiley of California on May 13.

The underlying legislation passed in a 226-195 vote, with more than a dozen Republicans supporting it and Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar voting against it. The bill authorizes up to $8 billion in military loans for Ukraine, funds for post-war reconstruction, new sanctions targeting Russia, and reaffirms NATO’s importance. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has requested additional support from the U.S., including Patriot ballistic missile interceptors.

Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska expressed hope that Thursday’s vote would “shake up” the Senate, though the bill’s fate in the upper chamber remains uncertain.