The United States House of Representatives is preparing for a rare Saturday session anticipated to approve a substantial foreign aid package totaling $95 billion (€89.6 billion). This funding is intended for Ukraine, Israel, and other allies.
Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, with support from Democrats, is pushing forward votes on four aid bills. Should these votes pass, the legislation will then move to the Senate, where it is expected to be approved swiftly. President Joe Biden has committed to signing the bill immediately upon its passage.
The proposed aid includes $13 billion dedicated to military assistance for Israel, aimed primarily at enhancing the nation’s “Iron Dome” air defense systems.
Additionally, the package allocates more than $9 billion to address urgent humanitarian needs in Gaza and other vulnerable populations worldwide.
This funding proposal comes after months of deliberation in the Republican-controlled House, which initially struggled to pass President Biden’s funding request made in October, as Ukraine’s military resources dwindled.
The request for funding was revised to include support for Israel following the deadly attacks by Hamas on October 7 and the subsequent conflict in Gaza. The United States, European Union, Israel, and other nations designate Hamas as a terrorist organization.
