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Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., steered the House of Representatives will act in the approaching weeks to get extra funding to Ukraine.
“When we return after this period, we’ll be moving a product. But it’s going to, I think, have some important innovations,” Johnson advised Fox News’ “Sunday Night in America with Trey Gowdy.”
Both the House and Senate are presently on the second week of a two-week recess, when lawmakers are working in their house districts. The House is back on Tuesday, April 9.
Johnson mentioned he has been “working to build consensus” on a supplemental nationwide safety and international aid bundle, although he signaled it will look totally different from prior makes an attempt. He mentioned the House would “be moving it right after the district work period.”
Speaker Mike Johnson steered the House may quickly start work on Ukraine aid. (Ozan Guzelce/ dia pictures through Getty Images | Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
It comes after Republicans killed a $118 billion bundle with aid for Ukraine, Taiwan, Israel and the U.S. border earlier this yr, arguing it didn’t go far sufficient to deal with the continuing border disaster. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and President Biden have been pressuring Johnson to take up a slimmer $95 billion bundle with out border measures.
“We’ve been trying to use that as the only leverage we have to force change on the border. We’re still trying to force the president to use his executive authority, and most of the American people know that he has that authority. He’s not using it,” Johnson argued.
On Ukraine particularly, he mentioned, “There’s a lot of things that we should do that make more sense and I think we’ll have consensus around.”
US SENDING UKRAINE $300 MILLION IN WEAPONS DESPITE LACKING FUNDS TO REPLENISH ITS OWN STOCKPILES
Johnson highlighted three particulars particularly – the primary being the REPO Act launched in the House final yr by Foreign Affairs Chairman Michael McCaul, R-Texas, and Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio, which might liquidate seized Russian property and ship that as help to Ukraine.
The speaker additionally identified that former President Trump not too long ago floated the concept of aid to Ukraine in the type of a mortgage, although he didn’t point out particular phrases save for Kyiv paying Washington back in the event that they win the conflict towards Russia.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is pushing Johnson to take up his chamber’s $95 billion supplemental funding bundle. (Reuters/Amanda Andrade-Rhoades/File Photo)
“Even President Trump has talked concerning the mortgage idea the place we arrange – we’re not simply giving international aid – we’re establishing a relationship the place they will present it back to us when the time is proper,” Johnson mentioned.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., a Trump ally, advised NBC News’ “Meet The Press” final month that the ex-president would back such a mortgage being forgivable and interest-free.
Johnson described the third proposal, “And then, you know, we want to unleash American energy. We want to have natural gas exports that will help unfund Vladimir Putin’s war effort there.”
FLASHBACK: WHITE HOUSE CONFIRMS MORE THAN $100B SPENT ON UKRAINE WAR
Biden is dealing with bipartisan pushback to his administration’s pause on exports of liquefied pure gasoline (LNG), with some critics accusing him of giving Russia larger management over the market and thus more cash to fund its invasion.
Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., advised Fox News Digital final month that Biden is “sending very mixed messages to Ukraine” along with his power insurance policies.
“On one hand, he says he supports Ukraine, but on the other, he is helping fund Putin’s war efforts by putting billions of dollars of money in the pocket of Vladimir Putin by allowing him to sell his energy on world markets, by shutting off American energy,” Scalise mentioned.
Former President Donald Trump steered aid to Ukraine in the type of a mortgage. (Associated Press/Michael Wyke)
Fox News Digital reached out to Johnson’s workplace for extra specifics on timing and was referred back to his interview remarks.
The Sunday interview included a few of Johnson’s most particular feedback on Ukraine aid but, as bipartisan stress grows with the scenario for Kyiv rising extra dire in the face of Russia’s vastly larger assets.
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However, Johnson is additionally taking warmth from a small however vocal faction on his proper flank for supporting Ukraine aid in any respect.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., who filed a movement to oust Johnson in late March over passage of a bipartisan $1.2 trillion authorities funding deal, blasted him on Monday morning for his stance.
“If Speaker Johnson gives another $60 billion to the defense of Ukraine’s border after he FULLY FUNDED Biden’s deadly open border, the cruel joke would be on the American people. And it won’t be April Fools,” she wrote on X.
Johnson mentioned Sunday that he and Greene had exchanged textual content messages and can be talking subsequent week.
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