Biden says House passage of foreign aid bills sends "clear message" about American leadership
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House passes key foreign aid package

By Kaanita Iyer, Shania Shelton and Isabelle D'Antonio, CNN

Updated 2315 GMT (0715 HKT) April 20, 2024
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2:40 p.m. ET, April 20, 2024

Biden says House passage of foreign aid bills sends "clear message" about American leadership

From CNN’s Samantha Waldenberg

President Joe Biden speaks at a campaign event in Philadelphia on Thursday.
President Joe Biden speaks at a campaign event in Philadelphia on Thursday. Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters/File

President Joe Biden said in a statement Saturday that the House passage of foreign aid bills sends a “clear message” about America’s leadership to the globe. 

“Today, members of both parties in the House voted to advance our national security interests and send a clear message about the power of American leadership on the world stage. At this critical inflection point, they came together to answer history’s call, passing urgently-needed national security legislation that I have fought for months to secure,” Biden said. 

“I urge the Senate to quickly send this package to my desk so that I can sign it into law and we can quickly send weapons and equipment to Ukraine to meet their urgent battlefield needs,” he added.

3:04 p.m. ET, April 20, 2024

Israel thanks US House for passing aid package

From CNN’s Tamar Michaelis in Jerusalem

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked the US House for passing the Israel aid bill.

“The US Congress just overwhelmingly passed a much appreciated aid bill that demonstrates strong bipartisan support for Israel and defends Western civilization. Thank you friends, thank you America!” Netanyahu said on social media.

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz also thanked the House, saying he hopes the measure will pass in the US Senate soon “with strong bipartisan support.”

Posting on X, Katz said, “Thank you @SpeakerJohnson for your leadership which led the efforts to pass the Israel aid package in the House of Representatives today. And thank you Minority Leader @RepJeffries for supporting it.
The vote on the Israel aid package with an overwhelming bipartisan support proves the strong ties and strategic partnership between Israel and the U.S. and sends a strong message to our enemies. 
I hope it passes the Senate soon with strong bipartisan support.”
2:24 p.m. ET, April 20, 2024

As House adjourns, Johnson's job is safe — for now

From CNN’s Haley Talbot

The House has adjourned after passing a foreign aid package that now heads to the Senate.

House Speaker Mike Johnson's job is safe, for now, after Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene said she won’t move forward with her motion to vacate — a rarely used procedural tool to remove the House speaker — on Saturday. She said she wants her GOP colleagues to “go home and hear from their constituents.” 

The House is not expected back until April 29 after a one-week recess. 

4:27 p.m. ET, April 20, 2024

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky praises House passage of aid

From CNN's Haley Talbot

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks at a press conference in Berlin on February 16.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks at a press conference in Berlin on February 16. Michele Tantussi/Getty Images/File

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a post on X that he is "grateful" for House lawmakers for passing the measure that provides aid to Ukraine, personally thanking Speaker Mike Johnson "for the decision that keeps history on the right track."

"Democracy and freedom will always have global significance and will never fail as long as America helps to protect it," Zelensky said in the post. "The vital U.S. aid bill passed today by the House will keep the war from expanding, save thousands and thousands of lives, and help both of our nations to become stronger."

"Just peace and security can only be attained through strength," he added.

Watch Zelensky praise the US:

4:03 p.m. ET, April 20, 2024

Democratic Rep. Gerry Connolly argues Mike Johnson’s job is not worth saving

From CNN’s Morgan Rimmer and Manu Raju

Democratic Rep. Gerry Connolly argued that House Democrats should not save Speaker Mike Johnson’s job, telling CNN that the only speaker he wants is Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. 

“Democrats need to decide who they want to be speaker, and I want Hakeem Jeffries, he said.

Connolly, a Virginia Democrat, noted that voting to save Johnson’s job would mean voting to save a speaker who they have major policy disagreements with, saying the Louisiana Republican's record is "antithetical to every core value" Democrats hold.

However, Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger, who is running for governor of Virginia, expressed an openness to saving Johnson.

“I want this place to function, and any future votes I take will be related to my desire to keep on the job,” she said, adding, “I'm gonna vote for us to continue to be able to govern and we need to be a functional body." 
2:07 p.m. ET, April 20, 2024

House passes Israel aid bill

From CNN's Haley Talbot

A battery of Israel's Iron Dome air defense system is pictured near Jerusalem on Monday.
A battery of Israel's Iron Dome air defense system is pictured near Jerusalem on Monday. Menahem Kahana/AFP/Getty Images

The House passed the Israel Security Supplemental with a vote of 366-58.

Here's what the package includes:

  • $26.4 billion to aid Israel
  • $4 billion for the Iron Dome and David’s Sling missile defense systems
  • $1.2 billion for the Iron Beam defense system
  • $4.4 billion to replenish defense items and services provided to Israel
  • $3.5 billion for the procurement of advanced weapons systems and other items through the Foreign Military Financing Program
  • $9.2 billion in humanitarian assistance – including emergency food, shelter and basic services – to populations suffering crises

It would also:

  • Provide additional flexibility for transfers of defense items to Israel from US stockpiles held in other countries
  • Prohibit sending funds to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency
2:34 p.m. ET, April 20, 2024

House passes Ukraine aid bill

From CNN's Haley Talbot

Democratic lawmakers wave Ukrainian flags after the House passed the Ukraine Security Supplemental Appropriations Act.
Democratic lawmakers wave Ukrainian flags after the House passed the Ukraine Security Supplemental Appropriations Act. House TV

The House passed the Ukraine Security Supplemental Appropriations Act with a vote of 311-112. One member – GOP Rep Dan Meuser – voted present.  

Democrats cheered and waved Ukrainian flags during the vote.

The $95 billion package contains $61 billion for Ukraine and regional partners.

One of the bills would provide nearly $61 billion to assist Ukraine and others in the region fight Russia – about the same that was included in the Senate bill.

Of that total, about $23 billion would be used to replenish US weapons, stockpiles and facilities, and more than $11 billion would fund current US military operations in the region. 

Nearly $14 billion included in the bill would help Ukraine buy advanced weapons systems and other defense equipment. 

The measure received unanimous support from Democrats, while Republicans were split. Among House GOP leadership, Whip Tom Emmer, Speaker Mike Johnson and Majority Leader Steve Scalise voted for Ukraine aid, while Conference Chair Elise Stefanik voted against it.

Here's how House members voted on the measure:

Republicans:

Yes: 101

No: 112

Present: 1

Democrats:

Yes: 210

No: 0

2:07 p.m. ET, April 20, 2024

Several hardline Republicans still opposed to ousting Speaker Mike Johnson, despite calling foreign aid bills “a slap in the face”

From CNN's Morgan Rimmer and Manu Raju

Several House Republican hardliners said they are still opposed to ousting Speaker Mike Johnson, despite their frustration after he brought a foreign aid package to the floor, though Rep. Lauren Boebert warned the effort is “gaining momentum.” 

“I don't see how that solves anything. I am opposed to a vote on motion to vacate, but it is gaining momentum,” she told CNN’s Manu Raju. “Maybe there's a point where Speaker Johnson listens to Thomas Massie and resigns and we choose a new speaker, but I don't know who that would be and if they could do better."

Rep. Troy Nehls said it was “a slap in the face to America” for Johnson to not stick with his demand for border security policy changes in exchange for Ukraine aid.

“What he's showing is that, in my humble opinion, we are allowing Chuck Schumer to run the House of Representatives, and to me that's very disturbing,” he added, referring to the Democratic Senate majority leader.

However, Nehls argued there is no alternative to Johnson at this point. “Who's gonna want the job, but who could do it?"

House Homeland Security Chairman Mark Green agreed, noting that he was disappointed in today’s foreign aid bill votes, but that he still won’t support removing Johnson. “It's not a failure of leadership, but it's a difference of opinion,” he said.  

1:29 p.m. ET, April 20, 2024

House passes bill providing aid to Indo-Pacific region

From CNN’s Haley Talbot

The House passed the Indo-Pacific Security Supplemental bill with a bipartisan vote of 385-34 plus one present vote: Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib. 

Here's what the package includes:

  • $8.1 billion to counter China’s actions in the Indo-Pacific region
  • $3.3 billion to develop submarine infrastructure
  • $2 billion in foreign military financing for Taiwan and other key allies
  • $1.9 billion to replenish defense items and services provided to Taiwan and regional partners

The Senate bill contained very similar provisions to bolster security in the region.