House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., visits the House on Friday, March 22, 2024. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., filed a motion to vacate him from the speakership, later in day.
Tom Williams | CQ-Roll Call, Inc. | Getty Images
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said Monday he plans to move forward with four individual bills to fund Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan, separating key elements of a foreign aid program that has been shelved in the House for months.
Johnson held a conference Monday evening with House Republicans to introduce the four bills: one to fund Israel, another for Ukraine, another for Taiwan and a fourth that would consolidate several foreign policy proposals into one. .
The plan comes as Johnson balances political threats from members of his party with increased pressure to provide military support to Israel following Iran’s attempted attack this weekend.
On Saturday, Iran launched more than 300 drones and missiles at Israel, most of which were intercepted thanks to a coordinated effort between Israel, the United States and other partners in the region.
In the days after the Iranian attack, Johnson faced new pressure to end the months-long impasse over the $95 billion foreign aid plan for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, which the Senate passed in February and has been in the House ever since.
On Sunday, President Joe Biden spoke with Johnson, as well as Senate Majority Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D.N.Y.
On Monday, the White House reiterated its call for the House of Representatives to bring the $95 billion Joint Foreign Assistance Plan to the House floor. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby added during a press briefing that Biden would oppose a standalone bill to fund only Israel.
Along with pressure from the Biden administration, Johnson faces the possibility that members of his own party could oust him.
In March, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., filed a motion to leave Johnson, but did not force a vote on the motion. She said the move was more of a “warning.”
On Monday, Greene was unhappy with Johnson’s four-bill foreign aid plan, but said she had not yet made a decision on whether to move forward with the motion to quash.
“I am strongly opposed to the plan as it stands now,” Greene told reporters as she left Monday’s House Republican meeting. “It’s such a scam and people are so done with it.”
“He certainly won’t be president in the next Congress if we’re lucky enough to have a majority,” Greene added.
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