The Global Times quoted NBC as reporting on April 17 that U.S. House Speaker Mike J. Johnson said on the same day that the U.S. House of Representatives will vote on the new foreign aid bill on the evening of April 20, Washington time, and he will submit a new U.S. border security bill and vote separately later, in order to appease those lawmakers who are dissatisfied with the lack of a new foreign aid bill to tie the border issue together, or simply the ultra-conservative wing of the Republican Party led by former U.S. President Trump, referred to as the Trump faction.
The new foreign aid bill has been published on the official website of the U.S. House of Representatives, totaling $95 billion, of which $26.4 billion is for Israel, $60.8 billion for Ukraine, and $8.1 billion for U.S. allies in the Asia-Pacific region. Of the $26.4 billion in aid to Israel, $4 billion is earmarked to replenish the Iron Dome air defense system and its ammunition.
Of the $60.8 billion in aid to Ukraine, more than $23 billion is used to replenish U.S. military stockpiles as a result of aid to Ukraine, $11.3 billion is used to support U.S. military operations in the region, $13.8 billion is used to purchase U.S. military equipment and services for Ukraine, and $7.8 billion in direct credit financial assistance to Ukraine: After November 15, 2024, the President of the United States can submit to Congress a proper justification for forgiving part of the repayment of this loan, but only by up to half, or $3.9 billion。
In addition, the bill requires the US president to provide Ukraine with long-range ATACMS ballistic missiles as soon as the bill goes into effect, but it can be postponed or canceled if the US president believes that the move would harm the national interests of the United States, and the Pentagon and the US State Department must submit a clear strategy for Ukraine to Congress within 45 days.
Johnson's move was officially supported, with a statement by US President Joe Biden published on the White House website, "I will immediately sign this bill to send a message to the world: We stand with our friends and will not allow Iran or Russia to succeed." ”
At the same time, it has also received harsh opposition from ultra-conservatives in the Republican Party, with several Republican House members, including Marjorie Taylor Green, Chip Roy, Scott Perry and Troy Nels, opposing it and declaring that Mike Johnson's move is not conducive to the internal unity of the Republican Party. These people received support from the Russian government, and Russian state television publicly praised Marjorie Taylor Green: "She thinks that the Americans should help Putin win." ”
Marjorie Taylor Greene has publicly stated that the Kremlin will not move forward after taking Ukraine, using this as an excuse to oppose aid to Ukraine and threatening to remove fellow Republican Mike Johnson from the US House of Representatives. And after announcing the new foreign aid bill, Mike Johnson said that if Putin defeats Ukraine, he will invade other countries next, "It's vital to provide lethal military aid to Ukraine right now, and I'd rather send bullets to Ukraine than send American boys." ”