Congress finally passes $60.8bn billion Ukraine aid bill as speaker’s fate hangs in the balance

The House of Representatives finally passed aid for Ukraine on Saturday in a move that could threaten Speaker Mike Johnson’s political future.

Members voted 311-112 to pass the $60.8bn package, which the Senate had previously passed. The legislation’s successful passage elicited cheers and waving of Ukrainian flags on the House floor, as well as chants of “Slava Ukraini!” – meaning “glory to Ukraine”. Angry conservatives fumed at their colleagues after the vote, with one speaking into the mic: “Put those damn flags away!”

The money will be the latest instalment of military aid to help Ukraine defend itself against the brutal Russian invasion launched in February 2022.

Passage of the three foreign aid bills through the Senate is slated to take place on Tuesday, per Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. The two other portions of the national security supplemental package, dealing with Israel and Taiwan, both passed with significant bipartisan margins. The House version of the supplemental changed the military assistance to Ukraine into a loan, a mostly failed bid to entice conservatives to get on board.

“If the hotline clears this morning, we expect to announce an agreement allowing the next vote on Tuesday, early afternoon”, said the Senate majority leader, according to Punchbowl News. Parts of the legislation were already passed by the upper chamber, making the path to the president’s desk fairly straightforward from here.

“This is not a blank check, like the Senate’s version,” Mr Johnson told reporters after the vote. “The loan system… is a House innovation.”

“I know there are critics of the legislation, I understand that,” he added. “But there is no question whatsoever that the House has made many improvements to the