US House approves $61bn in military aid for Ukraine after months of stalling

[BeyondGeography]

After months of stalling, the US House of Representatives finally approved more than $61bn worth of military assistance to help Ukraine in its desperate defense against Russia.

The bipartisan vote saw 210 Democrats and 101 Republicans join to support Ukraine, with 112 Republicans voting against. It came after the Republican speaker, Mike Johnson, forced a series of bills onto the floor in the face of fierce resistance within his own Republican party, many of whom oppose spending more on Ukraine’s defense.

Voting began hours ahead of schedule in an extraordinary Saturday session that delayed the House’s planned recess.

In a powerful effort to sum up the stakes before the vote, the former Democratic speaker, Nancy Pelosi, made a stridently graphic appeal: “I hope our colleagues will choose democracy and decency rather than autocracy and evil because I fear if you choose the Putin route, you will have blood on your hands, blood of the children, blood of their mothers raped in front of their parents, raped in front of their children,” she said.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/apr/20/us-house-approves-61bn-aid-ukraine?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

I won’t lie, I am almost tearful with gratitude for this.

President Biden is such a pro, this only happens IMO because he got through to Johnson about what’s at stake in Ukraine. Biden was patient, he held his fire, he got his points across to the Speaker.

He got it done.

Four more years.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

1. Ha, Ha,

Moscow Marge and Putin must be pissed off right now and I'm loving it.

[Deuxcents]

2. 🇺🇦🇺🇦

[bucolic_frolic]

3. You mean it wasn't LNG project that tipped the scale?

In Louisiana?

MAGA Mike sold out to patriotism over Trump and Putin? I mean it is news, but why did he cave? Freedom Caucus won't be pleased.

[BeyondGeography]

5. There's always a sweetener

But there are human elements too.

One thing that’s coming out repeatedly is that Dems have an element of trust in Johnson that was completely lacking with McCarthy. He does what he says he’s going to do. That might be the wrong thing from our POV 99% of the time but he is not the backstabber McCarthy was.

Or as Dan Kildea put it: "McCarthy was both incompetent and dishonest. Johnson is just incompetent."

[onecaliberal]

4. Tears of joy

🙌

[wendyb-NC]

6. It's about time

Thank the force of the Universe. This is so needed by Ukraine.

[Fiendish Thingy]

7. Anyone know when the Senate will vote?

My understanding is Schumer delayed the recess scheduled for next week so they could vote on these bills.

[BeyondGeography]

8. Rand Paul is going to slow walk it

But my understanding is the most he can delay is until the end of next week.

[BeyondGeography]

9. Listen to those cheers at the end of this clip

?si=6DtHFVCaqFPVxEnY

[captain queeg]

10. So assuming the senate doesn't stall too long, how long till the funds start flowing?

I’m sure Joe has made it so things will break loose a quickly as possible. There are some things they do like lending ammunition to be repaid at a later date. The sooner the better, and a big FU to Putin and trump.

[republianmushroom]

11. Should of happened months ago, but, it didn't, has now, thank you.

[Model35mech]

12. SO...SHIP THE MILITARY AID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dammit.