Standing next to a roaring fireplace in the lobby outside the House floor, Republican Representative Don Bacon of Nebraska paused to talk about the House's efforts to pass Ukraine funding. . ”
However, it is unclear who will take the next move.
Critics say Mr. Bacon and 14 members of the House of Representatives are taking what critics say is an unconventional, innovative and long-term effort to force passage of emergency financial aid for Ukraine. A bipartisan group of Congressmen has signed a formal “removal petition” to provide billions of dollars in aid. war-torn Ukrainewhere the supply of money and munitions is decreasing.
The expulsion petition, sponsored by Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, a Republican from suburban Philadelphia, is the latest in a rarely successful congressional tactic of forcing a House vote on bills that House leadership opposes or blocks.
The petition needs 218 votes to move to a floor vote. Only 15 signatures have been collected so far, including Fitzpatrick's, but supporters are bullish on its prospects. In an interview with CBS News, Fitzpatrick predicted a “dam breaking” that would lead to a wave of support and signatures for him.
“This is the best option available right now. Time is of the essence. Ukraine is extremely poor right now,” Fitzpatrick told CBS News. Mr Fitzpatrick said if party leaders backed his petition, it would quickly collect a wave of signatures.
“I'm in constant conversations with people on both sides,” Fitzpatrick said.
Democrats are trying to get something of their own. Petition for discharge from hospital This would force a vote on the Senate's national security bill, which would provide funding not only to Ukraine but also to Israel and Taiwan, but Prime Minister Boris Johnson was forced to vote on the Senate's national security bill, which would provide funding not only to Ukraine but also to Israel and Taiwan. will not be allowed to vote. border between America and Mexico.
With the House so dysfunctional this year, most controversial votes must be passed outside of traditional rules and protocol. To circumvent hurdles and voting procedures that have stood in the way of the House, Republican leaders passed major legislation with so-called rule suspensions, or bypassing the normal system. Approving the bill would require a supermajority of about 290 votes, with support from members of both parties.
The discharge petition plan drafted by Mr. Fitzpatrick would require just 218 votes to approve the Ukraine funds, which supporters said would dramatically increase the chances of passage. “If we did it with these (types of) orders, the bill would not pass,” Bacon said of the vote to suspend the rules. “We only need 218 votes.”
If the petition gathers 218 signatures, it could be used as leverage to speed up stalled negotiations between Congressional leaders. On Wednesday, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana told reporters that House Republican leaders are in ongoing discussions about how to provide foreign aid to Ukraine, but there are no deadlines or dates for the review. was not specified. “We've been looking at a number of ways to deal with this, and I'm not going to say today what those are,” Johnson said.
One idea gaining momentum among House Republicans is to send aid to Ukraine in the form of loans. Former President Donald Trump hinted at the idea in a post on Truth Social in February, and Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said in a recent meeting that he and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy had “no interest and no exemptions.” He said the idea of ”possible financing” was discussed.
House Speaker Johnson on Wednesday appeared open to the idea of the loan, telling reporters it was a “common sense proposal” that “many people” could understand. However, he pointed out that “the devil is always in the details and the text of the law.”
The House of Representatives is scheduled to leave Washington for a two-week district shift starting this weekend. At a press conference Wednesday, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell argued that the House should act with urgency and quickly approve the Senate-passed bill that provides tens of billions of dollars in aid to Ukraine.
Some of the 15 signatories to the House expulsion petition told CBS News they were confident that a vote on Ukraine financial aid would pass the House once it was approved. First-term Republican U.S. Rep. Jen Quiggans, who represents southeastern Virginia's large Navy community, told CBS News she hopes the petition will accelerate discussions and decisions on Ukraine. “This is the only mechanism I have right now. I'm hopeful that our leadership will listen,” Quiggans said.
“We are the world's superpower,” Quiggans said. “We have to be there for our friends.”
The effort received a new signature Wednesday from Republican Rep. Brandon Williams, who represents a battleground district in central New York.
Fitzpatrick told CBS News that the discharge application was designed with flexibility in mind. Details of the aid package and proposal could be expanded ahead of a vote in the House of Commons, potentially including further border security provisions and aid to the Middle East. “I have a very strong sense of urgency and would like to ask my colleagues to help.”
Bacon likened the strategy to a game of chess, saying House leaders could also move the pieces in Congress.
“They can amend our bill and do what they need to do,” Bacon told CBS News.
Ellis Kim contributed to this report.