US Congress may start collecting signatures this week to consider Ukraine aid
Photo: The US Congress may start collecting signatures this week to consider aid for Ukraine (Getty Images)
The US Congress may start collecting signatures this week to consider a bill to fund aid to Ukraine and other countries, bypassing the Speaker Mike Johnson, according to Republican Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick.
He says this is a pressure point, an attempt to apply pressure to force something to the voting floor.
The congressman emphasizes that if the House of Representatives cannot reach a consensus on the bill, the alternative should not be Ukraine's defeat in the war and an open US border.
The Republican adds that he is working with Johnson's office to bring the package to the House through regular channels. If Johnson refuses, congressmen will begin collecting signatures for a petition on Friday to bring the bill to the floor, bypassing the House Speaker.
Fitzpatrick is confident that the petition will get the necessary 218 votes.
What preceded it
On February 13, the US Senate approved a bill to provide $95 billion in aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. In particular, over $60 billion is provided for Ukraine.
For the bill to come into force, it still needs to be approved by the US House of Representatives and signed by President Joe Biden.
House Speaker Mike Johnson opposed the initiative. He did not submit the bill for consideration by the lower house of Congress. In his turn, President Joe Biden called on the House of Representatives to urgently approve the bill.
