House Democrats are making an effort to push for a floor vote on a Senate bill that enjoys bipartisan support. This bill aims to provide aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. The reason behind this push is the reluctance of House Republican leaders to address the legislation, despite mounting pressure.
Democrats are attempting to get around Republican leaders by utilizing a rarely successful legislative technique known as a discharge petition. They’ll need 218 signatures to trigger a vote on the Senate legislation.
The discharge petition went live on Tuesday morning and received dozens of signatures within hours of its announcement.
Democrats, who control 213 seats in the lower chamber, would require Republicans to sign the petition because progressives are sure to oppose the inclusion of Israel aid. Progressives have been harshly critical of Israel’s role in the Gaza conflict.
“We’re urging our colleagues, both Democrats and Republicans, to sign the discharge petition, which will bring the bipartisan Senate national security supplemental to the floor. During his weekly news conference on Tuesday, House Democratic Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar of California stated, “That is the fastest and easiest way to solve this issue.”
The Democrats’ discharge petition, however, faces opposition from Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, a Republican from Pennsylvania who co-chairs the moderate and bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus.
Fitzpatrick has offered a narrower, bipartisan foreign aid bill that contains border security provisions. His discharge petition was available for signatures a few hours after the Democratic version. He stated last week that he is not attempting to circumvent Republican leadership but that his use of a discharge petition is about “putting a clock on a time-sensitive matter.”
Rep. Don Bacon, a Republican from Nebraska and co-sponsor of the Fitzpatrick bill, asserted on Tuesday that the Democrats’ version is already dead and that Fitzpatrick’s proposal will receive support from 150 Republicans and 100 Democrats. He suggested they may get 218 signatures through the amendment process.
Aguilar pointed out that Fitzpatrick’s proposal, which would require Democratic backing, lacks humanitarian help and would have to go to the Senate for approval, “which could take weeks or months to deliver the critical aid that is required.”
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has urged House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, to allow a vote on the Senate’s foreign aid bill in the lower chamber.
“I want to encourage the speaker again to allow a vote,” said the Kentucky Republican on Tuesday. “Let the House speak on the supplemental that we sent over to them several weeks ago.”
