Speaker of the House of Representatives Mike Johnson, R-La., will head to the House of Representatives on Friday, March 22, 2024. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., later filed a motion to remove him from the speakership. day.
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House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said Monday he plans to move forward with four individual bills to fund Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan, separating key components of a foreign aid package that has been in the House of Representatives for months.
Johnson held a conference with Republicans in the House of Representatives on Monday evening to outline the four bills: one to fund Israel, another for Ukraine, another for Taiwan and a fourth that would roll up several foreign policy proposals into one.
The plan comes as Johnson weighs political threats from his party members against the added pressure to provide military support to Israel following Iran's attack last weekend.
On Saturday, Iran launched more than 300 drones and missiles at Israel, most of which were intercepted through a coordinated effort between Israel, the US and other partners in the region.
In the days since the Iranian attack, Johnson has faced a renewed push to end the months-long standoff over the $95 billion foreign aid package to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, which the Senate passed in February and has been in the House of Representatives ever since.
On Sunday, President Joe Biden spoke with Johnson, as well as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y.
On Monday, the White House reiterated its call on the House of Representatives to bring the joint $95 billion foreign aid package to the House of Representatives. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby added at a news conference that Biden would oppose a standalone bill to fund Israel alone.
Along with pressure from the Biden administration, Johnson faces the possibility that his own party members could oust him.
In March, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., made a motion to fire Johnson but did not force a vote on the motion. She said the move was more of a “warning.”
On Monday, Greene expressed dissatisfaction with Johnson's four-bill foreign aid plan, but said she had not yet made a decision on whether to move forward with the eviction motion.
“I am firmly against the plan as it stands,” Greene told reporters Monday as she left the House Republican meeting. “This is such a scam and people are so fed up with it.”
“He certainly won't be a speaker at the next Congress if we are lucky enough to have the majority,” Greene added.
