18 House Republicans defy Trump and vote to send $1.3 billion to Ukraine
Eighteen House Republicans joined nearly all Democrats to approve a $1.3 billion additional Ukraine aid package and new sanctions on Russia. The measure passed 226-195 despite opposition from House GOP leadership and President Donald trump’s preferred strategy. Rep. Kevin Kiley (I-CA) supported it as well, while only one Democrat and 194 Republicans voted against.
Kiley and Reps. Don Bacon and Brian Fitzpatrick helped bring the bill to the House floor by using a discharge petition, bypassing committee review after enough lawmakers signed on. Kiley said he backed the move because recent ceasefire failures showed diplomacy needs leverage.
Even though Democrats have pushed for the aid bill to reach the floor, many Republicans have resisted further Ukraine funding over concerns about corruption and argued the bill is outdated compared with newer NATO and Ukraine assistance priorities.Even with House approval,the legislation faces arduous prospects in the Senate due to the 60-vote filibuster requirement,and Trump could still veto it,requiring a two-thirds override in both chambers to become law.
Eighteen House Republicans broke ranks on Thursday and joined nearly every single Democrat in voting to send an additional $1.3 billion in aid to Ukraine and impose new sanctions on Russia.
In a 226-195 vote, the House approved the legislation, defying both House GOP leadership and President Donald Trump’s preferred approach to ending the war in Ukraine. Overall, 18 House Republicans voted with 207 Democrats to approve the measure.
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Rep. Kevin Kiley (I-CA), an independent who caucuses with Republicans, also voted in favor. One Democrat and 194 House Republicans opposed the measure.
Kiley and Reps. Don Bacon (R-NE) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) joined with Democrats to force the aid package to the floor using a discharge petition. The parliamentary procedure bypasses the committee process and forces legislation directly to a floor vote if 218 lawmakers sign on in support.
Kiley, who is facing an uphill reelection battle after mid-decade redistricting, said last month he was convinced to support the maneuver because “the collapse of the recent ceasefire shows that leverage is needed for diplomacy to succeed.
Democrats have long sought to bring a Ukraine aid bill to the House floor. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has also faced skepticism from lawmakers of both parties during multiple Capitol Hill budget-related hearings regarding Ukraine aid. Last month, Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) accused the Pentagon of failing to disburse $400 million in aid to Ukraine.
The majority of House Republicans have opposed additional aid to Ukraine over concerns about corruption in Kyiv. Instead, Trump has pushed NATO allies to purchase weapons directly from the United States and transfer them to Ukraine.
House Republicans have also argued that the bill, introduced last June, is outdated in relation to NATO spending and the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative.
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While the Ukraine aid package passed the House, it faces long odds of becoming law. In the Senate, the measure will require a bipartisan coalition to overcome the 60-vote filibuster threshold.
Even if the measure passes Congress, Trump can still veto it, which would require a two-thirds vote in both chambers to override.
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