House Democrats try to force floor vote on foreign aid for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan

House Democrats Push for Floor Vote on Bipartisan Senate Bill

Washington — House Democrats are making efforts to force a floor vote on a bipartisan Senate bill that would provide aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. This move comes as House Republican leaders have been resisting pressure to take up the legislation.

Democrats are utilizing a rarely successful legislative maneuver called a discharge petition to bypass Republican leaders. They will need 218 signatures to compel a vote on the Senate bill.

The Discharge Petition

The discharge petition went live on Tuesday morning and garnered dozens of signatures within hours of the announcement.

1. Discharge Petition

Democrats, who hold 213 seats in the lower chamber, would require the support of Republicans to sign the petition. However, they are likely to lose the support of progressives due to the inclusion of aid for Israel. Progressives have been highly critical of Israel over the war in Gaza.

“What we’re asking our colleagues — Democrats and Republicans — is to sign the discharge petition that will bring to the floor the Senate national security bipartisan supplemental. That is the fastest and easiest way to solve this issue,” said House Democratic Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar of California during his weekly news conference.

Competing Effort from Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick

However, the Democrats’ discharge petition faces a competing effort from Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, a Republican from Pennsylvania and co-chair of the moderate and bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus.

Fitzpatrick has introduced a smaller bipartisan foreign aid bill that includes border security measures. His discharge petition opened for signatures a couple of hours after the Democratic version. He stated last week that he is not trying to work around GOP leadership, but rather putting a time limit on a time-sensitive matter.

Rep. Don Bacon, a Nebraska Republican who co-sponsored the Fitzpatrick bill, predicts that about 150 Republicans and 100 Democrats would support Fitzpatrick’s version. They could reach 218 signatures through the amendment process.

Aguilar pointed out that Fitzpatrick’s version lacks humanitarian aid and would need Democratic support. Additionally, it would have to go to the Senate for approval, which could take weeks or months to deliver the critical aid that is necessary.

Call for a Vote

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell called on 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 McConnell. “Let the House speak on the supplemental that we sent over to them several weeks ago.”

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

• Goal 1: No Poverty
• Goal 2: Zero Hunger
• Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being
• Goal 4: Quality Education
• Goal 5: Gender Equality
• Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
• Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
• Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• Goal 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
• Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities
• Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
• Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
• Goal 13: Climate Action
• Goal 14: Life Below Water
• Goal 15: Life on Land
• Goal 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
• Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals

Ellis Kim contributed reporting.

More from CBS News

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

The article discusses the efforts of House Democrats to force a floor vote on a bipartisan Senate bill that would provide aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. This issue is connected to SDG 16, which aims to promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all, and build effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels. It is also connected to SDG 17, which focuses on strengthening the means of implementation and revitalizing global partnerships for sustainable development.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 16.1: Reduce violence and related death rates
• SDG 16.6: Develop effective, accountable, and transparent institutions at all levels
• SDG 17.16: Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development

The specific targets identified based on the article’s content include reducing violence and related death rates (SDG 16.1), developing effective, accountable, and transparent institutions at all levels (SDG 16.6), and enhancing the global partnership for sustainable development (SDG 17.16).

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Number of violent incidents and related death rates
• Level of transparency and accountability in institutions
• Level of international cooperation and support for aid programs

The article does not provide specific indicators, but progress towards the identified targets can be measured by tracking the number of violent incidents and related death rates, assessing the level of transparency and accountability in institutions, and evaluating the level of international cooperation and support for aid programs.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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Source: cbsnews.com

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