WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – House lawmakers from both parties are working to force a vote on aid to Ukraine. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-La.) has refused to bring the bill to the floor.
Wednesday Democrats joined forces with veterans on Capitol Hill to put pressure on Republicans.
Iraq veteran Ryan O’Leary has been fighting alongside Ukraine soldiers since the start of the war as a volunteer. He criticized House Speaker Johnson for blocking the bill.
“If I and hundreds of other Americans and citizens from countries across the globe are willing to stand up and go to Ukraine and put our lives on the line for freedom and democracy the least you can do is put a call to vote on this bill,” O’Leary said.
The Senate passed the bill last month. Tuesday Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) called on Johnson to do the same adding, “the world is at war.”
“I want to encourage the Speaker again to allow a vote. Let the House speak,” said McConnell.
At a meeting with Poland’s prime minister Tuesday, President Joe Biden said the House is endangering all of NATO.
“Because as Poland remembers Russia won’t stop at Ukraine, Putin will keep going putting Europe the United States and the entire free world at risk,” said Biden.
The Biden administration announced a stop gap measure, $300 million in weapons scraped together from the defense budget.
It’s the first U.S. aid package for Ukraine in three months but the White House warns Ukraine needs much more soon.
