House GOP Releases National Security Funding Bills Ahead of Weekend Votes

House Appropriations Committee Chair Tom Cole (R-OK) officially filed bill text for a slate of national security-focused supplemental funding bills as Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) readies weekend votes to try and clinch the measures ahead of the Passover district work period. The three bills would provide roughly $61 billion for Ukraine, $26.4 billion for Israel and Gaza, and $8.1 billion for U.S. allies in the Indo-Pacific. Lawmakers will also take up a fourth measure that includes, among other things: (1) an updated version of the TikTok divestiture-or-ban legislation that extends the divestment period from six months to one year; (2) a provision allowing the Biden administration to sell frozen Russian assets; and (3) additional sanctions and other measures against Russia, China, and Iran.

• Context & Next Steps. The Rules Committee is meeting today to develop a rule that will govern debate on all four measures, but GOP leadership is facing some opposition from Republican lawmakers on the panel. Notably, Reps. Chip Roy (R-TX), Thomas Massie (R-KY), and Ralph Norman (R-SC) are currently opposed to the supplemental funding bills and are prepared to vote No on the rule in committee to try and stall consideration. As such, Speaker Johnson and his leadership team will likely need help from Democrats on the Rules Committee — as well as the rank-and-file on the floor — to break any potential logjams in the process. Assuming the House can pass the rule, final votes on each of the four bills are expected on Saturday.