Multi-billion international aid package blocked
US politician and Trump ally Mike Johnson has voted ‘no’ to a $95 billion security and humanitarian aid package that was destined for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan
READING LEVEL: ORANGE
Republican* US* House of Representatives* Speaker* Mike Johnson has indicated* again he has no immediate plans to allow the chamber* to vote on a US$95 billion (AUD* $146.55 billion) package of international security assistance for Ukraine in particular, alongside Israel and Taiwan.
“We’re not going to be forced into action by the Senate,” Johnson said at House leaders’ weekly news conference.
At the White House*, US President Joe Biden said that helping US allies* – and particularly coming to the aid of Ukraine as it struggles to fend off a two-year Russian invasion* – is a fundamental* responsibility.
“History is watching,” said Biden.
“Supporting this bill* is standing up to Putin*. Opposing it is playing into* Putin’s hands,” the Democrat added.
“No other president in our history has ever bowed down to a Russian dictator*.”
While Russian President Vladimir Putin failed in his initial aim of taking key Ukrainian cities in the first year of his war on Ukraine, he now appears increasingly confident of his strategy and its outcome, according to experts.
“It’s true to say that President Putin is confident that he can outlast the West* and so it’s incumbent* on us to show the resolve* to prove him wrong,” said a senior official from a Western country, asking not to be named.
Despite this, Johnson reiterated* his insistence* that any package of international military and humanitarian assistance must also include measures* to address* security at the US border with Mexico.
The Senate* passed* the security bill without border provisions* after Republicans blocked a version of the bill, the result of months of bipartisan* negotiations*, that included the biggest overhaul* of US immigration* policy in decades.
The aid* package received 70 votes – including “ayes”* from 22 Republicans – in the Senate, which is narrowly controlled by Democrats*. But to become law, it must also pass the House, where Johnson’s Republicans have a slim majority and thus exert* almost total control over what comes up for a vote.
“We’re going to continue to demand that before we take care of issues all around the world, we take care of our own first,” Johnson said, referring to border measures.
He said that Republicans had refused the compromise* bill with border measures because it was inadequate*.
“The reason that the other one was dead on arrival* is because it did not meet the moment, it would not have solved the problem,” Johnson said.
GLOSSARY
- Republican: a member of a political party in the United States that typically holds conservative views
- US: abbreviation of United States of America
- House of Representatives: one of the two parts of US parliament where laws are made
- Speaker: the leader of the House of Representatives who oversees debates and makes sure things run smoothly
- indicated: showed or suggested
- chamber: a room where meetings or official gatherings take place
- AUD: Australian dollar
- White House: The official residence and workplace of the President of the United States
- allies: countries or groups that work together and support each other
- invasion: when one country’s military forces enter another country with hostile intent
- fundamental: very important or essential
- responsibility: something that someone is expected or required to do
- bill: a proposed law that is being discussed and voted on
- playing into: doing something that helps someone achieve their goals, often unintentionally
- dictator: a ruler who has complete control over a country and often uses power oppressively
- West: While geographically located in the Southern Hemisphere, Australia is often considered part of the Western world due to its historical, cultural, political, and economic ties with Western countries such as the United States and Canada
- incumbent: necessary
- resolve: determination
- reiterated: repeated or said again
- insistence: firmly stating or demanding something
- measures: actions or steps taken to achieve a particular purpose
- address: to deal with or focus on a specific issue.
- Senate: the other part of the US parliament where laws are made
- passed: approved or accepted
- provisions: conditions or requirements included in a law or agreement
- bipartisan: involving members from two different political parties
- negotiations: discussions aimed at reaching an agreement
- overhaul: a major change or improvement
- immigration: the process of people moving into a new country to live there permanently
- aid: help or support, especially in the form of money or resources
- ayes: yes votes
- Democrats: members of the Democratic political party which are the other major political party in the US
- exert: to apply or use power or influence
- compromise: an agreement reached by both sides giving up something to meet in the middle
- inadequate: not enough or sufficient
- dead on arrival: completely rejected or dismissed from the start
EXTRA READING
Ukraine kids’ ‘new normal’ of war
Australian boy, 10, writes of his ‘terrifying’ time in war zone
QUICK QUIZ
- Who is Mike Johnson, and what position does he hold?
- Why did Mike Johnson refuse to allow a vote on the $95 billion package?
- What does Mike Johnson want to include in the international assistance package, besides military and humanitarian aid?
- How did the Senate vote on the security bill, and what happened to the version that included immigration policy changes?
- Why did Republicans refuse the compromise bill, according to Mike Johnson?
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CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1. Why Give Assistance?
Why do countries give assistance to other countries? Write a list of as many reasons as you can think of.
Time: allow at least 20 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Civics and Citizenship
2. Extension
Do you know the how the system of the federal government in the United States works? Use your research skills to find out. Then, create a chart that shows the similarities and differences between the United States system and our Federal government of Australia. (Use your research skills if you need to check your knowledge of our system).
Time: allow at least 45 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Civics and Citizenship
VCOP ACTIVITY
Imaginative dialogue
Imagine you were there during the event being discussed in the article, or for the interview.
Create a conversation between two characters from the article – you may need or want to include yourself as one of the characters. Don’t forget to try to use facts and details from the article to help make your dialogue as realistic as possible.
Go through your writing and highlight any punctuation you have used in green. Make sure you carefully check the punctuation used for the dialogue and ensure you have opened and closed the speaking in the correct places.