Democrats intervened to advance the bills to the floor after three conservative lawmakers voted against it. The bills, which include assistance to Israel, Ukraine, and the Indo-Pacific, as well as measures like forcing China to divest TikTok, were advanced by the House Rules Committee on April 18. The final tally to bring the rule to the House floor passed 9-3, with Democrats stepping in to help overcome the three conservative representatives who voted against it. The legislation will now move to a rules vote before final debate and votes on each individual bill. If passed, the bills will be packaged together and sent to the Senate. Given that Republicans can only afford two defections, it is likely that Democrats will be needed to advance the bills in the next procedural vote on the floor.
Johnson remains undeterred.
“My approach is to always do what is right and accept the consequences. If I let fear dictate my actions regarding a motion to vacate, I wouldn’t be fulfilling my duties,” he informed the press on April 17.
“We are currently in a pivotal moment in history—a crucial time on the global stage,” he added. “I could prioritize my own interests and make a different choice, but I am committed to doing what I believe is right here.”
