This Saturday, several hot issues awaited the American House of Representatives. We summarize for you all the decisions adopted – or not – and which will subsequently have to be voted on by the Senate, from Tuesday.
A vote in favor of aid to Ukraine
It was one of the most anticipated decisions. The American House of Representatives adopted a package of 61 billion to help Ukraine at war against Russia. This military and economic assistance, the result of months of extremely tense and laborious negotiations, must now be approved in the Senate, where a first vote could take place as early as Tuesday.
A text to support Taiwan
Among other important decisions, the House of Representatives also adopted a text to stand up to China militarily by investing in submarines and helping Taiwan. An envelope of 8 billion dollars.
In the process, Anthony Blinken, the American Secretary of State, indicated that he would go to Beijing next week to ask China to avoid any “provocative” measures during the inauguration of Taiwanese President-elect Lai Ching-te.
A decision against TikTok
Among the major decisions this Saturday, elected officials issued an ultimatum to TikTok, which provides for the ban of the application in the United States, unless the social network cuts its ties with its parent company ByteDance, and more broadly with China. The video platform is accused by American officials of allowing Beijing to spy on and manipulate its 170 million users in the United States.
New aid for Israel
The plan debated in Congress provides for $13 billion in military assistance to Israel, a historic ally of the United States, at war with Hamas. These funds will be used in particular to strengthen the Israeli anti-missile shield, the “Iron Dome”.
More than $9 billion is also planned to “respond to the urgent need for humanitarian aid in Gaza and other vulnerable populations around the world,” according to a summary of the text.
This vote “proves the close ties and strategic partnership between Israel and the United States and sends a strong message to our enemies,” declared Israel Katz on his X account. The text must now be approved in the Senate, where a first vote could take place as early as Tuesday.
Joe Biden welcomed the adoption of this crucial aid to Ukraine and Israel. This $95 billion envelope sends “a clear message about the power of American leadership throughout the world,” said the Democratic leader. He urged the Senate to approve these envelopes as quickly as possible.