Ukraine aid bill

McCaul expects Johnson to bring Ukraine aid bill to the floor after Easter

“His commitment is to put it on the floor after Easter,” McCaul said Sunday during an interview on CBS’ “Face the Nation.”

By KELLY GARRITY

House Foreign Affairs Committee chair Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) said Sunday that he expects Speaker Mike Johnson to bring a Ukraine aid bill to the floor after Easter, despite the risk that it could drive support for a vote to oust him from leadership.

“His commitment is to put it on the floor after Easter,” McCaul said Sunday during an interview on CBS’ “Face the Nation.”

Johnson, McCaul acknowledged, is “in a very difficult spot.” There’s a chance the Louisiana Republican could be ousted from his speakership thanks to a motion Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) filed last week to remove him from his post after he leaned on Democratic support to pass a $1.2 trillion government funding deal.

So far, Republicans aren’t biting — at least not publicly. Conservatives weren’t happy with Johnson’s decision to shuttle the funding the bill along with the help of Democrats, but most have indicated they won’t go as far as Greene for now. And no other Republicans have publicly committed to voting to oust Johnson yet.

Ukraine aid could complicate things. Some Republican hardliners have come out against sending more assistance to the country as it struggles to beat back Russian forces after more than two years of fighting.

But McCaul voiced optimism about the prospect of a bill on Sunday.

“I believe [Johnson is] committed because he understands national security- he leans on, you know, myself, the Chairman of Armed Services, House Intelligence for advice on this. And he knows how important this is,” McCaul said.

McCaul didn’t get more specific on the timeline, but said he hopes to get Ukraine funding done “as soon as possible.”

Such a bill could also help Johnson shore up support from Democrats should members of his own caucus decide to vote him out.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) said Sunday that should another vote for Speaker be called, she’d likely back House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. But should Democrats decide to come to Johnson’s aid, “I don’t we do that for free,” she said Sunday during an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union.”