(Central News Agency, Washington, 20th, comprehensive foreign news report) The Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives today passed a legislative plan worth a total of US$95 billion (approximately NT$3.09 trillion) to provide security assistance to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, and force TikTok to leave Chinese parent company ByteDance.
CNN reported that the House of Representatives passed the first bill to be voted on today, the 21st Century Peace through Strength Act, by a vote of 360 to 58 today. The content of the bill These include sanctions on Iran, the seizure and freezing of Russian sovereign assets, and forcing the short video platform TikTok to separate from its Chinese parent company ByteDance, otherwise it will face a nationwide ban in the United States. TikTok has about 170 million users in the United States.
Then, the House of Representatives voted 385 to 34 to pass the US$8.1 billion “Indo-Pacific Security Supplemental Bill” (Indo-Pacific Security Supplemental Bill), which includes US$2 billion in military funding to Taiwan and other major allies, $1.9 billion to replenish defense supplies and services to Taiwan and regional partners, and $8.1 billion to counter China.
The “Ukraine Security Supplemental Appropriations Act” (Ukraine Security Supplemental Appropriations Act) passed by a vote of 311 to 112. The bill will provide $61 billion to assist Ukraine and regional partners in fighting Russia.
Finally, the House of Representatives voted 366 to 58 to pass the “Israel Security Supplemental Bill” to provide $26.4 billion in aid to Israel.
After the above four bills are passed by the House of Representatives, they will be merged into one amendment and submitted to the Senate.
Reuters reported that more than two months have passed since the Democratic-led federal Senate passed a similar measure. Leaders from Democratic President Joe Biden to Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell have been urging embattled Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson to bring it to a vote.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has previously promised that once the House of Representatives passes the above measures, the Democratic-majority Senate will act quickly. Some hard-line Republican far-right lawmakers have warned they may oust Johnson for pushing the bills. (Translator: Shi Shi) 1130421
