Pass Ukraine Aid Bill, Crush MAGA

Bipartisan alliance is needed to defeat MAGA extremists in the House.

Feb 14, 2024

Feathers of Hope is a network of ordinary citizens who have joined together around a shared commitment to diminishing the power and influence of MAGA extremists in the House of Representatives.

Since January, 2023, we have been urging moderate Republicans and Democrats to form a bipartisan majority voting bloc in order to conduct our nation’s legislative business, and to defend the institution from its internal enemies.

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22 Republicans join 48 Democrats, marginalizing MAGA extremists.

Early Tuesday morning (2/13), the U.S. Senate passed the National Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024 (HR 815). This is the bill commonly referred to in media accounts as the Ukraine, Israel Aid Package. It includes about $60 billion in support of Ukraine, $14 billion in support of Israel, $2 billion in support of Taiwan, and $9 billion of humanitarian assistance for civilians in war zones.

The bill is essentially the same as one that was defeated in the Senate last week, when it contained a border security package that Republicans had demanded be attached. That version of the bill failed to pass when only 4 Republicans voted for it. Minus the border provisions, HR 815 gained 18 more Republican votes to pass by a strong bipartisan 70-29 majority.

In the House, HR 815 also enjoys bipartisan majority support.

But Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has indicated that he will likely refuse to bring it to the floor for a vote. Incredibly, he criticized the bill as lacking “real border security provisions.” This is despite his having previously rejected the earlier version, which had those provisions.

Such inconsistency has become something of a theme with Mr. Johnson. Last year, after becoming Speaker, he said this regarding aid for Ukraine:

“Now, we can’t allow Vladimir Putin to prevail in Ukraine, because I don’t believe it would stop there, and it would probably encourage and empower China to perhaps make a move on Taiwan. We have these concerns. We’re not going to abandon them.”

The Speaker is defying the will of the majority of House Members, bowing to pressure from MAGA extremists.

That is why we must continue to exert our own pressure on him, and on those Republicans who support aid to Ukraine. If Mr. Johnson can not be convinced, supporters should be urged to sign a “discharge petition” to force a vote on the bill.

Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) began suggesting using a discharge petition a few days ago. The highly influential Republican moderate Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.), a retired Air Force Brigadier General, has publicly committed to working with Mr. Jeffries to see that HR 815 is passed:

"I know we need to get aid to Israel quickly, and it’s in our national security interests to keep Ukraine independent and help Ukrainians defeat Russia’s barbaric invasion by sending them military weapons. I’ll work with the like-minded folks and the Speaker to determine what is best way to move forward."

So we are once again repeating our call to action.

If a bipartisan alliance can succeed in passing the Ukraine aid bill, it will not only be a boon for Ukraine. It will also reinforce American support for the European Union and NATO, as well as deliver another defeat to the MAGA extremists in the House of Representatives.

Please call your own Representative in Congress today. Urge them to support passage of the aid package for Ukraine immediately. If you don’t know their office phone number, you can call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121.

Also, please call the office of Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA): (202) 225-4000. Remind him that Ukraine is fast running out of resources and needs our assistance immediately. Bring the combined aid package to the floor now.

In addition, here are the numbers of six influential “traditional Republicans” who have military, intelligence and/or foreign policy credentials. Their support can be decisive:

Don Bacon (R-NE-02): (202) 225-4155
Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01): (202) 225-4276
Mike Gallagher (R-WI-08): (202) 225-5665
Mike Garcia (R-CA-27): (202) 225-1956
Nick LaLota (R-NY-01): (202) 225-3826
Jen Kiggans (R-VA-02): (202) 225-4215

(When calling these offices, you may be asked whether you live in the Representative’s district. If asked, I always answer “No, I do not. But the issue I’m calling about affects everyone in every district.” If the automated system asks, choose resident or you’ll be cut off.

I’ve never had a Congressional aide refuse to talk to me after giving this answer. Generally, they’re happy to talk with anyone who is courteous and respectful. -JW)

Conservative columnist Max Boot recently visited Ukraine.

On Monday he wrote of his experience in the Washington Post. He began the column with this:

“KYIV — I wish House Speaker Mike Johnson and other MAGA Republicans who have been holding up desperately needed aid to Ukraine could see what I just saw there. In particular, I wish they had been with me on Wednesday morning in Dnipro, a bustling city of about 1 million people in eastern Ukraine. If they had been, they might be less willing to betray the people of Ukraine in their desperate struggle for survival against a barbaric invader.”

Mr. Boot went on to describe rushing to a bomb shelter at 5:15 am, where he and other hotel guests spent the next few hours waiting for the all-clear. The Russian missile attacks are targeting apartments, schools, hospitals, shopping malls and other civilian areas of no military value. The intent is to break the will of Ukrainian resistance.

In Kyiv, he visited a “subway school” held underground because it’s too dangerous for the children to go to their regular school above ground. There are five of these converted subway stations in the city — a heart-breaking response to the Russian assault, now extending into its third year.

One of the most serious problems facing the Ukrainian resistance is a growing shortage of weapons and ammunition.

Mr. Boot notes the various successes and failures of the Ukrainian military effort over the last two years. And he goes into some detail regarding the type of weaponry needed, observing that:

“Unless the United States steps forward soon, Ukraine will run low not only on artillery ammunition but also on air-defense ammunition. That could lead to greater destruction in its cities, which would spark a fresh refugee crisis and set back a burgeoning economic recovery.”

Unfortunately, Vladimir Putin’s effort to break the will of the Ukrainian people is having its effect. Morale is nowhere near as high as it was a year ago, and many are now willing to cede some territory in return for peace. But of course, the more successful Mr. Putin is, the less willing he is to compromise — particularly as he sees Republicans’ growing opposition to aiding Ukraine.

“Many Ukrainians told us that they are inspired to fight on in part because they know that they are not alone — they have the support of the West. If the United States were to cut them off, it would be, among other things, a devastating psychological blow, giving Ukrainians the impression that they are being abandoned.”

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