[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 28 (Tuesday, February 13, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H546-H547]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          SUPPORTING THE SUPPLEMENTAL AID PACKAGE FOR UKRAINE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
North Carolina (Mr. Nickel) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. NICKEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the 
supplemental aid package for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan.
  This morning, the Senate passed the aid package with nearly all 
Senate Democrats voting in favor of the bill. I thank Senate Democrats 
for their tireless leadership on this issue and their commitment to 
democracy around the world.
  Madam Speaker, 22 Republicans also voted with nearly all Senate 
Democrats to move this bill to the House; 22 Senate Republicans voted 
to put country over party; 22 Senate Republicans voted to put democracy 
over Donald Trump.
  This bill includes funding to stand with our allies in Ukraine, 
Israel, and Taiwan. It also includes $9.2 billion in humanitarian 
assistance that is desperately needed to provide food, water, shelter, 
and medical care for the civilians in Gaza and the West Bank, Ukraine, 
and other war zones around the world.
  Now, Madam Speaker, the eyes of the world are watching the House of 
Representatives. Russia is watching. China is watching. Iran is 
watching. North Korea is watching.
  Authoritarian regimes around the world are watching the House. They 
are watching the people's House to see if we will honor our commitments 
and stand with democracies around the globe.
  We must stand with Ukraine and our allies.
  Madam Speaker, the world is watching the United States House of 
Representatives.
  Just last night, Speaker   Mike Johnson said that the bill was dead 
on arrival in the House, saying: ``[In] the absence of having received 
any single border policy change from the Senate, the House will have to 
continue to work its own will on these important matters.''
  He is reading straight out of the Vladimir Putin playbook. Inaction 
would be a gift to Russia and Vladimir Putin. By doing nothing, we 
would hand over Ukraine to Russia and Putin.
  Madam Speaker, Russia would not stop at Ukraine. As soon as Ukraine

[[Page H547]]

falls, they would move directly to another NATO ally.
  Now many of my constituents rightly question the high cost of this 
aid package. Support for Ukraine and our allies is in our national 
interest. It is a national security issue. If we hand over Ukraine to 
Russia, then Putin will win. Our alliances will crumble.
  While the costs are high, we will spend 100 times more containing an 
aggressive Russia around the globe if we do nothing. We must stand with 
our allies. This will be a vote where Members will be forced to choose 
between democracy and authoritarianism. That is the great challenge of 
our time, and we cannot fail.
  If Speaker Johnson fails to bring this bill to the floor, I believe 
the House will work its own will on this issue.

                              {time}  1215

  Our Speaker has made it clear that he is totally beholden to far-
right MAGA extremists--like we just heard from on the floor. It is the 
tail wagging the dog. However, I believe that a majority of the 
Republican Conference would vote for the Senate aid package if they 
were allowed to work their own will on the bill and this issue. 
However, if Speaker Johnson brings the bill to the floor, I believe he 
will be sacked by MAGA extremists in the Republican Conference. Let's 
be clear, it is the far right that is running the show in the House 
Republican Conference today.
  Far too much attention has been given to far-right extremists in this 
Congress. Much more attention should be given to the members of the 
Republican Conference who are retiring.
  Madam Speaker, any one Member can come down to the floor to offer a 
motion to vacate the chair. Only four House Republicans are needed to 
elect a new Speaker. If Mike Johnson fails to act, I believe there are 
many Republicans in the House who agree with the 22 Republicans in the 
Senate on this issue.
  I don't think we would have a Democratic Speaker. I believe, though, 
there is support for a temporary Speaker, a moderate to move bills that 
can get 60 votes in the Senate and move those through the House. Maybe 
a temporary Speaker for 2 or 3 weeks? That is what the Nation wants: 
Members of Congress willing to work together to get things done and to 
solve our Nation's toughest problems.
  We have just seen 22 Republicans in the Senate willing to vote 
country over party on this issue, and I believe there are Republicans 
in the House willing to do the same. That is the way we get bipartisan 
immigration reform and border security. It is the way we pass this 
supplemental appropriations bill to stand with our allies in Ukraine, 
Israel, and Taiwan.
  House Republicans have a choice, Madam Speaker. Are they 
prodemocracy, or are they pro-Putin? House Republicans can choose 
country over party or Russia over the United States. House Republicans 
can stand with our allies, or they can stand with Donald Trump.
  Will House Republicans stand with democratic nations like Ukraine, 
Israel, and Taiwan, or will they stand with authoritarian regimes like 
Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea? I have hope for the retiring 
Members of the Republican Conference, and I believe there are Members 
willing to stand with democracy over Donald Trump.
  Madam Speaker, you have heard House Democrats come to the floor and 
talk about voting to put people over politics. This is an issue that is 
people over politics, and we must not fail.

                          ____________________