Congress on Saturday passed three bills representing aid to American allies. A fourth bill passed by Congress represents foreign policy objectives such as forcing a sale of TikTok and seizing frozen Russian assets to pay for Ukraine’s reconstruction, as well as imposing sanctions and other punitive measures against Russia, China and Iran.
Congresswoman Carol Miller, R-W.Va., voted yes for each as she had previously said she would do. Miller represents counties in the southern half of West Virginia.
Congressman Alex Mooney, R-W.Va., is listed by the Clerk of the House of Representatives as “not voting” on each of the bills considered Saturday afternoon.
Mooney represents counties in the northern half of West Virginia and competing is in the Republican primary race for U.S. Senate. His social media accounts showed images today from campaign events in Mercer County, Charleston and Webster County.
In two of those posts, he accused his opponent, Gov. Jim Justice, of not debating him and “showing that he only cares about the DC establishment, swamp.”
On votes in Washington, D.C., today like one for aid to Israel, Mooney was one of just seven representatives listed as “not voting” on each of Saturday’s key bills.
Mooney’s congressional office said, “Congressman Mooney was in West Virginia today and not present in DC for votes. Rep. Mooney already voted twice to support Israel funding and continues to strongly support our ally Israel. Rep. Mooney believes funding for other countries should only be considered when our own border with Mexico is secured first.
“The House has already passed the strongest border legislation in history in H.R. 2, the “Secure The Border Act.” Rep. Mooney believes Chuck Schumer should immediately bring that legislation up for a vote in the United States Senate.”
Miller, speaking this week on MetroNews’ “Talkline,” said she would support each of the bills in the aid package.
“The world’s hair is on fire,” Miller said, describing urgency. “We are in crazy times. And if you are a student of history and you start looking back to what was going on in the 30s, it’s kind of spooky how this is all kind of coming back to fruition.”
The bills passed on a bipartisan basis include:
- The 21st Century Peace through Strength Act, which includes imposing sanctions on Russia and Iran as well as regulations on TikTok, passed 360-58.
- An $8.1 billion aid bill for Taiwan and the Indo-Pacific region, called the Indo-Pacific Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, passed on a vote of 385-34.
- The Ukraine Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, a $60 billion aid package for Ukraine, passed on a vote of 311-112. Roughly twice as many Democrats as Republicans, 210 to 101, voted for the Ukraine aid. Most of the money goes to U.S. weapons manufacturers to build back depleted U.S. weapons supplies, and about 20 percent of that goes directly to the country in the form of a loan.
- The Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, $26.3 billion in assistance, was approved on a vote of 366-58. This bill provides $17 billion in weapons for Israel and about $9 billion of humanitarian assistance for Gaza and elsewhere.
The bills are expected to be taken up in the Senate by Tuesday. West Virginia’s senators, Republican Shelley Moore Capito and Democrat Joe Manchin, have already expressed support for the aid.
Capito, in a briefing with West Virginia reporters late last week, referenced the recent Iranian drone and missile attack on Israel that was largely neutralized.
She called Israel “our strongest ally” and described “my strong support for aid to Israel to help them defend themselves. I also believe we should continue with the aid to Ukraine for them to push back on Putin and also help with the Taiwanese/Chinese situation to make sure China does not begin to empire-build again much like Putin is trying to do.”