Ads to push Womack, others for House vote on Ukraine aid
WASHINGTON — An organization supporting Ukraine in its war against Russia has launched an advertisement campaign calling on U.S. Rep. Steve Womack, R-Ark., and some of his Republican colleagues to support an effort to put the Senate’s international aid package before the full House of Representatives.
Republicans for Ukraine announced the six-figure campaign Wednesday with the goal of persuading Womack and nine other House Republicans to back a discharge petition related to the Senate’s $95.3 billion proposal providing assistance to Ukraine, Israel and Indo-Pacific partners.
The Senate approved the package on Feb. 13 with billions of dollars for military assistance, replenishing defense supplies, and humanitarian aid for people impacted by ongoing conflicts. The legislation sets aside $60.1 billion to support Ukraine as it enters a third year of war against invading Russian military forces.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has not shared urgency in putting the package before the full House, instead criticizing Congress’ upper chamber for inaction in addressing security at the U.S.-Mexico border.
House members could consider the Senate’s bill by means of a discharge petition. The rule allows members to bring legislation before the full chamber without committee action or leadership support. Such a mechanism requires majority support.
While Republicans control the House, the House Republican Conference has only 219 seats, leaving little room for inner-party opposition in the 431-member chamber. House Republicans failed to advance multiple bills during their time in power because they have repeatedly stumbled in gathering enough votes to advance measures through the legislative process.
The group picked Womack and the other members based on the belief they would be most likely sign a discharge petition regarding the package.
“It only takes four Republicans signing a discharge petition to help our allies and protect our national security. There’s safety in numbers, and the more Republicans who sign, the safer they will be,” said Gunner Ramer, Republicans for Ukraine’s national spokesperson.
Republicans for Ukraine is a project of Defending Democracy Together, a political group whose leadership includes conservatives opposed to former President Donald Trump.
Womack was unavailable for comment Wednesday; a spokesperson told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette the congressman was busy attending events in the 3rd Congressional District. Federal lawmakers are spending this week away from Capitol Hill as part of state and district work periods.
The campaign additionally targets Reps. Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin, Ken Buck of Colorado, Mike McCaul of Texas, Mike Rogers of Alabama, Mike Turner of Ohio, Don Bacon of Nebraska, Jake Ellzey of Texas, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, and Dan Crenshaw of Texas.
The advertising campaign’s crux is a 60-second video of Republicans from across the country urging congressional action in supporting Ukraine. The video will run digitally in each lawmaker’s district.
“If Russia was to prevail in Ukraine,” one speaker says, “China, North Korea, Iran see that the world is not united.”
“The core idea of the Republican Party was opposition to the forces of communism,” another speaker states.
Ramer, in a news release, expressed optimism about the House passing the package “overwhelmingly with strong Republican support” in the event of a successful discharge petition.
The Senate voted 70-29 on passing the package. Most Senate Democrats backed the legislation, yet the Republican caucus was divided on the matter. Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., voted for the measure, while Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., opposed the proposal.
Boozman, of Rogers, had voted against advancing the legislation before the Senate’s final vote, but his support stemmed from hope the House could insert amendments to “influence these policies and help secure even better outcomes.”
Cotton, of Little Rock, connected his opposition to the lack of border security language and insufficient guardrails in the package’s humanitarian aid portion.