When Speaker Mike Johnson blocked the bill in committees, supporters of Ukraine aid turned to a tool long considered a weapon of desperation. A discharge petition — a petition that allows bypassing House leadership and bringing a bill directly to a vote — gathered the necessary 218 signatures by May 13. On June 3, the House voted 218–204 for a procedural motion that paved the way for the final vote.
This is the first major legislative step in support of Ukraine since Donald Trump's return to the White House, according to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
What's in the bill
The Ukraine Support Act, introduced by Democrat Gregory Meeks from New York, consists of three blocks. The first confirms support for Ukraine and NATO and establishes a position of special coordinator for reconstruction. The second authorizes over $1 billion in direct aid and up to $8 billion in the form of loans for weapons purchases. The third involves sanctions and export controls against Russia's banking sector, oil and mining industries, as well as restrictions on the president's ability to cancel sanctions without justification, according to Reuters.
As a separate provision, the bill requires restoring funding for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty — after the Trump administration attempted to cut it, and federal courts ordered the funds returned, as noted by Fox News.
Six Republicans who decided the outcome
The procedural motion was supported by six Republicans: Don Bacon (Nebraska), Brian Fitzpatrick (Pennsylvania), Mike Lawler (New York), Michael McCaul (Texas), Max Miller (Ohio), and Joe Wilson (South Carolina), as well as independent Kevin Kiley of California, who votes with Republicans.
"For me, this is a matter of moral conscience — especially after we saw three hypersonic missiles fired at Ukraine."
Michael McCaul (R-TX), NOTUS
McCaul acknowledged that he is generally opposed to discharge petitions because they bypass relevant committees. But he voted in favor. Lawler, on the other hand, insisted that the vote is not a signal against Trump: "This is about supporting Ukraine and where Congress stands on Russia."
Republican Chris Smith of New Jersey voted against it — precisely because of the procedure: "I don't believe in discharge petitions," he told The Hill, though he acknowledged having signed them previously.
Technical flaws that could cost votes in the Senate
The bill text contains at least one significant discrepancy: the amount allocated for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) is less than what Congress already approved in the 2026 Defense Act — $400 million. Additionally, the law requires NATO countries to spend 2% of GDP on defense, while in 2025 most allies have committed to reaching 5%, according to The Hill. These inconsistencies could complicate passage in the Senate.
Fitzpatrick expressed optimism ahead of the vote: if the bill passes with a narrow margin in the House, Republican support will grow on the final vote. However, the Trump administration has already made its position clear through silence — no public approval has been issued.
If the Senate does not remove the technical discrepancies in the text before the vote, the bill could end up in a stalemate not over politics, but over numbers.
