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The U.S. Congress has taken a long-awaited leap toward rearming Ukraine, setting up votes Saturday that will have sprawling international consequences.
An informal coalition of like-minded lawmakers from both parties in Washington stuck together and busted through a procedural barricade that had been blocking a vote for months.
It happened after the Republican Speaker Mike Johnson took a career-threatening gamble: he declared himself willing to risk the wrath of the far right and its threats to oust him.
"History judges us for what we do," Johnson said earlier this week.
"[This is] a critical time on the world stage. I could make a selfish decision and do something that's different. But I am doing here what I believe to be the right thing."
After more than six months of stasis, he gave the House of Representatives a chance to weigh in Friday. When it finally did, the initial result was overwhelming, with three-quarters agreeing to advance the package.
Four bills headed for final vote
Now four bills that arm American allies and sanction U.S. rivals are scheduled for final votes in that chamber on Saturday afternoon.
The bills would supply weapons to Ukraine, Taiwan and Israel, sanction Iran, Hamas and Russia, and potentially ban the popular social media site, TikTok.
"The world has been watching," said Jim McGovern, a Democrat from Massachusetts who worked on the legislation.
"Our allies have been waiting, and waiting, and waiting for the GOP to get their act together.… The Ukrainian people have suffered as a result," he said. "This Republican delay has helped Putin and hurt Ukraine."
This 316-94 vote suggests the bills have enough support to pass the House, then the Senate, and become law. Adoption is not guaranteed, but highly likely.
The package actually received slightly more votes from the minority Democrats than from Republicans, something that rarely happens in Congress.
Democrats have made clear they are ready to do something they didn't for the last ousted speaker, Kevin McCarthy: vote to help Johnson keep his job.
That offer proved critical.
The Speaker had flinched at allowing a vote amid threats from his own side. Some pro-Trump lawmakers like Marjorie Taylor Greene are vitriolic in their opposition to aiding Ukraine, and have threatened to dump Johnson.
She has called Johnson a mini-tyrant. Others on the right have more articulately cited their concerns about the legislation.
"How long are we putting America last?" said one Republican opponent, Ralph Norman, who was unsuccessful at blocking the bills at committee. "It's something I can't live with."