NY Congressional Delegation Vote on the $95 Billion Foreign Aid Package

Foreign aid is a contentious issue in American politics, often sparking debates over national interests, fiscal responsibility, and global humanitarian efforts. The recent passage of a $95 billion aid package, including support for Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan, highlights the complexities in navigating partisan divides and policy disagreements. 

Speaker Johnson split the aid package into several bills to capitalize on support while minimizing opposition. The bills included an Israel aid bill, a Ukraine aid bill, a Taiwan aid bill, and a bill to ban TikTok.  This strategy allowed Johnson to prevent any part of the overall package from being derailed by opposition, especially from the Republican right wing.

The most significant and contentious piece was support for Ukraine, totaling nearly $61 billion. This aid package includes shoulder-fired Stinger surface-to-air missiles and other air defense munitions, 155-millimeter shells, Javelin anti-tank guided missiles, and cluster munitions. Within days of signing, Ukraine received $1 billion in military aid.  Much of the Ukrainian aid package will go to U. S. defense contractors to replace equipment in the U.S. arsenal previously sent to Ukraine.

Despite facing delays and opposition from ultraconservative Republicans, the $95 billion aid package ultimately garnered overwhelming bipartisan support in both the House and the Senate and was quickly signed by President Biden. However, dissent within the Republican Party, particularly in the House where Marjorie Taylor Greene will force a vote to oust Speaker Johnson, continues to be fueled by isolationist sentiments and skepticism of foreign entanglements, much like in the 1930s. 

Table 1: House Votes on the Foreign Aid Bills

For the Israel aid bill, out of 424 members voting, 366 voted “Yes,” 58 voted “No,” none voted “Present,” and seven did not cast a vote. Most Republicans voted “yes” on the Israel aid bill, indicating a broad consensus within the party to support aid to Israel.

For the Ukraine aid bill, out of 424 members voting, 311 voted “Yes,” 112 voted “No,” 1 voted “Present,” and seven did not cast a vote. Most Republicans voted against the Ukraine aid bill, reflecting resistance within the GOP to continuing aid to Ukraine against President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia’s invasion. Republicans voting against support for Ukraine extended from the ultra-right-wing members of the House Freedom Caucus to GOP House leadership such as Representative Elise Stefanik of New York, the No. 3 House Republican.

For the Taiwan aid bill, out of 420 members voting, 385 voted “Yes,” 34 voted “No,” 1 voted “Present,” and 11 did not cast a vote.

For the TikTok ban / Iran sanctions bill, out of 418 members voting, 360 voted “Yes,” 58 voted “No,” none voted “Present,” and 13 did not cast a vote.

Table 2: New York House Delegation Vote on Support to Israel

HR 8034, Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024

This table and the following tables breakdown the New York Congressional delegation votes on the aid packages, listing each member, their district, party affiliation (“D” Democrat, “R” Republican), and vote (“Y” for yes, “N” for no, and blank for not voting).  The NY 26^th District is currently vacant.

Of the 25 members in the NY delegation, almost all voted in favor of aid to Israel, reflecting bipartisan support for it. Three members voted “No”—Velázquez, Ocasio-Cortez, and Bowman. One member, Williams, did not vote.

All members representing Western New York congressional districts – Langworthy, Tenney, and Morelle – voted to approve aid to Israel.

Table 3: New York House Delegation Vote on Support to Ukraine

HR 8035 Ukraine Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024

Although it passed, support for the Ukraine aid package was more contentious in the House – 331 yes, 112 no.  The NY delegation’s vote was much more favorable and almost identical to the vote on aid to Israel.  Nearly all – 20 members of the NY delegation voted in favor of support to Ukraine, again, across party lines.  Four members, all Republicans –  Malliotakis, Stefanik, and two Western New York representatives, Langworthy and Tenney – voted “No”.  

During his April 29, 2024, telephone town hall, Representative Langworthy, representing NY 23 in Western New York and the Southern Tier, explained his “No” vote by saying that while he supported military aid to Ukraine, he objected to parts of the Ukraine aid package funding the operation of the Ukraine government.  

The 112 “No” votes in the House and the 4 “No” votes from the NY delegation align with former President Trump’s pronouncements.  He expresses admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin, who invaded Ukraine over two years ago.  Former President Trump has made it clear he will not support Ukraine if he returns as president for a second term.  

Langworthy and Tenney’s “no” vote on aid to Ukraine has been met with vocal opposition from Ukrainian leaders in Western New York. Emil Bandriwsky, president of the Dnipro Ukrainian Cultural Center, said that Langworthy’s and Tenney’s vote against the aid package was “…just shocking to me”. Mark Houghton, CEO of the Ukrainian Welcome Foundation of Western New York and vice president of the Ukrainian Congress said, “I’m absolutely appalled…The whole community is appalled…They’re actually just kowtowing to Trump.”  Anthony H. Gioia, longtime Republican donor and former ambassador to Malta said,“It’s disgusting…It’s despicable.”  Despite requests, Langworthy has refused to meet with Western New York Ukrainian leaders to discuss his “no” vote. 

Table 4.  New York House Delegation Vote on Support for Taiwan

HR8036 Indo-Pacific Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024

The NY congressional delegation voted to approve the Taiwan bill, which received 360 “yes” votes and 58 “no” votes in the House.  This reflects a bipartisan consensus in the House regarding the importance of Taiwan and the U.S. commitment to stability and security in the Indo-Pacific region.

Note: Representative Williams (R-NY22) missed all of these votes. He has a worse-than-average voting record.  He’s missed 8.1% of roll call votes versus 2.0% (median) for representatives currently serving.  Rep. Williams had heart bypass surgery last July.