Both proposals face vocal adversaries in Congress, and their prospects of approval rely on a delicate bipartisan alliance to surmount legislative obstacles.
A crucial procedural vote on Friday offered a strong indication that the measures will succeed.
A discussion is currently ongoing, with voting anticipated later on Saturday.
House Speaker Mike Johnson asserts his determination to advance the proposals, even if it puts his position at risk.
The Ukrainian vote will be closely monitored in Kyiv, which has emphasized the urgent necessity for renewed backing from its allies as Russia continues to make strides on the battlefield.
Should the House endorse the bills, the Senate could greenlight the package as early as this weekend. President Joe Biden has committed to enacting it into law.
Mr. Johnson's proposal for foreign assistance allocates $60.8 billion (£49 billion) to Ukraine, $26.4 billion to Israel, and $8.1 billion to the Indo-Pacific region, including Taiwan. Each component will undergo separate voting in the House of Representatives, potentially leading to approval of some parts and rejection of others.
Additionally, the Speaker is presenting a fourth legislative piece for voting, encompassing mandates for Chinese company ByteDance to divest from the TikTok social media app, authorization for the sale of frozen Russian assets, and the imposition of fresh sanctions on Russia, Iran, and China.
Whatever gains approval will be amalgamated into a unified bill, necessitating Senate endorsement before reaching the president's desk.
Mr. Johnson has also pledged to introduce an immigration reform bill incorporating provisions favored by conservative Republicans, aiming to garner their backing for the aid package.
However, the border bill's passage seems improbable as it necessitates the support of two-thirds of the House, being submitted under a distinct procedural avenue.
Why have they been held up?
Public opinion surveys indicate a growing segment of Republicans opposes any fresh aid to Ukraine, while some progressives are against military backing for Israel. Although these sentiments didn't thwart the US Senate from passing legislation containing support for both nations in February, the scenario has shifted in the House.
With a slim majority in the chamber, Mr. Johnson faces pressure from a faction of conservatives threatening his ousting if he supports new aid for Ukraine. Led by Georgia congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, the effort has garnered two other backers so far: Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Paul Gosar of Arizona.
Until now, the Speaker has been hesitant to confront his right-wing detractors. However, on Wednesday, he altered his stance, stating his aim is to "do the right thing and accept the consequences."
Simultaneously, left-leaning Democrats who protest Israel's actions in the Gaza conflict vow not to condone the US's involvement in a human rights crisis. The Israel aid package includes $9 billion in humanitarian assistance, potentially swaying some reluctant Democrats.
By permitting separate votes on Israel and Ukraine aid, Mr. Johnson aims to enable individual legislators to oppose provisions they disagree with without jeopardizing the entire endeavor.
What's at stake?
Biden administration officials have issued stark warnings regarding the dire state of affairs in Ukraine. The country's armed forces are facing ammunition shortages, and morale is dwindling as the Russian military advances.
CIA Director William Burns cautioned during a speech in Texas on Thursday that there's a genuine risk of Ukrainian defeat on the battlefield by the end of 2024, or at least a scenario where Russian President Vladimir Putin could essentially dictate terms for a political resolution.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal emphasized in an interview with the BBC on Wednesday the urgent need for new support, stressing that Ukraine required assistance "yesterday, not tomorrow, not today," and cautioned that without American aid, Ukraine's fate would be sealed.
While Israel's military situation stands in stark contrast to that of Ukraine, President Biden highlighted the necessity to replenish the nation's advanced air defense systems, which faced a significant trial during last weekend's Iranian missile and drone attack.
"This moment is critical," Mr. Biden emphasized in a Wall Street Journal opinion piece on Wednesday, urging the House of Representatives to take action.
So will they pass?
On Thursday, Democrats aligned with Republicans supporting Mr. Johnson banded together to ensure the aid legislation overcame a significant procedural obstacle in the House Rules Committee, despite dissent among conservative factions.
Friday morning saw a similar coalition of Democrats and pro-aid Republicans in the full House vote 316-94 to advance debate and final voting on the legislation scheduled for Saturday afternoon. This substantial margin signals a strong likelihood of a broad bipartisan majority in the chamber approving the package.
Democratic backing could also offer Mr. Johnson a political reprieve, as his strategy of circumventing his party's staunch conservatives to enact legislation might compel them to act on their threats to seek his ouster through a vote.
It's uncommon in modern congressional history for a Speaker to rely on support from the minority party, especially for procedural matters. However, Mr. Johnson's grasp on power is fragile, and the lawmakers opposing him and his push for Ukraine aid hold influential positions within the House's power dynamics.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York acknowledged Mr. Johnson's challenge in managing a "very unruly" faction of Republicans and commended his efforts to bring Ukraine aid to a vote.
While Democrats may hesitate to assist Mr. Johnson, the opportunity to deliver new aid to Ukraine—a key foreign policy objective for their party and Mr. Biden—could justify their support.
And it seems that effort is close to yielding results.
