WASHINGTON — The House Rules Committee approved a rule late Thursday for consideration of a $95.3 billion foreign aid package in a rare bipartisan vote that signaled solid support for the measure despite considerable GOP opposition.

The committee voted 9-3 for the rule setting terms for floor consideration of the long-stalled aid package, which the House plans to take up as four separate bills for Ukraine, Israel and the Indo-Pacific region — plus a combo package of sanctions and the TikTok divestiture bill.

All Democrats on the panel voted with the GOP leadership and for the rule, which is scheduled for a vote Friday morning. Three Republicans voted against it: Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Chip Roy of Texas, and Ralph Norman of South Carolina.

Upon passage, expected Saturday, the bills would be stitched together into one measure under the rule, known in House parlance as a “MIRV” — multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle, like the ballistic missile technology of the same name. The vehicle will be the Senate-passed supplemental package, which is very similar in content.

The Rules panel vote came after a lengthy recess behind closed doors as party leaders negotiated which amendments would be allowed as part of the rule. Ultimately, they narrowed down a lengthy list to just seven amendments for consideration during floor debate, with no amendments being allowed on the Israel aid measure.

Part of the delay involved internal Republican deliberations over a desire by some of Speaker Mike Johnson’s allies to change House rules to make it tougher for his critics to oust him — potentially including the change in the rule for debate on the aid package.

Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-S.D., said he and others wanted to raise the threshold for a motion to vacate the speaker’s chair, which currently just needs one advocate under a House rules change last year.

“I’m working with a group of members to change the rule so they can’t get that done, so that one knucklehead can’t put the whole House into disarray by forcing another speaker vote,” Johnson said.

Ultimately Johnson, R-La., decided against such a rule change in the rule for debate on the aid package, saying in a statement Thursday that the votes weren’t there. “We will continue to govern under the existing rules,” he said.

Still, Johnson faces an ouster threat from Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., Massie and possibly others over his handling of the supplemental funding package. But for now, the speaker plans to push forward.

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