The House of Representatives is poised to approve aid to the war-torn nations of Israel and Ukraine later this week, Republican and Democratic members and staff told The Post Monday — setting up a battle with both the Democratic-controlled Senate and the White House.
Israel Supplemental Appropriations Act, proposed by Rep. Kay Granger (R-Texas), would provide $14.3 billion for the Jewish state’s Iron Dome missile defense system, as well as military equipment for the Israel Defense Forces.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) unveiled the Israel aid plan Monday afternoon ahead of Thursday’s vote, announcing that the House legislation would pay for itself by redistributing funds from President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) set aside for the IRS.
Under former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), the House passed legislation that canceled $72 billion given to the IRS by the IRA.
The bill never got a Senate vote.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) unveiled a $14.3 billion Israel aid plan Monday afternoon.Getty Images
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre slammed the Israeli bill on Monday afternoon, calling it a “non-starter” against IRS clawbacks.
“Threatening to jeopardize America’s national security unless House Republicans can help rich and big corporations cheat on their taxes—which will increase the deficit—is the definition of backward,” he said. “Playing political games that threaten funding for Israel’s self-defense—now and in the future—will set an unacceptable precedent that calls into question our commitment to one of our closest allies. We cannot afford to undermine that commitment because Israel is defending itself against the evils perpetrated by Hamas.”
Johnson told Fox News on Sunday that a “stand-alone Israel funding bill” was a “pressing and urgent need” as US allies battle Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip following the October 7 attack that killed more than 1,400 people – including at least 33 Americans.
The Israel Supplemental Appropriations Act, led by Rep. Kay Granger (R-Texas), would provide funding to the nation’s Iron Dome missile defense system and for military equipment.Getty Images
The measure has drawn support from both factions of the GOP, with aides telling The Post that most members — from the conservative House Freedom Caucus to the moderate Problem Solvers Caucus — are ready to pass it.
“As long as a stand-alone Israeli aid bill is paid without gimmicks, conservatives feel good about it,” a senior Republican aide told The Post.
GOP House lawmakers are also poised to pass another appropriations bill to fund Ukraine, aides told The Post, but top funding numbers and the date of a floor vote have yet to be announced.
Johnson told Fox News on Sunday that a “stand-alone Israel funding bill” is a “pressing and urgent need” as the Jewish state battles Hamas in the Gaza Strip.AP
“People who oppose Ukraine – that’s a fringe group,” said an aide. “A large majority of members of Congress on the GOP side support funding for Ukraine.”
“I prefer to look separately [packages]although I support Ukraine,” Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-Fla.) told The Post, noting he knows of colleagues who would vote differently.
“I also want to see on the Democratic side how many have decided not to support Israel. I think that will be enlightening,” he added.
“If the extreme right plays politics with aid to Israel and Ukraine during the crisis, it will only empower America’s enemies, including Iran, Russia, and China,” said Rep. Josh Gottheimer. Kyle Mazza/NurPhoto/Shutterstock
“If you put them all together, you don’t get a good, clear picture of who supports what.”
House Democrats are also poised to support Israeli and Ukrainian funding requests, aides confirmed to The Post, despite pressure from some left-wing members who advocate for defense aid to Israel.
“If the extreme right plays politics with aid to Israel and Ukraine during the crisis, it will only empower America’s enemies, including Iran, Russia, and China,” Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) told The Post.
Johnson last week said House Republicans would “branch off” Israeli funding from financing Kyiv to fight their war against Russia after President Biden asked Congress for a joint package.AP
“This is about fighting terrorism and protecting global democracy and our national security. America must help our allies defeat Hamas terrorists and oppose murderous dictators.”
Johnson last week said House Republicans would “branch off” Israel’s funding from support to Kyiv to fight Russian aggression after President Biden asked Congress to pass a comprehensive package.
“We cannot allow Vladimir Putin to win in Ukraine because I don’t believe it will stop there, and it will probably encourage and empower China to possibly move on Taiwan,” Johnson told Fox News last week.
Johnson in an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity said House Republicans “will not abandon” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Libkos via Getty Images
Biden’s initial funding request includes $61.4 billion for Ukraine, $14.3 billion for Israel, $14 billion for immigration enforcement and $16.55 billion for other concerns, including further aid for Taiwan.
“As President Biden said when he addressed the nation from the Oval Office, Hamas and Putin both want to brutally destroy their neighboring democracies,” White House deputy press secretary Andrew Bates said in a statement. “In fact, Russian officials met with representatives of Hamas in Moscow just this week.”
“For America’s national security, it is important to stand with Israel as they defend themselves against Hamas terrorists who launched a pure crime on October 7; and to stand with Ukraine as they defend themselves against Russian atrocities — committed in part with Iranian weapons — and Russian abductions of Ukrainian children,” Bates said. “There is strong bipartisan support in the House and Senate for both. “
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has rejected calls from his party to split funding requests and instead supports the president’s joint package.AP
Johnson voted for $80 million to be given to Israel as part of the fiscal year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act, but voted for $300 million in aid to Ukraine — along with 116 House Republicans — to be approved separately after being stripped from the defense budget.
The new speaker also opposes nearly $40.1 billion in security aid to Kyiv that the House passed in May 2022.
Johnson told Fox News’ Sean Hannity in his first interview after becoming speaker that House Republicans “will not abandon” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky but emphasized the importance of the lower house’s “oversight responsibility.”
“We need to make sure that the White House provides the people with accountability for the dollar,” he said.
Gimenez also told The Post that during a conference call on Sunday night Johnson “highly praised the piece [Rep.] Mike Garcia [R-Calif.] gather about Ukraine” to maintain accountability.
The proposal includes stating strategic goals for the conflict and the creation of a federal office to audit funds, according to Gimenez.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has rejected calls from his party to split the funding request and instead supported the president’s joint package, with several other measures for border security added.
Two sources familiar with the Senate Republican conference discussions told The Post that GOP leaders in the upper chamber “have the desire and feel the responsibility to do both and at the same time.”
“It’s just simple,” said one source.
It is unclear how the Senate will handle the stand-alone Israel aid bill, with the same source calling it a “legislative obstacle course” that could involve dueling bills from both chambers, followed by protracted conference negotiations.
Last week, Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Ky.) introduced a separate Israel funding bill with seven other Republican senators, which they hope will replace McConnell’s preferred package following a House vote, according to a Senate GOP aide.
Additional reporting by Steven Nelson
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
