Speaker Mike Johnson promised Saturday that the House would vote next week on a bill to provide $17.6 billion in unconditional and expedited security aid to Israel, but the move is a broader move that includes border security measures. It is likely to complicate Senate leadership's efforts to rally support for the policy. and aid to Ukraine.
Johnson's announcement to conference participants came as senators scrambled to finalize and vote on a bipartisan national security bill that took months to negotiate. The move could further weaken Republican support for the new compromise, which had already stalled after criticism from party leaders including Mr. Johnson and former President Donald J. Trump.
Johnson, R-Louisiana, said the Senate package would be null and void once it reaches the House, arguing that border security measures are not tough enough to crack down on the recent surge of migrants. He said the House would instead focus its efforts on impeaching Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas, with a vote expected to take place next week.
He said in a letter to lawmakers Saturday that the House will prioritize its own approach to supporting Israel's war effort against Hamas, regardless of what related legislation the Senate introduces.
“Their leadership recognizes that by failing to include the House in negotiations, they have forfeited the ability to quickly consider any legislation,” Johnson wrote, adding that “the House has not been able to address these issues. We will need to exercise our will on our policies,” he added. Priorities will need to be addressed. ”
Senate negotiators are working on a sweeping national security funding bill to meet Republican demands that a bill that would send military aid to Ukraine would significantly improve security on the southern border with Mexico. . The new bill, which includes measures that would make it more difficult to apply for asylum and increase both detention and deportations, would increase military aid to Ukraine and Israel, dedicate humanitarian aid to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, and increase China's commitment to India. It also includes funding efforts to counter threats. Pacific region.
Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., the majority leader, announced this week that the Senate would vote on whether to adopt the bill by Wednesday, and that negotiators would release it by Sunday at the latest. It is expected.
But the bill already faces challenges from Senate Republicans who believe border security provisions should be tougher and who are reluctant to take politically challenging votes on a bill that is almost certain to fail in the Republican-led House. Facing strong headwinds from people. .
Several Republicans in the Senate and House advocate a divided approach that would tackle Israel's war effort separately from Ukraine and its borders. Late last year, the Democratic-led Senate rejected a Republican attempt to force a vote on an earlier Israel aid bill that the House supported. Democrats objected to the way the House Republican bill sought to fund it by cutting the Internal Revenue Service.
Johnson acknowledged that history in a letter Saturday.
“Democrats have made it clear that their primary objection to the original House bill is its offset,” he wrote, adding that a new Israel package “no matter how misguided the Senate There will no longer be any excuses for the swift passage of this important support bill.” Our allies. ”
The new bill unveiled by House appropriators is larger than the House's previous Israel bill, which totaled $14.3 billion. President Biden had asked for that amount from Israel as part of a larger appeal he made in October for additional funds to deal with a variety of global crises, including Ukraine.
But it does not include funding for humanitarian aid to Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip, and many Democrats say it should be accompanied by military aid to Israel. Some left-wing Democrats also want Congress to authorize military aid to Israel to ensure that U.S.-supplied weapons are used in accordance with international law and that aid shipments to Palestinian civilians are not disrupted. requires conditions to be attached.
The $17.6 billion House bill would earmark $4 billion to replenish Israel's missile defense systems, known as Iron Dome and David Sling, and $1.2 billion to counter short-range rocket and mortar attacks. become. The additional $8.9 billion will go toward supplying Israel with weapons and related services, supporting Israel's own production, and replenishing the defense stockpile already provided by the United States. Meanwhile, $3.5 billion will go toward supporting U.S. military operations, embassy security and efforts to evacuate U.S. citizens in the region.
