House Republicans are preparing to vote on a bill that would allocate billions of dollars in military assistance to Israel and U.S. forces in the region. The bill, which is expected to be sent to the Senate next week, aims to strengthen Israel’s defense systems and provide support to U.S. personnel and citizens in the region amidst ongoing conflicts. Speaker Mike Johnson announced the plan in a letter to the Republican conference, expressing the urgency of providing critical support to Israel.
The bill, if approved by the House, would mark the second time in two months that such legislation has been sent to the Senate. However, this version includes an additional $3.3 billion for Israel and does not include controversial offsets to the Internal Revenue Service that were previously championed by House Republicans. Johnson emphasized that the Senate would no longer have any excuses to delay the passage of this crucial support for Israel.
Meanwhile, the Senate is expected to unveil and vote on a supplemental package that addresses border security and provides aid to Ukraine, Israel, and the Indo-Pacific region. The House Republicans’ decision to send a stand-alone Israel funding bill to the Senate sets up conflicting votes in both chambers, as they remain divided on how to fund border security and Ukraine in a divided government.
Notably, the proposal does not include any funding for Ukraine, which has seen a significant decrease in support from the House GOP majority. Additionally, it does not include a border security proposal, as House Republicans have insisted that the Senate consider their bill passed last year. Bipartisan Senate negotiators have been working for months to find a compromise on border security, with Senators James Lankford, Chris Murphy, and Kyrsten Sinema overcoming partisan hurdles in addressing changes to the U.S. asylum and parole system.
The urgency of the issue is further heightened by President Biden’s vow to use emergency authorities to “shut down the border when it becomes overwhelmed” if Congress passes the bipartisan immigration plan. This places the responsibility on the House GOP majority to accept the Senate deal. Johnson emphasized that while the Senate appears ready to release the text of their supplemental package, their failure to include the House in their negotiations has hindered swift consideration of any legislation.
The House bill would allocate $9.7 billion to replenish missile and defense systems in Israel, allowing the country to quickly obtain advanced weapons systems and enhance artillery munitions production. An additional $7.7 billion would be used to replenish U.S. defense stocks sent to Israel and support military operations in the region. Furthermore, $200 million would be allocated to protect U.S. personnel and aid in the evacuation of U.S. citizens if necessary.
Former President Donald Trump has been urging Republicans to vote against any border security measures until after the 2024 presidential election, which has further solidified opposition against any Senate proposal. Johnson has indicated his opposition to a Senate bill that falls short of the measures proposed by House Republicans’ border security bill. However, it remains unclear whether he will put that proposal on the floor, as the text has yet to be released by Senate negotiators.
The White House has criticized the proposal as a “cynical political maneuver” that fails to address border security, provide assistance to Ukraine against Russian aggression, and offer humanitarian aid to Palestinian civilians. By pushing the Senate to consider the bill without offsets, Johnson has shifted the responsibility onto Democrats to vote against a measure that many would likely support to help Israel. This puts House Republicans in a stronger position to convey their own messaging before being blamed for inaction by senators.
However, Johnson faces challenges from the far-right flank of his conference, particularly from members of the House Freedom Caucus who oppose funding bills that do not include cuts. Additionally, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has threatened to use a motion that led to the ousting of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy if Johnson brings a bill aiding Ukraine to the House floor. Rep. Chip Roy has also suggested triggering the measure if Johnson brings up border security legislation for a vote.
Despite these challenges, Johnson remains unfazed by the motion-to-vacate threats and asserts that they do not influence his decision-making process. The outcome of the upcoming votes in both chambers will determine the fate of the bill and the allocation of military assistance to Israel and U.S. forces in the region.
In conclusion, House Republicans are planning to vote on a bill that would provide billions in military assistance to Israel and U.S. forces in the region. This move sets up conflicting votes with the Senate, which is expected to unveil a supplemental package addressing border security and aid to Ukraine, Israel, and the Indo-Pacific region. The bill aims to reinforce Israel’s defense systems and support U.S. personnel and citizens in the region amidst ongoing conflicts. However, it does not include funding for Ukraine and lacks a border security proposal, which has been a point of contention between the two chambers. The outcome of these votes will determine the future of military assistance and foreign aid in the region.