U.S. senators from both parties expressed skepticism on Tuesday regarding House of Representatives Republicans’ proposal to provide $14.3 billion in aid to Israel while cutting funding for the Internal Revenue Service, without allocating any aid to Ukraine.
In a move marking the first significant legislative action under new Speaker Mike Johnson, House Republicans revealed a standalone supplemental spending bill exclusively for Israel on Monday. This decision starkly contrasts with President Joe Biden’s request for a comprehensive $106 billion package. The President’s proposed package included aid for both Israel and Ukraine, along with funding aimed at enhancing competition with China in the Indo-Pacific region and bolstering security along the U.S. border with Mexico.
Despite having a narrow majority in the House, Republicans face a hurdle in the form of the Democratic-controlled Senate. For the bill to become law, it must pass both chambers of Congress and receive President Biden’s signature.
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Senate Democratic Majority Leader, Chuck Schumer, dismissed the Republican bill, stating, “The bottom line is it’s not a serious proposal.”
On the other side, Senator Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader in the Senate, emphasized the need to address all four critical areas: Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, and border security. “We need to treat all four of these areas, all four of them,” McConnell emphasized during a press briefing.
The Senate’s scrutiny of the bill came after Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s meeting with Speaker Johnson and his testimony before the Senate. Blinken, along with Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, emphasized the necessity of continued U.S. assistance for Ukraine in its fight against Russian invaders.
Speaking to reporters, Blinken remained diplomatic about the meeting, stating, “It was a very good meeting. I appreciate the opportunity. I’ll leave our conversation at that.”
During the meeting, issues such as President Biden’s request for support for both Ukraine and Israel were discussed, as confirmed by State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller.
House Republicans are expected to pass the legislation in the coming week, setting the stage for a contentious debate in the Senate. The outcome remains uncertain as senators grapple with the complex task of balancing aid allocations between Israel, Ukraine, Taiwan, and addressing border security concerns.
