WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans will move forward with a $17.6 billion package Military aid to Israel And fill up on American weapons, but running out More aid to UkraineIt underscores the challenges facing supporters of a comprehensive national security package that would include billions of dollars for immigration enforcement.
Gives movement Speaker Mike Johnson And the more likely House Republicans are to show support for Israel, the less likely they are to go along with the Senate. Meanwhile, the text of a broader Senate compromise is expected to be released later this week, and a key test of the package will take place during the week of the vote.
Johnson said Senate leadership knows that by failing to include the House in their negotiations, they have eliminated their ability to quickly consider any legislation.
“As I have said consistently over the past three months, the House must act on its discretion on these issues and our priorities must be addressed,” Johnson said in a letter to colleagues.
The House has already approved a nearly $14.5 billion military aid package for Israel that the Senate has rejected. Republicans insisted the money be paid for with cuts elsewhere. The bill targeted the Internal Revenue Service for cuts, though the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said it would cost the federal government a net $12.5 billion in lost revenue from tax collections.
A trick to include IRS cuts made it another 226-196 vote. Johnson said in a letter to his colleagues that removing the offsets should allow Israel to send aid more quickly.
“During debate in the House and in several subsequent statements, Democrats made clear their primary objection to the original House bill was with its offsets,” Johnson said. “The Senate will no longer have excuses against speeding up this important support for our ally, however misguided.”
Rep. Ken Calvert, R-Calif., released the text of the military aid bill for Israel. It will provide $4 billion to replenish missile defense systems and $1.2 billion to counter short-range rocket and mortar threats. Funding is available to purchase advanced weapons systems and improve production of artillery and other munitions.
This includes $4.4 billion to replenish US weapons delivered to Israel so that the support does not compromise US readiness. $3.3 billion for current US military operations in the region.
