1 month ago
Johnson looks to beforehand overseas assistance measure
Washington — Iran's large-scale onslaught connected Israel has turned up nan unit connected House Speaker Mike Johnson to clasp a ballot soon connected a overseas assistance package that besides includes backing for Ukraine and Taiwan.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries connected Monday criticized Johnson for failing to bring up a $95 cardinal package for a ballot aft it was approved by nan Senate months ago, successful February. Since then, it has languished successful nan House amid fractures among Republicans complete assistance to Ukraine.
"The gravely superior events of this past play successful nan Middle East and Eastern Europe underscore nan request for Congress to enactment immediately," nan New York Democrat wrote successful a beloved workfellow missive connected Monday. "We must return up nan bipartisan and broad nationalist information measure passed by nan Senate forthwith."
Jeffries added that "this is simply a Churchill aliases Chamberlain moment," referring to nan British premier ministers during World War II. Neville Chamberlain, nan British premier curate from 1937-1940, is champion known for nan argumentation of appeasement that grounded to extremity Adolf Hitler from starting nan war.
House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark of Massachusetts besides called connected Johnson to clasp an contiguous ballot connected nan Senate bill. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, person besides pushed for a House ballot connected nan bill.
Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, told Fox News connected Sunday that nan House would "try again this week" to walk wartime assistance for Israel successful consequence to Iran's drone-and-missile onslaught complete nan play that was successful retaliation for a onslaught connected an Iranian consulate successful Syria earlier this month. But it's unclear whether that will yet see assistance for Ukraine and Taiwan.
"The specifications of that package are being put together now. We're looking astatine nan options and each nan supplemental issues," Johnson said.
For months, nan speaker has faced unit from defense hawks successful some parties to walk nan overseas assistance authorities to present connected nan U.S. committedness to proceed to assistance Ukraine successful its warfare against Russia amid repeated warnings that Kyiv is moving retired of ammunition. Johnson has alternatively considered different ways of delivering nan funding, including done a loan, but has yet to unveil a plan.
The onslaught connected Israel has renewed urgency successful getting nan Senate measure complete nan decorativeness statement successful nan House, but it besides threatens Johnson's activity role arsenic he faces pushback from nan correct helping of his party, who reason sending immoderate much assistance to Ukraine. If Johnson tries to walk a standalone measure connected Israel, he is apt to suffer Democratic votes.
The blimpish House Freedom Caucus warned Johnson against utilizing nan business successful Israel to walk Ukraine aid.
"The House Freedom Caucus stands unequivocally pinch Israel. Congress should supply assistance to Israel," nan group said successful a statement. "Under nary circumstances will nan House Freedom Caucus abide utilizing nan emergency business successful Israel arsenic a bogus justification to ram done Ukraine assistance pinch nary offset and nary information for our ain wide-open borders."
White House spokesperson John Kirby said nan White House opposes a standalone Israel bill.
"You sewage 2 bully friends present — Israel and Ukraine — very different fights to beryllium sure, but progressive fights for their sovereignty and for their information and security," Kirby told reporters during nan regular property briefing. "And clip is not connected anyone's broadside present successful either case, truthful they request to move quickly connected this, and nan champion measurement to get that assistance into nan hands of nan IDF and into nan hands of nan Ukrainian soldiers is to walk that bipartisan measure that nan Senate passed."
Nikole Killion and Kaia Hubbard contributed reporting.
- In:
- Mike Johnson
- Iran
- Israel
- Ukraine
- Hakeem Jeffries
Caitlin Yilek
Caitlin Yilek is simply a authorities newsman astatine cbsnews.com and is based successful Washington, D.C. She antecedently worked for nan Washington Examiner and The Hill, and was a personnel of nan 2022 Paul Miller Washington Reporting Fellowship pinch nan National Press Foundation.
