Washington – The House of Representatives intends to vote next week on a standalone bill to aid Israel, Speaker Mike Johnson said in a letter to colleagues on Saturday, describing a new plan for voting on foreign aid.
This is a new initiative — and something of a pushback from House Republicans, who have been late Last year he approved the plan Which provided billions in Israeli aid, but also reduced funds for the IRS. the The previous plan was in November They have excluded funding for Ukraine and other national security priorities.
Johnson then chose to pursue a narrower bill that would not attract Democratic support, rather than a larger package that would have been supported by many members across the aisle.
House Democrats urged members to vote against the previous bill, saying it “breaks from long-standing bipartisan precedent” by including spending cuts in an emergency aid package. He said At that time they did not think about supporting the package. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said the bill left out aid to Ukraine and humanitarian funding for Gaza, as well as other funding priorities — and would bring together a bipartisan aid bill.
In Saturday's letter, Johnson blames Democrats and the Senate for forcing the House Republican Party to change its previous strategy. He attacked Senate leaders for failing to include House leaders in their negotiations on the emergency plan, which includes aid to Ukraine and Israel, expected soon.
“Given the Senate’s failure to pass appropriate legislation in a timely manner, and the parlous circumstances Israel currently faces, the House will continue to lead,” Johnson wrote.
The White House said in a statement on Saturday that it is working with a bipartisan group of senators on a national security agreement that “secures our borders and provides support for the people of Ukraine and Israel,” and that we “strongly oppose this stunt.” By Republicans in the House of Representatives.
“Israel’s security must be sacred, not a political game,” the statement said, adding that House Republicans must “work in a bipartisan manner.”
Johnson says the new aid package will not include cuts to other programs. He wants the House of Representatives to have an aid package for Israel ready in a short time.
“We will accept and agree to a clean, independent supplementary package for Israel,” Johnson wrote.
—Katherine Watson contributed to this report.
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