Topline
Newly elected Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-La.) said he plans to move stand-alone Israel funding bill to the floor this week, backing only part of President Joe Biden’s request, which also included funding for Ukraine’s war efforts.
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Key Facts
Johnson said on Fox’s Sunday Morning Features he’s going to “move a stand-alone Israel funding bill,” choosing to separate the funding from Ukraine aid.
Johnson described what’s happening in Israel as a “pressing and urgent need” and said there were “lots of things going on around the world” Congress needs to address, seemingly referring to Ukraine, but said Israel takes “the immediate attention.”
He added he believes there will be bi-partisan support for a bill that solely funds Israel.
What We Don’t Know
It’s unclear exactly how much money would be included in Johnson’s proposed Israel-only-funding bill.
News Peg
Nearly two weeks ago during a primetime Oval Office address, Biden proposed an “urgent” security package to Congress to fund Israel and Ukraine’s ongoing war efforts. At the time, Biden said the funding was necessary to prevent further “chaos” in the world and show the U.S. support for Ukraine and Israel in their respective battles. A day later his administration asked Congress for $105 billion in an emergency funding package that would include $14.3 billion in military support funding for Israel, $61.4 billion in funding to assist Ukraine and $9 billion in humanitarian assistance for Israel, Gaza and Ukraine. Besides the funding for Ukraine and Israel, the package also included $13.6 billion in funding to ramp up security at the U.S.-Mexico border and $7.4 billion in funding for Taiwan and the Indo-Pacific region.
Key Background
Johnson’s remarks Sunday follow some Republicans demanding the U.S. stop funding Ukraine’s efforts in their war against Russia. That internal battle among House Republicans contributed to the government nearly shutting down at the end of September after some House members did not want the U.S. to continue to fund the efforts.
Tangnet
During Sunday’s interview Johnson also said he’d support a continuing resolution to keep the government running until January 15, if one was proposed to get “us beyond the end of the year push.” The current continuing resolution will keep the government funded until November 17.
Further Reading
Biden Asks Congress For $105 Billion In Emergency Funding For Israel, Ukraine (Forbes)
Biden Calls For ‘Urgent’ Funding For Israel And Ukraine In Oval Office Plea (Forbes)
