Speaker Mike Johnson announced on Sunday that the House would be voting in the coming days on aid for Israel following Iran’s attack. He also suggested that aid for Ukraine could be included in the legislation. The House Republicans and the Republican Party have emphasized the importance of standing with Israel, with Mr. Johnson noting that he had previously supported aid bills for the U.S. ally. U.S. funding for both Israel and Ukraine has faced challenges in Congress, with disagreements over conditions for aid packages leading to delays in approving funding.
Mr. Johnson has been vocal about wanting to assist Ukraine and has been exploring ways to structure a foreign aid package that could garner support. Despite Republican resistance to providing aid to Kyiv and opposition among Democrats to unconditional military aid for Israel, the recent attacks from Iran have increased pressure on Mr. Johnson to move forward with a package this week. It remains uncertain whether the legislation that will be advanced this week will also include aid for Ukraine, although Mr. Johnson mentioned that some proposals around Ukraine aid have broad support among House Republicans.
Mr. Johnson met with former President Donald J. Trump, who expressed support for conditioning aid to Ukraine as a loan. The House is working on putting together a package that can secure consensus and be sent to the Senate for approval. Prior to the attacks in Israel, Mr. Johnson had considered bringing up the $95 billion spending package for Ukraine and Israel that was passed by the Senate in February and combining it with a bill containing policies endorsed by the conservative wing of his party. This plan involved two consecutive votes, one on the Senate-passed bill and another on a package of sweeteners to address concerns from Republicans.
Representative Michael McCaul, the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, emphasized that the conflicts in Israel and Ukraine are interconnected and should be addressed together. He expressed hope that a broad national security bill would be brought to the House floor for a vote, with a preference for this to happen during the current week. The coordination of aid for Israel and Ukraine has been a contentious issue in Congress, with debates over conditions and timing leading to delays in providing necessary funding for the two nations.
In light of the recent events, including Iran’s attack on Israel and ongoing conflicts in Ukraine, there is a growing sense of urgency among lawmakers to address the aid packages for both nations. Mr. Johnson and other House Republicans are working to navigate the complex political landscape surrounding foreign aid, balancing the needs of two critical allies with the demands and concerns of various factions in Congress. As discussions continue and plans for legislation are finalized, the focus remains on finding a way to provide support to Israel and Ukraine in a manner that can garner bipartisan and widespread support. The coming days will be crucial in determining the outcome of aid efforts for these nations.
