WASHINGTON — House Republicans will move forward next week with a $17.6 billion package that would provide military aid to Israel and replenish U.S. weapons, but leave out more aid for Ukraine. enforcement of immigration law.
The move gives Speaker Mike Johnson and House Republicans an opportunity to show their support for Israel, even if the Senate is unlikely to go along. Meanwhile, the text of a broader Senate compromise is expected to be released this weekend and a key test vote on that package will take place this week.
Johnson said Senate leadership is aware that by not involving the House in their negotiations, they have eliminated the opportunity to quickly consider legislation.
“As I have said consistently over the past three months, the House will need to exert its will on these issues and our priorities will need to be addressed,” Johnson said in a letter to colleagues.
The House of Representatives already approved a nearly $14.5 billion military aid package for Israel in November, which the Senate refused to take up. Republicans also insisted that this would be paid for with cuts elsewhere. The bill targeted cuts to the Internal Revenue Service, although the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said this would cost the federal government a net $12.5 billion due to lost revenue from tax collections.
The tactic of including IRS cuts also turned it into a more partisan vote of 226 to 196. Johnson said in his letter to colleagues that eliminating the offsets should allow for quick passage of Israeli aid.
“During the House debate and in numerous subsequent statements, Democrats made clear that their primary objection to the original bill was the offsets,” Johnson said. “The Senate will no longer have excuses, however misplaced, against expediting this critical support to our ally.”
Rep. Ken Calvert, R-California, released the text of the military assistance bill for Israel. It would provide $4 billion to supplement missile defense systems and $1.2 billion to counter short-range missile and mortar threats. There is also funding for the purchase of advanced weapons systems and for improving the production of artillery and other munitions.
To ensure that the aid does not jeopardize U.S. preparedness, it includes $4.4 billion to supplement U.S. weapons supplies supplied to Israel. There is also $3.3 billion available for current US military operations in the region.