House Speaker Mike Johnson did not indicate that he would put the Senate-passed supplemental package on foreign aid on the floor this week, despite mounting pressure from Democrats and some GOP lawmakers to do so after Iran’s retaliatory strike against Israel. Johnson noted that House members were working on a new package and looking at different options. The House had passed a GOP-led Israel support package in October, but it was deemed dead in the Senate and faced opposition from President Joe Biden. The Senate passed a national security package in February, but Johnson rejected it after a bipartisan effort to address security at the U.S.-Mexico border was killed. Schumer urged Johnson to pass the package to help Israel and Ukraine.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell called for Congress to pass the stalled military aid package for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, emphasizing the importance of standing with Israel after Iran’s retaliatory attacks. House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner and Sen. Marco Rubio expressed support for the aid package, with Turner expecting it to pass with overwhelming support in the House. Johnson, who has vowed the passage of new Ukraine aid, has faced criticism from GOP hard-liners like Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who believes that funding should be allocated to the southern border instead. House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul stated that Trump has influence over the GOP and suggested that Johnson spoke with Trump about the aid package, which includes a loan program for direct government assistance.
Sen. J.D. Vance opposed Biden’s push to pass the supplemental aid package, arguing that it could weaken Israel’s defense against Hamas. Vance emphasized the importance of focusing on the U.S. and supporting Israel as a core American national security interest. He raised concerns that passing the aid package could inadvertently weaken Israel in the name of helping them. Johnson has been under scrutiny from some GOP members, but he has remained determined to pass the Ukraine aid despite differing opinions within the party. The push to pass the aid package for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan has been met with various views and discussions among lawmakers, highlighting the complexities of foreign aid and national security decisions in Congress.
