House Republican leaders are holding a meeting on Monday night to discuss the path forward on aid to Israel and Ukraine following Iran’s recent attack on Israel. There has been an outpouring of support for Israel from both Republicans and Democrats, with House GOP leaders promising to consider a range of legislative measures to support Israel. Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has also pledged to take swift action on funding for Ukraine, as Russia’s invasion continues into its third year, and Ukraine faces severe shortages of ammunition and weapons without additional U.S. aid. The meeting is expected to address Israel and Ukraine funding, as well as Iran’s recent attack on Israel.
House lawmakers typically meet with their respective parties following the start of the legislative session, however, the recent international tensions have prompted Speaker Mike Johnson to convene a meeting on Monday evening instead. Iran launched a series of missiles towards Israel over the weekend, the majority of which were intercepted. The attack has renewed pressure on Johnson to pass the Senate’s $95 billion supplemental funding bill, which includes aid for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. Johnson has already passed two standalone Israel aid bills, neither of which were considered by the Democrat-controlled Senate.
There are challenges involved with providing aid to Ukraine, as Johnson navigates a narrow two-seat majority in the House, coupled with a growing number of skeptics within his conference. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has expressed doubts about providing Ukraine with aid and has suggested ousting Johnson from power if he moves forward with the funding package. There has also been pushback from members regarding the idea of combining funding for Ukraine and Israel. However, bipartisan support has been found for a lend-lease option and a proposal to liquidate seized Russian assets to provide aid to Ukraine.
The timing of a possible vote on the funding package is uncertain, although it is expected that at least Israel funding may be voted on this week. House Majority Whip’s office has not listed any Israel or Ukraine funding bills on its expected schedule, but additional legislative items related to security supplemental appropriations are possible. Speaker Johnson has expressed his desire to take up Israel aid for a third time this week, stating that the details of the package are currently being worked on. House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner has also indicated that Johnson is aiming for a House vote this week on aid funding for Israel and Ukraine.
Overall, as tensions escalate in the international community, there is a renewed focus on providing aid to Ukraine and Israel in response to recent events. The meeting of House Republican leaders is expected to address these critical issues and discuss potential solutions to provide crucial support to both nations in the face of ongoing challenges and threats. Speaker Mike Johnson’s efforts to navigate political complexities and garner bipartisan support for aid funding demonstrate a commitment to addressing urgent international crises and ensuring the safety and security of key allies.
