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In
the first major legislative action under new Speaker Mike
Johnson, House of Representatives Republicans unveiled a
standalone supplemental spending bill only for Israel on Monday.
This is despite President Joe Biden's request for a $106 billion
package that would include aid for Israel and Ukraine and
funding to boost competition with China in the Indo-Pacific as
well as security along the U.S. border with Mexico.
Republicans have a 221-212 majority in the House, but Biden's
fellow Democrats control the Senate 51-49. To become law, the
bill would have to pass both the House and Senate and be signed
by Biden.
The top Senate Democrat said the Republican bill would be dead
on arrival in the upper chamber, even if it passed the House.
"The bottom line is it's not a serious proposal," Senate
Democratic Majority Leader, Chuck Schumer, told reporters.
The administration said Biden would veto such a bill were it to
reach his desk.
"This bill is bad for Israel, for the Middle East region, and
for our own national security," the White House's Office of
Management and Budget said.
Senator Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader in the Senate
said he felt the four issues needed to be addressed.
"We need to treat all four of these areas, all four of them,
Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan and the border," McConnell told
reporters.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Johnson on Tuesday
after testifying in the Senate. At the hearing, Blinken and
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said Ukraine needed continued
U.S. assistance to win its fight against Russian invaders.
Blinken told reporters: "It was a very good meeting. I
appreciate the opportunity. I'll leave our conversation at
that."
State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said they had
discussed issues including Biden's request for support for
Ukraine and Israel.
Republicans are expected to pass the legislation in the House as
soon as this week.
(Reporting by Patricia Zengerle; additional reporting by Costas
Pitas; editing by Jonathan Oatis and Stephen Coates)
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