US House rejects Republican-led effort to pass Israel-only aid bill
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[February 07, 2024]
By Patricia Zengerle
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. House of Representatives rejected a
Republican-led bill on Tuesday that would provide $17.6 billion to
Israel, as Democrats said they wanted a vote instead on a broader
measure that would also provide assistance to Ukraine, international
humanitarian funding and new money for border security.
The vote was 250 to 180, falling short because it was introduced under
an expedited procedure requiring a two-thirds majority for passage. The
vote was largely along party lines, although 14 Republicans opposed the
bill and 46 Democrats supported it.
Aid for Israel - one of the largest recipients of U.S. foreign aid - has
traditionally received strong bipartisan support in Congress. But many
opponents called the House legislation a political ploy by Republicans
to distract from their opposition to a $118 billion Senate bill
combining an overhaul of U.S. immigration policy and new funding for
border security with billions of dollars in emergency aid for Ukraine,
Israel and partners in the Indo-Pacific region.
Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson had said the Senate bill was "dead
on arrival" in the chamber even before it was introduced. And Senate
Republican leaders said on Tuesday they did not think the measure would
receive enough votes to pass.
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"This accomplishes nothing and delays aid getting out to our allies and
providing humanitarian relief," said Representative Rosa DeLauro, the
top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, urging opposition to
the Israel-only bill. "Our allies are facing existential threats and our
friends and foes around the globe are watching, waiting to see how
America will respond."
Democratic President Joe Biden, who supports the Senate bill, promised
to veto the House's Israel-only measure.
STRUGGLE TO SEND SECURITY ASSISTANCE
The Israel bill's supporters insisted it was not a political stunt,
saying it was important to move quickly to support the Jewish state as
it responds to the deadly Oct. 7 assault by militants from Hamas-ruled
Gaza.
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![](../images/020724PIX/news_a22.jpg)
U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) speaks to a tour group in the
U.S. Capitol building in Washington, U.S., January 18, 2024.
REUTERS/Leah Millis
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"This bill simply provides necessary resources to our closest ally
in the region and our own military," said Republican Representative
Ken Calvert, the Republican Defense Appropriations Subcommittee
chairman who introduced the measure.
Israel began its offensive in Gaza after militants killed 1,200
people and took 253 hostages in southern Israel on Oct. 7.
Some Democrats also blasted the House bill for failing to provide
humanitarian assistance for Palestinian civilians. Gaza's health
military says at least 27,585 Palestinians have been confirmed
killed in the campaign, with thousands more feared buried in
neighborhoods reduced to rubble.
Members of Congress have been struggling for months to find a way to
send security assistance abroad, particularly to Ukraine as it
battles Russian invaders. Biden has twice sent Congress requests for
emergency spending bills, most recently in October.
The Republican-majority House passed an Israel-only bill in
November, but it was never taken up in the Democratic-led Senate, as
negotiators worked on Biden's request for a broader emergency
security package and Republican demands that any security assistance
be combined with changes in immigration policy and security at the
border with Mexico.
The failed Israel House vote was the second in quick succession for
Johnson's Republican majority on Tuesday. It came immediately after
the chamber voted against impeaching Biden's top border official,
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
(Reporting by Patricia ZengerleEditing by Chris Reese and David
Gregorio)
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