The US House of Representatives will consider aid to Israel and Ukraine as separate legislation this week, Republican Speaker Mike Johnson said on Monday, more than two months after the Senate passed a bill combining the two.
Leaving a meeting of House Republicans on Monday evening, Mr Johnson said the narrowly divided chamber would consider four bills altogether that would also include aid to Taiwan, US allies in the Indo-Pacific and US national security priorities.
“We know that the world is watching us to see how we react,” Mr Johnson said. “They’re watching to see if America will stand up for its allies and in our own interest around the globe. And we will.”
US aid has been delayed by Mr Johnson’s unwillingness to consider a $95 billion (€89.4 billion) bipartisan bill the Senate passed in February, including $14 billion for Israel as well as $60 billion for Ukraine.
Also included were billions to strengthen allies in the Indo-Pacific, where China is becoming more assertive, and for international humanitarian aid.
Mr Johnson said the new House bills provide roughly the same amount of foreign aid as the Senate bill but would include differences including some aid in the form of a loan.
Republicans aim to release legislative text as early as Tuesday morning but will observe a 72-hour review period before voting. Mr Johnson said votes on passage could come late on Friday.
[ Israeli leaders weigh up options in wake of Iran attackOpens in new window ]
The push to pass the aid gained urgency after Iran's weekend missile and drone attack on Israel despite fierce opposition in the deeply divided Congress.
Three of the four bills Mr Johnson suggested would cover Ukraine, Israel and the Indo-Pacific. The make-up of the fourth was not immediately clear.
Backers had insisted the broad foreign aid measure passed with 70 per cent support in the Senate would have received similar support in the House. However, Mr Johnson had given a variety of reasons to delay, among them the need to focus taxpayer dollars on domestic issues and reluctance to take up a Senate measure without more information.
Mr Johnson also faces a threat from a hard-right Republicans to oust him as speaker if he allows the Ukraine aid to move ahead. Many on the right, especially those closely allied with former president Donald Trump, who has been sceptical of assisting Kyiv in its fight against Russia, fiercely oppose sending billions more dollars to Ukraine.
The House Freedom Caucus – a group of republican hardliners with about three dozen members – released a statement on Monday calling for aid to Israel, but not to Ukraine, and rejecting as “bogus” any suggestion that the attack on Israel should help ease the path toward more funds for Kyiv.
Representative Andy Biggs, a Freedom Caucus member, told reporters he liked the idea of separate bills, but had to see them before committing to voting for them.
The issue is closely watched by industry. US defence contractors could be in line for huge contracts to supply equipment for Ukraine and other US partners if the additional funding passes. Aid supporters stress that approving the Ukraine bill would create many American jobs.
[ Ukraine seeks ‘bold’ action from West as deadly Russian strikes continueOpens in new window ]
The White House has been pushing Mr Johnson to allow a vote, as have Senate Republicans and Democrats. “If House Republicans put the Senate supplemental (spending bill) on the floor, I believe it would pass today, reach the president’s desk tonight and Israel would get the aid it needs by tomorrow,” Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said in the Senate on Monday.
Senate republican Leader Mitch McConnell told his fellow lawmakers: “It’s also time for Congress to deliver the urgent investments that our industrial base, our forces, and our partners will need to meet and out-compete the growing and linked threats we face.”
The top House Democrat, Representative Hakeem Jeffries, sent a letter to his caucus on Monday spelling out the need to support Ukraine as well as Israel.
“The gravely serious events of this past weekend in the Middle East and eastern Europe underscore the need for Congress to act immediately. We must take up the bipartisan and comprehensive national security bill passed by the Senate forthwith,” Jeffries wrote.
Ukraine appealed again to allies on Monday for “extraordinary and bold steps” to supply air defences to help defend against waves of Russian air strikes that have targeted its energy system in recent weeks. – Reuters
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