Ukraine, Israel aid in jeopardy amid Biden-GOP border battle

Amid fierce Republican opposition to the Senate border security deal and few clear alternatives, Congress has no clear path to approving aid to Ukraine and Israel.

The Senate this week unveiled a bill that would combine increased border security with military aid to Ukraine and Israel as part of a broader foreign aid package. But before the ink was dry on the text of the long-awaited Senate bill, released Sunday night, House Republican leaders pulled up a knife and declared that even if it passed the Senate, it would not get a vote in the House.

Instead, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) said the House would only vote on billions of dollars for Israel. It is considered by some to be a less urgent element of the Senate’s agenda, but it is also the most politically popular within Mr. Johnson’s divided Republican conference.

However, the White House announced on Monday that President Biden would veto the unilateral support bill for Israel. And separating parts of the package or attempting long-term action to force a vote is never easy because of internal disagreements in both parties.

For example, the Republican Party is divided over aid to Ukraine. Democrats are at odds over new aid to Israel. And the two parties are divided over border changes, with liberals complaining they’re too tough on immigration and conservatives complaining they’re not tough enough.

The complex mix of factional opposition to various provisions, combined with floor disagreements over comprehensive or phased approaches, reduces the chances that Congress can pass Ukraine-Israel aid in its current form. are doing.

And there’s no obvious plan B that could work out any better.

“I’m not sure…but as soon as this thing is going through the Senate, the chairman is saying it’s dead on arrival,” said Rep. Mike McCaul (R-Texas), chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee. Ta. told Fox News on monday.

“I commend him for trying to get something done,” McCaul said, referring to Sen. James Lankford (Oklahoma), the top Republican negotiator. “But at the same time, I don’t think this is going to go away.”

In addition to $60 billion in aid to Ukraine and $14.1 billion in aid to Israel. The deal includes $2.4 billion. $10 billion to respond to the conflict in the Red Sea, $10 billion for humanitarian assistance in conflict areas including Gaza and Ukraine, $4.8 billion to support Indo-Pacific partners such as Taiwan, and strengthen security measures at the U.S.-Mexico border. Includes $20.2 billion.

Republicans had previously suggested that changes to border and immigration policies were a condition for approving additional foreign aid, but the compromise agreed to in the Senate now faces fierce opposition from Republicans and former President Trump. . The former president said Monday that border changes “should.” Not being tied to foreign aid In any way, shape or form,” he called on Republicans to “don’t be an idiot!!!”

The top four House Republican leaders said in a joint statement Monday that the Senate bill “defeats upon arrival in the House.”

Mr. Johnson, an ardent ally of Mr. Trump, said over the weekend that he would introduce an alternative bill this week to authorize aid to Israel, pushing the $14.3 billion aid bill for Israel passed by the House of Representatives in November to the Senate. He changed direction from his insistence on deliberating. Help reduce IRS funding. Instead, the House said it would consider a $17.6 billion Israel aid bill this week without any funding offsets.

Mr Johnson denied He said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday that Israel’s new bill is an attempt to override the Senate’s border agreement, and that Democrats have reversed course by not considering a bill with an IRS offset. “The time is running out,” he said.

But the plan faces pushback from within House Republicans, threatening to pass the bill.

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner (R-Ohio) said Sunday on CBS’ “Face the Nation” that he was “very concerned” about the strategy of introducing a stand-alone Israel bill. He suggested that moving only that part could be dangerous. Cutting off the path to Ukrainian funds for parliamentary approval.

And he’s never alone.

Democrats have also warned against a unilateral Israeli policy, including liberals who criticize Israel’s military action in Gaza and who say separating different parts of the Senate bill puts everything at risk. It is certain that moderate members of Congress who are wary of being exposed will oppose it.

Rep. Bennie Thompson (Mississippi), the ranking Democrat on the Homeland Security Committee, specifically referred to Ukraine and Israeli aid, saying, “The worst thing in the world to get aid for either is to get both sides.” It’s about separating them.” “That would be a bad move strategically.”

Prime Minister Boris Johnson told reporters on Monday that Biden’s veto threat against an independent Israel was “outrageous” and called it “a great ally and friend of ours, Israel, and their “It’s a betrayal of a time of desperate need.”

Meanwhile, the hard-line conservative House Freedom Caucus board criticized the proposed Israel aid package. Since there is no offset – Given that members of this group have often blocked votes on partisan procedural rules in protest of various bills this Congress, any effort to introduce legislation under the normal process would be complicated. There is.

Mr. Johnson was able to avoid procedural problems caused by opposition within the Republican Party by passing the bill through a fast-track process that required support from Democrats. House Rules Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-Okla.) told reporters he expected the Israel bill to be introduced under a pause in the rules process before Biden’s veto threat. He said there was no chance for amendments as it would require two-thirds support in the House of Commons.law

But Johnson may not be able to count on bipartisan support, as the Senate version of the package is on hold and Biden has vowed to veto it. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York criticized Johnson’s move in a letter to his colleagues on Sunday.

“Given that House Republicans were under orders from the former president not to pass border security legislation or aid to Ukraine, this eleventh-hour standalone bill is a cynical attempt to undermine bipartisan efforts in the Senate. There’s reason to believe that there is,” Jeffries said. in a letter.

The border package poses a political challenge in its own right for Jeffries and other Democratic leaders as they fight to wrest control of the House in November’s elections.

On the one hand, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York faces pressure to support the Senate deal in order to forge a united front with President Biden, both of whom support the bill and Republicans who oppose it. Attacking members of Congress. that. The package’s enactment would also give Biden an important policy victory in an election year when there are few opportunities to move major legislation.

Meanwhile, many House Liberals have already rejected the deal, warning that it goes too far in restricting border entry for migrants fleeing instability at home. Liberal opponents represent powerful constituencies such as the Progressive Caucus and the Hispanic Caucus, putting unique pressure on Jeffries and his team to oppose the policy in the name of human rights. That’s for sure.

“For immigrants who are able to seek asylum, they are subject to unrealistic standards and timelines for filing asylum claims, and too many are forced into certain death, discrimination, and other harm.” will be brought back,” Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Washington), head of the Progressive Caucus, said in a statement.

Amid the long impasse, some House Democrats are discussing the possibility of using a procedural tool called discharge petitions to break the deadlock and get at least some of the Senate’s policies to Biden’s desk. are doing. The petition requires the signatures of at least half of the House of Representatives (218 members) for the bill to pass even if the majority leader opposes it.

But it’s also a sign that liberal Democrats are balking at border security provisions, pro-Palestinian lawmakers are wary of further military aid to Israel, and that calls from House Republicans are open to them. Considering that there is no such thing, this is quite likely. I support the petition to reach number 218 — I intend to oppose Mr. Johnson on such a sensitive topic.

In an interview with Fox News last month, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) warned that the political consequences of such a move would be severe.

“If any of our Republican colleagues want to step over the line and sign a discharge petition and vote in favor of Democrats, good luck in the primary and good luck if you’re re-elected.” Please,” she said.