OAN’s Elizabeth Bolbelding
6:25 PM – Tuesday, February 6, 2024
The U.S. House of Representatives has failed to pass a separate $17.6 billion emergency aid bill for Israel amid bipartisan criticism and resistance from the White House.
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On Tuesday, a $17.6 billion standalone Israel aid bill failed in the House of Representatives.
The bill, which failed 250-180, was aimed at supporting U.S. allies in the fight against Hamas.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) has been ordered to introduce the new bill through a process that requires approval by a two-thirds majority of the House, over the objections of members of the House Freedom Caucus. Ta. This means that although a majority of the votes were in his favor, he did not receive the necessary Democratic votes to support him.
In December, Republicans rejected a bipartisan border security and foreign aid agreement negotiated in the Senate.
The bipartisan Senate bill included funding and policy changes aimed at immigration and border security, as well as aid to Taiwan and Ukraine. One of the key elements of this bill was aid to Israel.
Many Democrats were not happy that Republicans rejected the deal. The White House derided this as a “cynical political ploy.”
“This is just a political stunt by Republicans and the chairman,” said Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), ranking member of the Appropriations Committee. “This political content does not include humanitarian aid.”
Ahead of Tuesday’s vote, House Democratic leaders presented their members in a closed-door caucus with a compelling case against supporting a stand-alone Israel aid package. As they left the meeting, dozens of Democrats insisted they would vote against the bill.
Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Mississippi), the ranking Democrat on the House Homeland Security Committee, called the single-support bill a “trap.”
President Joe Biden threatened to veto the bill if it passes, citing his desire to incorporate a separate Israel aid bill into larger national security policy.
Congress has not yet introduced legislation that would authorize significant funding for foreign allies.
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