Speaker Mike Johnson revealed to Republicans on Saturday the House will vote in the coming week on a clean, standalone bill to provide billions in funding aid to Israel — even as the Senate appears set to reveal its own border and foreign aid deal.
The new bill, dubbed the Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, would provide $17.6 billion in military assistance for Israel, as well as funding for US forces in the region, according to Calvert’s office.
The legislation, to be introduced by Rep. Ken Calvert, R-Calif.), has backing from the House Republican leadership and the GOP-controlled Appropriations Committee.
In a letter to his colleagues detailing the new bill and vote obtained by The Post, Johnson (R-La.) blasted the Senate for shutting him and the House out of the bipartisan negotiations over a border security deal, which is expected to be tied to foreign aid for Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan.
“While the Senate appears poised to finally release text of their supplemental package after months of behind closed doors negotiations, their leadership is aware that by failing to include the House in their negotiations, they have eliminated the ability for swift consideration of any legislation,” Johnson wrote, adding that “the House will have to work its will on these issues and our priorities will need to be addressed.”
Johnson continued to tear into the Senate for its “failure to move appropriate legislation in a timely fashion” amid the “perilous circumstances currently facing Israel” and said the House would take the lead to ensure aid for the United States’ Middle East ally.
“Next week, we will take up and pass a clean, standalone Israel supplemental package,” he wrote.
“During debate in the House and in numerous subsequent statements, Democrats made clear that their primary objection to the original House bill was with its offsets. The Senate will no longer have excuses, however misguided, against swift passage of this critical support for our ally.”
Last year, the House approved $14.3 billion in aid to Israel amid its war with Hamas, which was offset by IRS spending cuts that Democrats opposed.
The speaker appears to be cranking up pressure on Democrats to back the latest bill by excluding any offsets.
It is unclear whether the Senate would consider a standalone Israel aid bill. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) recently announced that he expects the text for the Senate’s supplemental spending bill for Ukraine and Israel aid, as well as border security measures, to arrive by Sunday, and for the upper chamber to begin voting next week.