House Republicans Prioritize Israel Aid, Excluding Ukraine in Proposed Package

The House Republicans proposed USD 17.6 billion package allocates funds for military aid to Israel and US weapons replenishment, omitting further assistance for Ukraine. This move underscores the challenges in achieving a comprehensive national security package that includes immigration enforcement funding.

Washington, Feb 4 (AP): House Republicans are set to introduce a USD 17.6 billion package next week, focusing on military aid to Israel and replenishing US weapons. However, the package notably excludes additional assistance for Ukraine, highlighting the challenges in securing a comprehensive national security package that would also allocate billions of dollars for immigration enforcement.

Show of Support for Israel

This move allows Speaker Mike Johnson and House Republicans to demonstrate their support for Israel, despite the Senate's unlikely approval. Meanwhile, the Senate is expected to release the text of a broader compromise this weekend, with a crucial test vote scheduled for the upcoming week.

Senate's Exclusion of House Raises Concerns

Johnson expressed concern that the Senate's failure to include the House in negotiations has eliminated the possibility of swift consideration for any legislation. He emphasized the need for the House to address its priorities and ensure they are considered in the final package.

Previous Israel Aid Package and Senate's Rejection

In November, the House approved a nearly USD 14.5 billion military aid package for Israel, but the Senate declined to take it up. Republicans insisted on offsetting the cost of the aid through cuts elsewhere, particularly targeting the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). However, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office warned that such cuts would result in a net loss of USD 12.5 billion for the federal government due to reduced tax revenue.

Removal of Offsets for Swift Passage

The inclusion of IRS cuts turned the previous bill into a more partisan vote, passing 226-196. In his letter to colleagues, Johnson suggested that removing the offsets should facilitate the swift passage of the Israel aid package. He highlighted that Democrats' primary objection to the original House bill was the inclusion of offsets, and with their removal, the Senate would no longer have any excuses for delaying the critical support for Israel.

Details of the Military Assistance Bill

Rep. Ken Calvert, R-Calif., released the text of the military assistance bill for Israel. The bill allocates USD 4 billion to replenish missile defense systems and USD 1.2 billion to counter short-range rockets and mortar threats. It also includes funding for procuring advanced weapons systems and enhancing the production of artillery and other munitions.

To ensure that the support does not compromise US readiness, the bill includes USD 4.4 billion to replenish US stocks of weapons provided to Israel. Additionally, USD 3.3 billion is allocated for ongoing US military operations in the region.

As the House Republicans move forward with their proposed package, the fate of comprehensive national security legislation remains uncertain. The Senate's expected release of a compromise text and the upcoming test vote will be crucial in determining the path forward for both Israel aid and broader national security priorities.