House Republicans are planning dozens of votes on measures to support Israel and condemn Iran after the weekend attacks, but they still have no path forward on funding for the US ally.
President Mike Johnson has introduced 17 new bills involving Iran and Israel on the House calendar after Iran launched drone strikes against Israel over the weekend.
It has postponed plans for “appliance week,” where the House was expected to vote on a series of messaging measures against the Biden administration’s regulations on appliances such as gas stoves.
The bills would require the United States to “fully implement” sanctions on Iran and ensure there are no loopholes, restrict Iranian imports and crack down on financial transactions between the United States and Iran and sanction Chinese companies that buy oil from Iran.
President Mike Johnson has introduced 17 new bills involving Iran and Israel on the House calendar after Iran launched drone strikes against Israel over the weekend.
Republicans are planning dozens of votes on measures supporting Israel and condemning Iran, led by Ayatollah Khameini (above), after the weekend attacks, but still have no path forward on funding for the ally of the United States.
Another bill would declare the phrase “from the river to the sea” anti-Semitic, used controversially by Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., and another would urge the EU to designate Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. a terrorist organization.
In light of the attacks, Democrats have increased pressure on Johnson to bring to the House floor the $95 billion supplemental funding bill passed by the Senate with money for Ukraine, Israel and the Indo-Pacific. .
Hardline Conservatives have warned Johnson not to include any funding from Ukraine in an aid bill to Israel. Johnson has been coy about how he would like to move forward, but called an emergency conference-wide meeting of his Republicans for Monday night.
Israel has considered Iran’s 350-missile attack a “declaration of war,” although it said 99 percent of the missiles were intercepted.
The strike was in response to Israel’s drone strike in Syria that killed 12 Iranians, including two senior generals.
Meanwhile president Biden faces increasing pressure to contain the crisis, and defense experts say the president has allowed the conflict to continue. Loop spread and that expanding battle lines risk attracting allies, including the United States.
Donald Trump last night accused Biden of “weakness and incompetence” as he criticized his electoral rival for not addressing the American public following the Tehran attack, his first direct attack against Israel.
IDF spokesman Peter Lerner confirmed on Monday morning that there would be retaliation from Israel, stating that this could involve “an attack or no attack.”
He explained that senior military leaders had presented “a wide range of options” and that there are “many different scenarios” on the table.
Iranian missiles launched against Israel, as seen on Iranian television
An anti-missile system operates after Iran launched drones and missiles towards Israel, as seen from Ashkelon, Israel, on April 14, 2024.
The Israeli government “will decide next steps” on Monday or in the coming days, Lerner told reporters.
Johnson has signaled that he wants to get foreign aid to both Israel and Ukraine over the finish line. But he hasn’t said whether it will consist of one vote or multiple votes.
Appearing with Johnson on Friday, Trump said he was “taking a look” at aid to Ukraine but favored it being in the form of a loan rather than an outright donation.
Johnson and his top brass have discussed using the Lend-Lease Act, which would require Ukraine to return any military equipment that is not destroyed after a certain period of time, and the REPO Act, which would confiscate Russian assets that have been frozen all over the world. balloon for Ukraine.
An image capture from a video taken early on April 14, 2024 shows rocket trails in the sky over the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex in Jerusalem.
But a motion to impeach him has been hanging over Johnson’s head since Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene launched the effort to remove him last month. The Georgia Republican is a staunch opponent of aid to Ukraine and has already threatened to try to fire Johnson if he brings him to the floor.
With the slim Republican majority, Johnson can only afford to lose three Republicans and keep his job.
The bill passed by the Senate included humanitarian and military aid: $61 billion for Ukraine, $14 billion for Israel in its war against Hamas and $4.83 billion to support its partners in the Indo-Pacific.
Johnson suggested he would not introduce the Senate bill in the House, adding that military aid is “more acceptable” to members.
“No American taxpayer should be tasked with propping up the Ukrainian nation’s pension system.”
Any foreign aid bill would likely have to reach the House floor under suspension of the rules, meaning it would need a two-thirds majority to pass.
The bill would lose several Democrats who would oppose more aid to Israel without humanitarian conditions. He would lose several Republicans who strongly oppose aid to Ukraine, which could jeopardize his chances of passage.
But Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries insisted the bill would pass even under suspension — it would get enough Democratic votes.
“I believe there are a sufficient number of votes to ensure that the national security bill reaches the legislative goal,” Jeffries said.