House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) confirmed his intentions to push through the controversial aid package for Israel and Ukraine this week. For the past several months he touted this national security expenditure that drew considerable opposition.
The $95 billion supplemental funding would target U.S. allies in Israel and Ukraine while sending humanitarian aid to Kyiv and Gaza.
Israel is in the grips of conflicts with both Hamas forces in Gaza and the Iranian terrorist nation. Tehran launched hundreds of missiles and suicide drones Saturday night against the Jewish state.
Johnson told Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures” that Republicans understand the need to support Israel in this critical time. Most of the party agrees, though the open-ended aid to Ukraine drew considerable opposition from conservatives concerned about a never-ending war.
The Speaker explained that “the details of the package are being put together right now. We’re looking at the options and all these supplemental issues.”
His counterpart in the Senate, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), echoed Johnson’s support for the aid package.
US House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson said he would try to pass aid to Israel this week after Iran's mass drone and missile attack, but he did not say whether the legislation would also include assistance for Ukraine and other allies https://t.co/utbvLYYr7z
— Reuters (@Reuters) April 15, 2024
Calling it “vital for the future of Ukraine, for Israel and the West,” Schumer declared there is a “consensus” among all congressional leaders that the massive expenditure is necessary.
As for Johnson, he indicated support for reworking the aid package to Kyiv to transition some of the funding into loans. Another possibility is for Washington to access Russian funds that are currently frozen due to the war in Ukraine.
Johnson met with former President Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago home on Friday. He said afterward that he and the presumptive Republican presidential nominee are “100% united on these big agenda items.”
The 45th president told the media later that he and Johnson enjoy a “very good relationship.”
The weekend attack on Israel added new urgency to the aid for Israel.
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) released a statement on Saturday asserting that the lower chamber will alter its schedule this week. This is intended to “consider legislation that supports our ally Israel and holds Iran and its terrorist proxies accountable.”
