House plans vote on standalone Israel aid bill next week, Speaker Johnson says

Washington — The Home plans to vote subsequent week on a standalone Israel assist invoice subsequent week Speaker Mike Johnson stated in a letter to colleagues on Saturday, by which he describes a brand new plan to vote on Israel overseas assist subsequent week.

That is each a brand new initiative — and one thing of a retreat by Home Republicans, who late final yr authorized a plan that supplied billions in Israeli assist, but in addition reduce cash for the IRS. The earlier plan in November unnoticed funding for Ukraine and different nationwide safety priorities. 

Johnson then had chosen to pursue a narrower invoice that may not appeal to Democratic help, fairly than a bigger bundle that may have been supported by many members throughout the aisle. 

Home Democrats urged members to vote in opposition to that earlier invoice, saying it “breaks from longstanding bipartisan precedent” by together with spending cuts in an emergency assist bundle.” Democratic Senators stated on the time they’d not contemplate supporting the bundle. Senate Majority Chief Chuck Schumer stated then that the invoice omitted assist for Ukraine and humanitarian funding to Gaza, along with different funding priorities — and would put collectively their very own bipartisan assist invoice. 

In Saturday’s letter, Johnson blames Democrats and the Senate for forcing the Home GOP to pivot its earlier technique. He attacked Senate leaders for failing to incorporate Home leaders of their negotiations on the emergency plan, which incorporates assist to Ukraine, Israel, and which is anticipated quickly. 

“Given the Senate’s failure to maneuver applicable laws in a well timed vogue, and the perilous circumstances presently going through Israel, the Home will proceed to steer,” Johnson wrote.

Johnson says the brand new assist bundle is not going to embrace cuts to different packages. He needs the Home to have an Israel assist bundle prepared in brief order.  

“We are going to take up and move a clear, standalone Israel supplemental bundle,” Johnson wrote.

— Kathryn Watson contributed to this report.