Speaker Mike Johnson issued a cautionary statement on Saturday, asserting that the House would not hastily approve a Senate border-foreign aid deal. Instead, Johnson announced plans to address a stand-alone bill for Israel aid in the coming week.
The decision reflects the House Republicans’ reluctance to swiftly adopt any Senate deal without thorough consideration and potential amendments.
In a letter addressed to House Republicans, a copy of which was obtained by POLITICO, Johnson emphasized that the Senate negotiators, by excluding the House from their discussions, hindered the possibility of expeditious consideration of any legislation.
Johnson (Credits: Reuters)
He reiterated his consistent stance over the past three months, emphasizing that the House would assert its authority on these matters, ensuring that its priorities are addressed.
This letter underscores the challenges that any Senate deal will encounter in the GOP-controlled House, with mounting pressure from former President Donald Trump and his allies within the Senate Republican ranks to reject any agreement.
Simultaneously, House conservatives, led by Johnson, have issued warnings that if they perceive the proposed border reform efforts as insufficient, the bill will face resistance in their chamber.
Skepticism within the House GOP conference is also growing regarding additional aid for Ukraine. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) even raised the prospect of initiating a vote to oust Johnson if he brings the bill to the floor.
Contrary to the Senate deal, Johnson outlined in his letter that the House would proceed with a vote on a “clean, standalone Israel supplemental package” next week.
The intention is to build pressure on the Senate to consider the bill if it garners approval in the House. Conservative voices within the House have been exploring ways to dismantle the Senate deal.
Senator J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) and Representative Kevin Hern (R-Okla.), chair of the Republican Study Committee, urged Johnson earlier in the week to introduce a new Israel aid bill without attaching IRS cuts.
The House bill, introduced by Representative Ken Calvert (R-Calif.) and supported by GOP leadership and the Appropriations Committee, aims to provide $17.6 billion in military assistance to Israel along with funding for U.S. forces in the region.
Notably, a previous House-approved funding for Israel, offset by cutting IRS funding, faced opposition from many Democrats. The new Israel bill introduced on Saturday excludes such offsets, addressing the primary objection raised by Democrats during previous debates.
Johnson, in his letter, pointed out that Democrats had consistently opposed the original House bill primarily due to its offsets. He emphasized that the Senate now lacks excuses, however misguided, against the prompt passage of this crucial support for the U.S. ally.
