Biden opposes 'standalone Israel' security package bill: White House
2 Min Read
The Biden administration is against the recent House Republican bill that seeks to provide $17.6 billion in security assistance to 'Israel' without including additional support for Ukraine.
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A worker removes snow from the White House driveway during a winter storm, Friday, January 19, 2024, in Washington. (AP)
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated on Sunday at dawn that the Biden administration opposes the recent House Republican bill, which aims to allocate $17.6 billion in security assistance to "Israel" without additional support for Ukraine.
In a letter to colleagues on Saturday, House Speaker Mike Johnson announced that the US House of Representatives will cast a vote next week on a bill aiming to release $17.6 billion in security assistance solely to "Israel."
"Next week, we will take up and pass a clean, standalone Israel supplemental package," the letter read.
Republican Rep. Ken Calvert is expected to release a legislative text related to support for "Israel" as early as this afternoon, Johnson said. The speaker further criticized the Senate for not promptly advancing legislation at a time when "Israel" is faced with "perilous circumstances".
US Congressman to vote against spending bill for 'Israel'
On another note, on Sunday at dawn, US Congressman Thomas Massie stated that a recently proposed spending bill for "Israel" would result in a $14.3 billion increase in the US debt, expressing his intention to vote against it.
"This spending package has no offsets, so it will increase our debt by $14.3 billion plus interest. I’m a No," Massie said on X.
The Speaker just announced that next week the House will vote on a clean bill to send Israel $14.3 billion.
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) February 3, 2024
Israel has a lower debt to GDP ratio than the United States. This spending package has no offsets, so it will increase our debt by $14.3 billion plus interest.
I’m a No. pic.twitter.com/cHKws5R05Q
"Most of this money will go directly to the US Military Industrial Complex (MIC), which, if you’re keeping up, prefers to be referred to as the Defense Industrial Base (DIB) now. Watch for those stocks to go up Monday," Massie said.
The congressman elaborated, stating, "The bill, totaling over $17 billion, includes funds for replacing weapons previously provided to Israel and covers various miscellaneous costs in the Middle East."
He added, "Furthermore, in addition to this $17+ billion bill, we will likely provide them with the customary $3+ billion in the omnibus!"
![In a 2021 interview with Frontline by former US special representative James Jeffrey, he says he had "engaged with [HTS] via backchannels while serving in President Trump’s State Department. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)](https://alpha-en-media.almayadeen.net/media/image/2024/12/21/b4a69f2e-8682-43e4-9d37-49482b304ab3/3.png?v=2&format=webp "In a 2021 interview with Frontline by former US special representative James Jeffrey, he says he had \"engaged with [HTS] via backchannels while serving in President Trump’s State Department. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)")
