US House to vote on $17.6Bln separate 'Israel' war package next week

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
3 Feb 2024 23:33
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House Speaker Mike Johnson criticized the Senate for not promptly advancing legislation at a time when "Israel" is faced with "perilous circumstances."

House Speaker Mike Johnson of La., speaks during the National Prayer Breakfast, Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024, at the Capitol in Washington (AP)

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."

The announcement comes at a time when the Senate and the White House were preparing to unveil a compromise legislative text intended to link war supplies to "Israel" with border security funding and additional assistance for Ukraine.

The legislative impasse stems from an ongoing clash between Republican and Democrat lawmakers over the inclusion of "border security measures" in a proposed legislation.

The bill, led by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and endorsed by the White House, encountered a significant setback in December 2023 as senators rejected a crucial procedural motion to initiate debate.

The measure needed a minimum of 60 votes to move forward, which it failed to achieve.

With the upcoming vote, it is expected that the US House of Representatives will take decisive action on the compromise legislative bill.