Congressional Leaders Urged by Biden to Pass Foreign Aid Package Following Iran’s Attack on Israel

The White House in Washington on March 25, 2024. Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times

President Joe Biden has urged congressional leaders to help get a foreign aid package promising billions to Israel and Ukraine passed through the House of Representatives sooner rather than later.

According to an April 14 media statement from the White House, President Biden held a meeting with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) “to discuss Iran’s unprecedented attack against Israel.”

On Saturday, Iran and its proxies fired over 300 rockets at Israel. Around 99 per cent of the projectiles were reportedly intercepted, and United States and Israeli officials claim there has been almost no damage to Israel’s infrastructure reported at this time.

The White House statement said, “On the call, the President discussed the urgent need for the House of Representatives to pass the national security supplemental as soon as possible.”

The $95 billion foreign aid package, which includes support for Ukraine along with Israel, has already passed the Senate but has stalled in the House amid opposition from Republicans who want separate bills for Ukraine and Israel aid and action to close the U.S. border to illegal immigration.

Republicans have been calling for spending cuts amid a battle over the debt limit, which Congress imposes to restrict the total amount of debt the government can hold. Republicans have hesitated to support any action that increases spending and doesn’t address the ongoing border and debt crisis.

The U.S. national debt reached a record high of $34 trillion at the end of 2023, and the federal government’s total public debt ballooned to $2.65 trillion in a single year.

Schumer Calls on Speaker Johnson to Help Pass Foreign Aid Package

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer confirmed the meeting between congressional leaders in an April 14 post on social media platform X, saying, “The U.S. commitment to Israel’s security is ironclad. We need to help Israel stay strong against Iran.”

Mr. Schumer then called on House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson to help get the aid package through the House. Mr. Schumer claims the best way to help Israel is for “the House to pass the bipartisan, Senate-passed national security bill.”

In an interview on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures,” Mr. Johnson revealed he was already trying to get the aid package through the House this week, with the final details still being hammered out.

“We’re going to try again this week, and the details of that package are being put together right now,” he said.

“We’re looking at the options, and all these supplemental issues,” Mr. Johnson added.

Last November, Mr. Johnson said that funding for Ukraine and Israel is a “priority,” but so too is a change in border policy amid an influx of people coming through the southern border. Border Patrol has encountered more than 7.6 million illegal immigrants trying to cross the border since President Joe Biden took office in January 2021.

In an April 13 post on X, Mr. Johnson said he would continue discussing the issue with the White House.

“As Israel faces this vicious attack from Iran, America must show our full resolve to stand with our critical ally. The world must be assured: Israel is not alone. I will continue to engage with the White House to insist upon a proper response,” he said.