U.S. lawmakers are weighing their options to provide financial and military assistance to Israel as the speaker’s chair remains vacant in the House of Representatives.
On Oct. 7, fighters linked to the Hamas terrorist group in the Gaza Strip launched a surprise attack on Israel that has left hundreds dead, prompting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to vow revenge and declare war on the group.
Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle were quick to condemn the attack. The eventual passage of aid for the nation is all but a foregone conclusion.
However, the speed with which Congress approves such aid remains up in the air, as the House is currently without a leader.
Last week, a contingent of eight Republicans in the House booted Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) out of his role as speaker as most Democrats joined them in a 216–210 vote.
Currently, Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.), selected by Mr. McCarthy before his ouster, is in charge of the House as acting speaker.
Mr. McHenry said in a statement that “America stands with Israel.”
“The vicious attack on our most sacred ally by Hamas terrorists cannot stand. The Israeli people have our unwavering support, and the Israeli government has every right to defend its citizens against this act of war,” he said.
Speakership Front-Runners Vow Support for Israel
Currently, the two top contenders for that spot are House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.), and both have expressed their support for Israel.
“Do you support additional funding to Israel?” Ms. Bartiromo asked.
Mr. Jordan replied, “I want to give them what they need to win.”
Ms. Bartiromo later asked: “As speaker of the House, what would be your direction in the face of war in the Middle East? Tell me what your first directive would be as speaker.”
Mr. Jordan quickly replied: “To help the state of Israel. There will be some resolution on the floor to help the state of Israel. We‘ll consult with [House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Mike McCaul (R-Texas)], we’ll consult with the Senate, we'll consult with the White House.”
Mr. Jordan expressed confidence that such a move would get “bipartisan, bicameral support.”
Likewise, Mr. Scalise said in a statement: “The United States will always stand with Israel, our greatest ally in the Middle East. They must defend themselves as their citizens are slaughtered by Hamas terrorists. They have our full support and our prayers.”
Republicans Call for Swift Action
Several Republicans have called for swift action, ranging from the approval of a resolution by unanimous consent to the reinstatement—whether permanent or temporary—of Mr. McCarthy.Mr. McCaul has called for the House to act quickly—with or without a speaker.
During an appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union” on Oct. 8, Mr. McCaul said he and House Foreign Affairs Committee ranking Democratic member Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.) were working on pushing a resolution to the floor in response to the attacks even without a speaker elected.
Specifically, he called for the passage of such a resolution “by unanimous consent, whether or not we have a speaker in place.”
“I think we cannot wait. We have to get that message out as soon as possible,” Mr. McCaul said.
Although he didn’t say what that resolution would look like, he suggested, in part, that funds would go toward “replenishing the Iron Dome,” Israel’s high-tech missile defense system.
“How does the Ayatollah [of Iran] look at this knowing that we cannot function properly? And I think it sends a terrible message,” Mr. McCaul said. “We have to get a speaker elected this week so we can get things on the floor like replenishing the Iron Dome.”
Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-N.Y.) said on Oct. 7 that she plans to introduce legislation to fund the replenishment of Israel’s Iron Dome and is urging lawmakers to “quickly bring this bill to the floor.”
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), a devoted ally of Mr. McCarthy, was asked by Ms. Bartiromo whether the selection of a new speaker would be “expedited” in the wake of the attacks.
“Yes, absolutely,” Ms. Greene replied, saying that removing Mr. McCarthy at this critical juncture was “not a serious thing to do” given Republicans’ slim control of the lower chamber.
Likewise, in a post on X, Rep. Mark Alford (R-Mo.) called for Republicans to move their candidate forum from its original scheduled slot on Oct. 10.
“We need to have a forum Sunday or Monday,” Mr. Alford said in the post. “We are paralyzed as a body. World events dictate urgency.”
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), during his appearance on an Oct. 8 program, called for Republicans to end their “civil war.”
“It’s time for the GOP to end the Republican civil war in order for us to be able to come together in an enlightened and bipartisan way,” Mr. Jeffries said.
Reportedly, several House Republicans are hoping that they can quickly reinstate Mr. McCarthy to his former role with the added pressure from the attacks on Israel and the urgency that the situation presents.
“A short window is all we need in the House to reinstate Kevin McCarthy and change the rule,” Rep. John Duarte (R-Calif.) told Politico, a reference to the rule that allowed a single member to bring a motion to vacate the speaker’s seat.
Still, with two declared candidates already receiving backing for the post, such a move faces long odds in the lower chamber.
The House will likely return to Capitol Hill on Oct. 9
