White House national security communications adviser John Kirby told members of the press that the proposal submitted by Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-La.) to provide financial assistance to Israel could work, but a deeper look was still needed before passing final judgment.
“It does appear, at first blush, that the speaker’s proposals will, in fact, help us get aid to Ukraine, aid to Israel, and needed resources to the Indo-Pacific for a wide range of contingencies there. At first blush, it looks like that. We just want to get more details,” he said during a gaggle on Air Force One on April 16.
Unlike the all-in-one $95 billion package previously passed in the Senate, each part of Mr. Johnson’s proposal would require its own vote.
The response among the speaker’s own party has been divided.
Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) praised Mr. Johnson for splitting the bills into separate packages rather than attempting to merge them into a single package.
“I like that it’s separate bills,” he said on April 15.
But Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), who is leading a push to oust Mr. Johnson as speaker, came out against it.
“I am firmly against the plan as it stands right now,” Ms. Greene told reporters.
“This is such a scam, and people are so done with it,” she added.
Mr. Johnson released his plan just a few days after Iran launched an unprecedented attack on Israel on April 13, with a barrage of more than 300 missiles and drones from its own borders as well as from its proxy groups in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen. Though 99 percent of the munitions were intercepted, the attack sparked an immediate call for Congress to act in support of Israel.
President Joe Biden, however, made it clear that he would veto any spending bill that was exclusively for Israel. Mr. Kirby echoed that position on April 16.
“We don’t support a standalone bill that only funds Israel because Ukraine needs munitions, too,” he said. “I think we still have to see the Speaker’s proposal in more detail. The important thing is that the House moves this week to help us get security assistance for Israel, Ukraine, and also for the Indo-Pacific; they need to move this week.”
Mr. Kirby declined to share any details on a conversation between Mr. Johnson and President Biden on April 15. Members of the press pointed out that each package would be a standalone bill, but Mr. Kirby said that the administration was going to wait to pass judgment until they have had a chance to take a closer look.
“The important thing is that our allies like Ukraine and Israel, who are under the gun—literally under the gun—get the security assistance they need as quickly as possible,” he said.
President Biden left Washington today for a multi-day campaign trip across Pennsylvania, making stops in his hometown of Scranton, as well as Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.
