The House Republican majority introduced a separate bill to fund $14.3 billion in aid to Israel. This Republican initiative does not include aid to Ukraine and has different funding sources than the Biden administration proposed.
This was reported by Ukrinform.
“To cover this foreign aid, the legislation would cut $14.3 billion in funding for the IRS,” The Hill reports.
This step is obviously in the interests of the conservative wing of the Republican Party. But it contradicts the White House’s initiative, which is supported by Democrats in both houses, as well as a significant number of Republicans.
The bill submitted to the House of Representatives includes $4 billion for Israel’s Iron Dome and Sling of David air defense systems, as well as $1.2 billion for the development of the Iron Beam air defense system. In addition, the package includes $4.4 billion for the Pentagon to replace weapons and equipment transferred to Israel, as well as to reimburse the military for training. Another $3.5 billion is addressed to the US State Department for foreign military financing to help arm Israel. The rest of the funds are earmarked for other services related to the conflict response in the region.
The new bill was unveiled by House Speaker Mike Johnson. The presented package deviates from the White House’s strategy, which links aid to Ukraine and Israel and other democracies that oppose imperialism and terrorism. This also complicates the prospects for the adoption of such a document.
