By David Morgan
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson said on Sunday he will try to pass aid to Israel this week after Iran’s mass drone and missile attack, but did not say whether legislation will also include assistance to Ukraine and other United States. allies.
Johnson, who is struggling to unify his fractious Republican majority and avoid a threat of ouster, recounted two failed attempts to approve independent aid for Israel.
“We’ll try again this week, and the details of the package will be put together right now. We’re looking at the options and all these additional issues,” Johnson told Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures” program. .
Johnson’s office declined to provide further details.
Johnson spoke after House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, the No. 1 Republican, spoke out. 2 of the House, said the House would respond to Iran’s attack with “legislation that supports our ally Israel and holds Iran and its terrorist proxies accountable,” without offering details.
Johnson was expected to meet later Sunday with lawmakers focused on national security issues, including House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul.
Iran launched hundreds of drones and missiles in its first direct attack on Israeli territory this weekend, raising the threat of open war between the two Middle Eastern foes that could involve the United States.
The White House and top Democrats and Republicans in the Senate have called on Johnson to move forward without delay on a bipartisan $95 billion package approved by the Senate that would provide $14.1 billion in aid to Israel and $60 billion in assistance to Israel. ‘Ukraine.
“They should question this as soon as possible,” White House national security spokesman John Kirby (NYSE:) said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
Johnson refused to accept the Senate bill. He instead sought to craft his own legislation, with the aid to Ukraine structured as a loan at the behest of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.
“He and I are 100% united on these most important issues,” Johnson said of Trump, after meeting with the former president on Friday in Florida.
Many of Trump’s House allies oppose aid to Ukraine, and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has threatened to oust Johnson as speaker on issues including his support for Ukraine.
Ukraine’s Republican allies had expected a larger supplementary bill with assistance for Kiev to be debated this week.
McCaul told CBS’ “Face the Nation” that Johnson is committed to bringing a larger relief package to the floor, but stopped short of saying when that would happen. “My preference is this week,” he said.