©Reuters. U.S. President Joe Biden speaks during the opening of Biden’s campaign office for president in Wilmington, Delaware, U.S., February 3, 2024. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts
By Patricia Zengerle
(Reuters) – U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration said on Monday it would veto a stand-alone bill supported by Republicans in the House of Representatives that would provide aid to Israel, as the White House pushes for a broader measure that would provide assistance to Ukraine and Israel and provide new funds. for border security.
“The Administration strongly encourages both houses of Congress to reject this political ploy and instead quickly send the bipartisan Homeland Security Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act to the President’s desk,” the Office of Management and Budget said in a statement of the White House.
Officials from the Democratic president’s administration have been working for months with Senate Democrats and Republicans on legislation introduced Sunday that combines an overhaul of U.S. immigration policy and new funding for border security with billions of dollars in emergency aid for Ukraine , Israel and partners in Indonesia. -Pacific Region.
The $118 billion spending measure would also provide humanitarian assistance to civilians affected by global conflicts.
“The administration firmly opposes this ploy which does nothing to protect the border, does nothing to help the Ukrainian people defend themselves from Putin’s aggression, fails to ensure the safety of synagogues, mosques and places of cults vulnerable Americans and denies humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians, the majority of whom are women and children,” the statement read.
Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson announced Saturday that the House will reject the Senate’s bipartisan bill and instead vote this week on a measure that provides aid only to Israel.
“The president’s veto threat is an act of treason,” Johnon said in a statement Monday evening. “By threatening to veto aid to Israel and our military forces, President Biden is abandoning our ally in his hour of greatest need.”
Republicans are bitterly divided over the legislation, with Donald Trump – the frontrunner for his party’s presidential nomination – and his closest allies vociferously voicing opposition, calling the Senate plan not tough enough.
Trump has made security at the Mexican border a major talking point in his campaign against Biden ahead of the November election.
The Republican-majority House passed an Israel-only bill in November, but it was never taken up by the Democratic-led Senate as negotiators worked on Biden’s request for Congress to pass a broader emergency package on safety.