The US House of Representatives will move forward in its plans to increase funding to Israel following its costly defense campaign against Iran this weekend.
According to the New York Times, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has put forth a plan that could significantly bolster foreign aid. The proposal, divided into four separate bills, aims to secure aid for Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan, while the fourth bill is a comprehensive package that promises additional security to all three countries.
It remains to be seen how fast Johnson can get the estimated $95 billion up for a vote on the House floor, as the legislative texts still reportedly need to be finalized. According to House rules, legislators must be given 72 hours to review the text of any bill before it is brought to the floor for a vote. This requirement could push the voting timeline to the weekend, depending on when the documents are ready for review.
“We will honor the 72-hour rule,” Johnson said, as the New York Times quoted. “That probably means that if we get bill text sometime early Tuesday — that’s the hope, that’s the ambition — then that probably puts us into perhaps Friday evening. We’ll have to see how the clock works.
In February, the House failed to pass a Republican-led bill that would have provided $17.6 billion in aid to Israel.
