House Republicans, under the leadership of Speaker Mike Johnson, are firmly opposing President Biden’s $106 billion package of aid for Ukraine, Israel, and undocumented immigrants. The opposition is centered around concerns regarding the strategy for the war in Ukraine and the inclusion of aid for undocumented immigrants crossing into the U.S.
Rep. Mike Garcia of California authored a report listing a dozen questions that need to be answered before any more taxpayer money is approved for Ukraine. The top question is how President Biden and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy plan to win the war and how long it would take to achieve victory. The report argues that failure to address these questions would be a dereliction of duty and could result in a Ukrainian defeat and increased Chinese aggression.
Meanwhile, Rep. Dan Crenshaw of Texas is pressuring Speaker Johnson to negotiate for tougher border policies in addition to the aid for migrants included in Biden’s request. Speaker Johnson has also stated that the House will not combine aid for Ukraine and Israel’s conflict with Hamas, contrary to the president’s request.
President Biden’s $106 billion emergency funding package includes aid for Israel, Ukraine, and the U.S. border. The majority of the aid, $60 billion, is allocated for Ukraine, while $14 billion is designated for Israel. The aid for Israel’s fight against Hamas is more popular among House Republicans and could likely pass as a stand-alone bill.
Republicans have become skeptical of providing more aid to Ukraine, considering that the U.S. has already allocated over $75 billion to support the fight against Russian invaders. The report by Rep. Garcia and other Republicans demands cost estimates for a winning strategy, updates on progress in the war, explanations for future investments in Ukraine, and the consequences if funding were to stop.
The lawmakers also argue that humanitarian aid should be removed from current and future funding requests and that funding should focus on arming Ukrainian forces. President Biden’s request includes $9.15 billion for humanitarian aid, but the report does not specify how much would be allocated to Ukraine.
Another point of contention is the $14 billion designated for efforts on the U.S. southern border. House Republicans criticize this allocation, stating that it is intended to assist illegal immigrants rather than secure the border. Speaker Johnson is expected to push for tougher border policies in exchange for increased Ukraine spending.
In summary, House Republicans are opposing President Biden’s $106 billion aid package, specifically raising concerns about the strategy for the war in Ukraine and the inclusion of aid for undocumented immigrants. They are demanding answers to key questions and advocating for a focus on supporting Ukrainian forces and securing the border.
Focus Keyword: House Republicans, Biden, $106 billion, Aid, Ukraine, Israel, Undocumented Immigrants
