Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has warned that the “stunningly unserious” bill, which requires government spending cuts, has no chance in the Senate.Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., talks with reporters ahead of the debate and vote on supplemental aid to Israel, Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023.but also a partisan approach by new Speaker Mike Johnson that poses a direct challenge to Democrats and President .
The first substantial legislative effort in Congress to support Israel in the war falls far short of Biden's request for that would also back Ukraine as it fights Russia, along with U.S. efforts to counter China and address security at the border with Mexico. "This bill would break with the normal, bipartisan approach to providing emergency national security assistance," the White House wrote in its statement of administration policy on the legislation. It said the GOP stance"would have devastating implications for our safety and alliances in the years ahead."
But the vote was difficult for some lawmakers who want to support Israel and may have trouble explaining the trade-off to constituents, especially as the large AIPAC lobby and other groups encouraged passage. As the floor debate got underway, Democrats pleaded for Republicans to restore the humanitarian aid Biden requested and decried the politicization of typically widely bipartisan Israel support.
Nevertheless, Goldman said he opposed the Republican-led bill as “shameful effort” to turn the situation in Israel and the Jewish people into a political weapon.