by Brandon Goldman @YoThatsRough
This week in Congress, debate will continue regarding a $106 billion aid package encompassing military support for Ukraine and Israel, along with humanitarian aid for immigrants at the U.S. southern border. The aid bill allocates $61.4 billion for Ukraine, $13.6 billion for the U.S.-Mexico border, and $14.3 billion for Israel, with the remaining nearly $20 billion designated for humanitarian aid and Taiwan.
How Does the Bill Stack Up?
Aid to Israel
The White House has stated that the aid for Israel is intended for air and missile defense systems at a time when Hamas is launching frequent rocket attacks into mainland Israel. The Iron Dome system protects Israel from these attacks but is very expensive to maintain and replenish.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has said that he intends to pay for the Israel aid through a provision that would offset spending via financial cuts to the IRS. This would constitute a significant rebuke to President Biden, who has previously taken the lead in pushing for increased funds for the IRS. Under a Republican-controlled House, however, Johnson has the discretion to reallocate such funds.
Within the Senate, internal conflicts persist concerning the conditions tied to the aid despite the majority supporting the passage of the bill.
Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) recently stated, “Not one penny will be coming to Israel from the U.S. unless there is a fundamental change in their military and political positions.”
Sanders has received pushback on conditioning aid to Israel from his Democrat colleague Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT). Appearing on Meet the Press, Blumenthal argued that conditioning the aid would only serve to put a “straightjacket” on the Israeli military.
Southern Border Aid
The White House is seeking approximately $14 billion to increase the number of border agents, expand personnel to handle asylum cases, and implement new inspection machinery to identify fentanyl being carried across the southern border by the cartel.
Congressional Republicans have thus far stalled the $106 billion aid bill due to concerns over halting the flow of immigrants making their way into the U.S. They argue that illegal immigration must be cut off entirely, not merely managed.
Representative Mike Turner (R-OH) also appeared on Meet the Press over the weekend, stating, “I think it would be very difficult to get [the bill] done by the end of the year, and the impediment, currently, is the White House policy on the southern border.”
Turner further elaborated on why it would be difficult for House Republicans to pass the bill, saying, “Congress is going to require that there’ll be laws [changing] to — to make certain that the border returns to its prior state, you know, perhaps ‘Remain in Mexico,’ other types of provisions that would secure the southern border.”
Aid to Ukraine
To date, the United States has sent nearly $80 billion in aid to Ukraine to assist the country in its defensive war against Russia.
Most members of the GOP still support sending aid to Ukraine, arguing that the United States is helping to militarily destroy one of our biggest geopolitical enemies without spilling any American blood and for pennies on the dollar of what it would cost in a more direct confrontation.
Top House and Senate Republicans are signaling an openness to the additional aid package to Ukraine so long as the increased border security measures are adopted in the bill. However, as long as the two are tied together, many in Congress are not optimistic that the bill will pass in the remaining few weeks of this year’s legislative session.
The Biden administration has asserted that providing assistance to Ukraine directly bolsters U.S. security measures. Additionally, the administration is aiming to demonstrate to U.S. allies a steadfast commitment to supporting Ukraine in its ongoing struggle to safeguard its national sovereignty.
During Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin’s recent visit to Ukraine, he told officials, “The United States of America is with you.”
Public Support for Ukraine Aid Weakens
Despite strong commitment from the Biden administration and leadership in Congress, there has been a growing sentiment among many Republicans that the U.S. should not be sending any more funds to Ukraine.
A recent NBC News poll found that only 35% of Republicans support sending additional aid, compared with 77% of Democrats. A separate poll from Gallup found that over 40% of Americans believed America was doing “too much” to help Ukraine, including 44% of Independents.
While both the populist right and left hold the view that the United States should prioritize resolving domestic issues before addressing those of foreign nations, members of Congress on both sides of the aisle are taking a middle-ground approach by tying additional foreign aid to the pressing immigration issues at the southern border.
The fate of this legislation will likely be decided after the Congressional recess for the holiday season.