:quality(85)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/infobae/IZGMTM4T7JHF3DLAFCGUCBA7EY.jpg "The US Congress will separately address economic aid projects for Israel and Ukraine")
United States Congress to Address Separate Economic Aid Projects for Israel and Ukraine
The United States Congress is set to separately address economic aid projects for Israel and Ukraine, as announced by the president of the House of Representatives, Republican Mike Johnson. Despite US President Joe Biden’s call for a joint package of $95 billion in aid for the two countries, Johnson stated that the bills will be addressed individually in the coming days.
During a news conference, Johnson explained that there will be a separate vote on Friday night for funding for Israel and Ukraine, along with other countries in the Indo-Pacific region who are allies of the US. The recent Iranian attack on Israel has added pressure on Johnson to move forward with aid to these countries, especially Ukraine, which is facing ongoing conflict with Russia.
“We are closely monitoring the sudden developments around the world,” Johnson said after meeting with House GOP members. He added that separate projects will provide funds for Israel, support Ukraine in its fight against Russia, strengthen US allies in the Indo-Pacific, and enhance national security measures.
Johnson’s decision to address the aid projects separately comes in response to Biden’s plea for Congress to approve a $95 billion package for Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan. Despite the US Senate’s approval of a supplemental aid package for Israel and Ukraine last February, the Republican leader has yet to bring it to a vote in the House.
Biden urged Congress to approve the financing, emphasizing the urgency of the situation. According to Senate majority leader Chuck Shumer, there is a consensus among the four congressional leaders on the need to provide aid to Israel and Ukraine.
While there is a possibility of combining the projects into a single package, Johnson expressed a preference for them to be studied and approved individually. The decision to address the aid projects separately reflects the ongoing political tensions within Congress regarding foreign aid initiatives.
(With information from EFE)
Stay tuned for further updates on the economic aid projects for Israel and Ukraine as Congress moves forward with their deliberations.