Senate Democrats on Tuesday blocked an effort by Republicans to force the Upper House to consider a standalone Israel aid bill passed by the House earlier this month.
Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) called for unanimous consent to approve House-passed legislation that would provide Israel with $14.3 billion for its war against Hamas and offset the expense by cutting Internal Revenue Service funds appropriated in the so-called President Biden’s plan. Inflation Reduction Law.
The legislation, backed by 12 House Democrats on Nov. 2, was blocked by a handful of Senate Democrats.
Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) argued that funding for Ukraine and humanitarian assistance should be included in any Israel package before it reaches the president’s desk.
“Once again, I had to block a Senate Republican’s attempt to pit aid to Israel against support for Ukraine and humanitarian assistance,” Murray wrote in an X post. “I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again: we can’t just do half our job. Not only is it wrong, it is dangerous and naive.”
Murray, chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, also made her argument on the Senate floor.
“We cannot send the message to our allies and to the world that the United States only supports some of its allies, that our word is only good sometimes,” Murray said.
Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) argued that it would be “dangerous” not to approve aid to Israel and Ukraine together, in a single bill. Michael Brochstein/SOPA Images/Shutterstock
Marshall and other Senate Republicans criticized the measure.
“Time is of the essence right now. There is a powder keg in Israel that is exploding. There could easily be three battle fronts in the very, very near future. And that is why we must send a message loud and clear to Hamas, to Iran and to all its proxies, that we do not tolerate terrorism, we do not tolerate crimes against humanity,” Marshall said after his effort was blocked.
“This is already the second hour I’ve spent in the room debating with my friends on the other side of the hall and they spend three quarters of their time telling us why we should fund Ukraine.”
“They seem to be allergic to the word ‘Israel,'” he added.
Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) backs stand-alone spending bill for aid to Israel that would be funded by cuts to the IRS.ZUMAPRESS.com
Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), JD Vance (R-Ohio), Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Marshall introduced the Senate version of the House bill last month, after Biden, 80 years, make an emergency request for about $105. $1 billion in spending, including $61 billion for Ukraine.
“What I find interesting about the people who are here today is that they represent a cross-section of opinions on the Ukraine issue,” Vance said Tuesday. “Even the senator. [Eric] Schmitt and Senator Lee, as much as we agree, we do not agree on every permutation of how to approach the Ukraine situation. However, what we do agree on is that the American people deserve a separate debate.”
Democrats also blocked an attempt to pass the bill in the Senate last week.
President Biden has requested that Congress pass a bill to send $14.3 billion in aid to Israel and more than $60 billion in aid to Ukraine. AFP via Getty Images
“Democrats have blocked our efforts to bring aid to Israel for two weeks. Enough is enough,” Marshall tweeted moments before attempting to push the standalone measure once again on Tuesday.
The senator’s second attempt of the day failed after the Senate voted 51-48 in favor of Murray’s motion to introduce the bill.
National Security Council spokesman John Kirby has said the president will veto any package that only contains funding for Israel.
The White House Office of Management and Budget also criticized the House Israel bill and stated that Biden would veto the legislation.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn