The White House is sticking by its push for a security-funding bill that includes money for Ukraine alongside support for Israel in its fight against Hamas.
Funding to help Kyiv repel Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invaders made up the bulk of Mr Biden’s supplemental request for $106 billion in national security, which also included money for the Israel, U.S.-Mexico border operations and Indo-Pacific matters.
“We will not accept a standalone Israel-only bill that abandons Ukraine, fails to stand up to Putin and his brutal aggression and doesn’t provide urgent humanitarian assistance,” principal deputy White House press secretary Olivia Dalton said on Air Force One en route to Illinois.
The GOP-led House passed a bill that provides $14.3 billion in aid to Israel and pays for it by clawing back new funding for the IRS.
The bill ran into a dead end in the Democrat-controlled Senate, however, after Mr. Biden said he would veto the House bill.
One week after House passage, the funding request remains in limbo as the White House digs in.
“We’ve left no ambiguity about our position here,” Ms. Dalton said. “We want to see Congress move forward on funding critical priorities.”
Republicans in Congress say they need to see a clearer plan for victory in Ukraine before they approve more U.S. taxpayer money for the fight abroad.
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.
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