- The Washington Times - Tuesday, January 16, 2024

President Biden will host congressional leaders from the House and Senate at the White House on Wednesday to discuss his stalled request for military aid for Ukraine and Israel, the administration said Tuesday.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell are being summoned to the White House as Mr. Biden tries to break a deadlock over his spending request to aid Ukraine and Israel in their ongoing wars and to fund border operations.

Key committee chairmen and ranking members will attend the meeting, too.

“We will certainly have more to say about that meeting tomorrow, so please stay tuned,” said White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.

Ms. Jean-Pierre said the supplemental spending “continues to be a top priority, including to secure our border.”

Yet Mr. Biden and top Republicans have been at an impasse for weeks.

House Republicans have accused Mr. Biden of ignoring urgent needs at the southern border as migrants continue to flow in from Mexico and reach the interior of the U.S. 

They’ve also chafed at additional funding for Ukraine without a clear plan for winning against Russia.

Also, some liberal lawmakers are leery of aid for Israel given the mounting number of Palestinian civilian deaths in Gaza.

• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.

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