In a move that diverges from President Biden’s $106 billion emergency supplemental bill, GOP Senators Roger Marshall, Ted Cruz, JD Vance, and Mike Lee have introduced the Israel Supplemental Appropriations Act. This stand-alone bill aims to provide $14.3 billion in aid to Israel, focusing on bolstering the country’s defense capabilities and enhancing systems like the Iron Dome and Iron Beam. The legislation also includes funds for safeguarding U.S. embassies and personnel in Israel and facilitating the return of American citizens from the region.
The bill, if passed, would allocate $10.6 billion for assistance through the Department of Defense (DOD), $3.5 billion for foreign military financing, and $200 million for embassy protection. It also grants the authority to supply Israel with equipment and services already available in U.S. stockpiles and permits an increase in the quantity of weapons stored in Israel.
Notably, the legislation discontinues all aid directed toward Gaza, a measure designed to prevent potential diversion to Hamas terrorists. Additionally, it draws a clear line between sharing aid with Ukraine, prohibiting any of the funds from being used for aid to Ukraine.
Senator Marshall, the leading author of the bill, emphasized the importance of providing aid to Israel without tying it to Ukraine aid. He stated, “The brutal, savage attacks launched by Hamas against our closest ally in the Middle East, Israel, have sent shock waves across the world. My colleagues and I firmly believe that any aid to Israel should not be used as leverage to send tens of billions of dollars to Ukraine. Any package that does so would result in funds and resources being delayed in Israel’s time of need.”
Senator Cruz echoed Marshall’s sentiments, highlighting that the bill’s sole focus is to provide aid to Israel and eradicate Hamas. He remarked, “This bill is about one thing and one thing only: getting our Israeli allies the aid they need, as fast as possible, for as long as it takes them to utterly eradicate Hamas.”
Vance, a vocal critic of more aid to Ukraine, emphasized that assistance to Israel should not be dependent on continued aid to Ukraine. He argued that the conflicts in these two regions are distinct and should be handled individually. Similarly, Senator Lee voiced his concerns about packaging aid to Israel and Ukraine together, stating that if the Biden administration’s case for additional Ukraine aid is not strong enough on its own, then combining them is an insulting request to Congress.
Last week, the Biden administration presented an emergency supplemental funding package request to Congress, including $61.4 billion for Ukraine, $14.3 billion for Israel (with $10.6 billion earmarked for military aid), $13.6 billion for border protection, and significant investments in Indo-Pacific security assistance. The proposal also includes $9 billion for humanitarian aid in Ukraine, Israel, and Gaza.
Senators will now have to negotiate and agree on a package, with Republicans likely proposing several amendments before it is sent back to President Biden’s office for signature.
In conclusion, this stand-alone bill introduced by GOP Senators aims to provide substantial aid to Israel without tying it to Ukraine. The legislation prioritizes enhancing Israel’s defense capabilities and protecting U.S. interests in the region. The debate surrounding aid to Israel and Ukraine continues, with Republicans advocating for separate treatment of these conflicts.
