Biden expected to ask Congress for $100B package that includes aid to Israel and Ukraine

Oct 17, 2023

The Biden administration is expected to ask Congress for at least $100 billion in supplemental funding to address Israel, Ukraine and domestic issues, such as border funding and disaster aid, according to several people granted anonymity to discuss private deliberations.

The funding levels — which would cover an entire year — have not yet been finalized and could change, according to the people involved. The request is expected to be sent to Congress Hill as soon as Friday, after President Joe Biden returns from a trip to Israel.

There is widespread support in Congress to quickly approve aid to Israel after the surprise attack earlier this month by the Palestinian militant group Hamas. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Tuesday he wanted the Senate to move quickly. But the House is frozen as Republicans have been unable to elect a speaker.

Further, some House Republicans have expressed skepticism over combining aid to Israel with aid to Ukraine, which is locked in a war with Russia but doesn’t have as broad of support.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell on Tuesday backed the administration’s position of tying the aid together, along with support for Taiwan.

“This is all interconnected,” McConnell said. “You’ve got the North Koreans, the Iranians, the Russians and the Chinese, sort of, on the same side against the democratic world, so there is a connection between all of this. I am not surprised, frankly, that the administration seems to be inclined to send up a broad package.”

He stressed, however, that Republicans wanted to see a strong border element, although he was not specific.

“The border part of it needs to be credible — not just some reference to it,” McConnell said.

The administration’s last supplemental request included $4 billion for the southern border, but it was not included in the government funding bill approved by Congress.

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