The Senate’s much-anticipated national security deal encountered immediate resistance from House Republicans, who vowed to prevent it from advancing to a vote. Despite months of intricate negotiations, the House Republicans’ strong opposition has cast doubt on the bill’s prospects in the Senate.
Key Points:
– House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) strongly disapproved, stating that if the bill were to reach the House, it would be “dead on arrival.”
– House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) asserted that the bill would not receive a vote in the House.
– House GOP conference chair Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) deemed the deal an “absolute non-starter.”
Senate conservatives also criticized the bill:
– Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) called for new leadership and urged Republicans to filibuster the package.
– Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) expressed disbelief that any Republican would support the “atrocious proposal.”
Amid this resistance, the House is poised to vote on a standalone $17.6 billion Israel aid package, adding another layer of complexity to the legislative landscape. The contrasting positions between the House and Senate, coupled with internal Republican divisions, could pose challenges for the passage of the national security package.
Meanwhile, California declared a state of emergency for eight southern counties due to an intensifying storm with a “high risk” of potentially deadly flooding in Los Angeles. Boeing faced setbacks as it revealed that 50 undelivered 737 MAX jets require additional work after misdrilled holes were identified on some fuselages by supplier Spirit AeroSystems. Additionally, the Senate appropriations committee released a $118.3 billion emergency spending package combining foreign aid with policy changes for the U.S.-Mexico border, with an uncertain fate as it heads for a vote this week.
The convergence of these events underscores the complexities and challenges facing lawmakers in both chambers on critical legislative fronts.
