US House Passes Israel-Only Aid Bill, Senate Roadblock Ahead

The US House of Representatives passed a Republican plan to provide $14.3 billion in aid to Israel and cut funding for the Internal Revenue Service, despite Democrats' objections and the promise of a veto from President Joe Biden. The bill, which received support largely along party lines, faces a dead end in the Senate, where Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has stated that he will not bring it up for a vote. The bill's combination of aid for Israel with a cut to the IRS, as well as the exclusion of aid for Ukraine, has drawn criticism from Democrats. Biden has called for a broader $106 billion emergency spending package that includes funding for Israel, Taiwan, Ukraine, and humanitarian aid. The dispute between the two chambers could delay the approval of any emergency spending plan.