Biden urges Congress to pass bill aiding Ukraine and Israel
Photo: US President Joe Biden (GettyImages)
US President Joe Biden, during a telephone conversation with Congressional leadership, called for the bill, which, among other things, provides for the allocation of aid to Ukraine and Israel, to be approved as soon as possible, CNN reports.
"The President discussed the urgent need for the House of Representatives to pass the national security supplemental as soon as possible," the White House says in a statement.
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, House Speaker Mike Johnson, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries took part in the phone conversation with the US President.
In particular, Schumer called on the GOP-led House of Representatives to take action on the aid package passed by the Senate after the Iranian attack.
"The best way to help Israel and to help Ukraine is to pass the supplemental this week," he says.
So far, the House of Representatives has not voted on the Senate-passed bill, as many conservatives in the House oppose sending additional aid to Ukraine and want any aid package to include a stricter US border policy with Mexico.
US aid to Ukraine
The United States has run out of money to fund assistance to Ukraine, and the issue of allocating new funds has been under consideration by Congress since last fall. The issue was moved forward in February, when the Senate approved a bill that provides funds to help Ukraine, Israel, and other US partners.
The bill provides more than $60 billion for Ukraine.
However, the House of Representatives has not yet considered the Senate-passed bill. House Speaker Mike Johnson refused to put the bill to a vote. In particular, because of the position of Donald Trump, who has a significant influence on the Republican Party.
The other day, after a meeting with Johnson, Trump said that he was not against American aid to Ukraine. But, according to him, it should not be a "gift." In this way, Trump supported the idea of helping Ukraine on credit, which was advocated by the Republican Party.
