Biden ‘begs’ Congress to send ‘urgent’ aid to Ukraine and Israel
President Biden made the move as the legislative deadlock in the Republican Party-led House showed no signs of improving.
Joe Biden ‘pleases’ Congress: US President Joe Biden on Tuesday called on the top four congressional leaders to avoid a looming government shutdown early next month, act quickly and approve emergency aid to Ukraine and Israel. President Biden made the move as the legislative deadlock in the Republican Party-led House showed no signs of improving.
Joe Biden’s attendees included House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. , in the Oval Office. Also in attendance was Vice President Kamala Harris.
“The need is urgent. The consequences of every day of inaction in Ukraine are dire,” Biden said of the Ukrainian aid, noting that Israel also needs U.S. funding to replenish its stockpile of Iron Dome interceptors that it uses to protect against rockets fired by Hamas and Hezbollah.
So far, House Republicans have refused to bring up the $95 billion national security package that boosts aid to Ukraine, Israel and the Indian Ocean. That measure cleared the Senate for a bipartisan 70-29 vote this month, but Johnson has resisted scheduling it for a vote in the House of Representatives.
Bill Burns, the director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), also attended Tuesday’s meeting. Burns has played a key role in coordinating the U.S. response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and efforts to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas following the Oct. 7 attack on Israel.
Aside from the national security package, government funding for agriculture, transportation, military construction and some veterans’ services expires Friday, and funding for the rest of the government, including the Pentagon, the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Foreign Affairs, expires. a week later, on March 8, the day after Biden will deliver his State of the Union address.
“It is Congress’s responsibility to fund the government. A government shutdown would significantly damage the economy. We need a bipartisan solution,” the POTUS said.
The Senate’s two top leaders also urged that the government remain open. Parts of the government could start scaling back activities as early as Friday unless a spending deal is reached and legislation is sent to Biden for signature.
Schumer said in a speech ahead of the White House meeting that he hoped it would be an “important, timely and fruitful discussion” and urged Johnson to reject demands from hardline conservatives.
“We recognize that the Speaker of the House of Representatives is in a difficult position, but he must reject the MAGA hard right, which wants a shutdown, wants to hurt America and does not represent the majority of Republicans in the House, but a majority of Republicans in the House of Representatives. the Senate and a majority of Republicans in America, let alone all Americans,” Schumer said, adding that he would make a strong case to Johnson on why military aid to Ukraine is needed immediately.
“Ukraine has a shortage of ammunition, anti-aircraft systems, ammunition and long-range artillery. This shortage creates asymmetry on the battlefield. “Russia can shoot and destroy Ukrainian targets, but Ukraine increasingly cannot fire back,” Schumer said.
(With AP inputs)