President Joe Biden on Friday asked Congress for about $14 billion to support Israel as it battles Hamas, and requested more than $61 billion to aid Ukraine in its ongoing war with Russia.
The requests, which Biden previewed in an Oval Office address on Thursday night, arrive on Capitol Hill as House Republicans are struggling to elect a new speaker following the ouster of Rep. Kevin McCarthy. Another round of voting is planned for Friday, though it may stretch into the weekend.
See: House speaker election: Jordan aims for third round of voting today and sounds ready for ‘multiple rounds’ this weekend
The Israel and Ukraine requests are part of a broader package totaling more than $100 billion that also includes money for fortifying the U.S.-Mexico border and for the Indo-Pacific region, which includes Taiwan.
Biden is asking for $10.6 billion in air and missile-defense support and other items for Israel, as well as $3.7 billion in other military support.
He’s also requesting $9.15 billion so the State Department can provide humanitarian aid for Gaza, Israel and Ukraine.
The Ukraine aid is largely for replenishing U.S. military stocks, but is also for other military, intelligence and other defense support.
White House Office of Management and Budget Director Shalanda Young urged lawmakers in a letter to approve the request, and also underscored that spending the money would help to beef up the U.S. defense industry
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“The world is watching and the American people rightly expect their leaders to come together and deliver on these priorities,” she wrote to Rep. Patrick McHenry, the North Carolina Republican who is serving as temporary House speaker.
“I urge Congress to address them as part of a comprehensive, bipartisan agreement in the weeks ahead.”
Also read: Defense spending boosts economy as U.S. mulls more aid for Ukraine and Israel
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