In his first move as the leader of the U.S. House of Representatives, Speaker Mike Johnson introduced a resolution to support Israel. This comes after a three-week period without a House Speaker, during which the chamber couldn’t address the Middle East crisis. The resolution received strong backing in Congress, with 412 members in favor and only 10 opposing, while six voted “present.” It’s a non-binding measure that reaffirms the U.S.’s commitment to Israel and calls on Hamas to stop attacks and release hostages.
The House was without a Speaker since October 3 when Kevin McCarthy was removed from the position. Johnson, who was elected Speaker, is relatively new to a leadership role.
The House now needs to address a measure that could become a law. President Joe Biden requested a $106 billion funding package from Congress, which includes funds for Ukraine, Taiwan, border security, and $14.3 billion for Israel.
Johnson’s elevation creates uncertainty for this funding request, as he has been critical of providing aid to Ukraine. The Middle East conflict began on October 7 when Hamas attacked Israel, resulting in significant casualties on both sides.
