Just two weeks after the October 7 Hamas massacre, President Biden requested that Congress approve $14.3 billion in emergency security assistance for Israel, along with funding for Ukraine, Taiwan, humanitarian assistance, and substantial changes to U.S. border policies.
Tonight, the House voted 250-180 on a bill brought to the floor by Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA) which fully funded aid for Israel but did not include any other parts of the President’s request. While a majority of the House voted for the bill, it was considered in a way that requires a two-thirds majority, and therefore, the bill did not pass.
Meanwhile, the Senate bill, which includes all five components of the president’s request, is wrapped in controversy this week over immigration and border policy unrelated to Israel.
AIPAC supports efforts in both chambers to advance the lifesaving emergency aid request for Israel. This funding sends a powerful signal of America’s support for Israel and is vital to ensuring the Jewish state has the resources it needs to protect its families, free the hostages, and win this war.
The events of this week demonstrate that aid to Israel is enmeshed with unrelated and contentious issues, and significant disagreements remain between the two parties and the two chambers on how to move the president’s request forward. The process has had, and will continue to have, many fits and starts.
As our elected leaders work to find a way to bridge the differences on these other issues, we must continue to keep the pressure on the House and Senate to advance the process and approve emergency funding for Israel.
Over the past several months, our community has demonstrated tremendous grassroots activism through four million emails and calls to elected officials. Our continued advocacy and political relationship building is vital to ensuring Democrats and Republicans stand with Israel and work to secure passage of this critical funding for Israel.
Tonight, I ask you to take a minute and click here to email your elected officials urging them to continue working to approve the emergency aid request for Israel. This link will send a letter to your two senators and a different letter to your House member, depending on how they voted tonight. Please continue to complete the mobilization emails and texts, and share those messages with friends and family.
We knew that passing the emergency aid package would neither be quick nor easy, but the challenges Israel faces on multiple fronts demand that we redouble our efforts to ensure America stands with Israel.
Sincerely,
David Gillette
AIPAC Director of Policy and Government Affairs
The mission of AIPAC is to encourage and persuade the U.S. government to enact specific policies that create a strong, enduring and mutually beneficial relationship with our ally Israel.
