To pay for the foreign aid, however, the legislation includes $14.3 billion in cuts to funding for the Internal Revenue Service, a key detail that will likely be a nonstarter for Democrats.
The cuts would affect funds included in the Democrats’ sweeping tax, health and climate bill — dubbed the Inflation Reduction Act — signed into law last year.
The package also deviates from the White House’s strategy of linking aid for Ukraine and Israel in the same piece of legislation, a fact that could make it even more difficult to get the bill over the finish line.
The legislation includes $4 billion for Israel’s Iron Dome and David’s Sling defense systems and another $1.2 billion for development of the Iron Beam defense system.
The package is one of the first pieces of legislation introduced under Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), who assumed the top job last week after a brutal battle over who should succeed former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) following his ouster.
The House Rules Committee will take up the legislation on Wednesday.
Members of both parties and chambers have emphasized the importance of supporting Israel as it battles Hamas. Last week, the House overwhelmingly approved a resolution backing Israel and condemning Hamas, which was the first piece of legislation that passed during Johnson’s Speakership.
The pay-for included in the House GOP’s Israel bill, and the absence of Ukraine funding in the legislation will likely generate applause from conservative deficit hawks and Republicans skeptical of sending more aid to Ukraine.
At the same time, however, those details are expected to drive at least some Democratic opposition to the aid package despite strong support for Israel, setting the stage for a fight over support for the U.S.’s close ally in the Middle East.
Read the full report at TheHill.com.
