Senate eyes Ukraine-Israel funding vote next week
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Congress is inching closer to taking action on President Biden‘s supplemental funding request for Ukraine, Israel, the U.S.-Mexico border and humanitarian needs in Gaza.
The House sought to separate funding for Israel from funding for Ukraine and the rest earlier this month, passing a bill to provide $14 billion in aid to Israel. That bill was a no-go for most Democrats because it would have excluded Ukraine aid and cut IRS funds. Now, the Democratic-majority Senate is preparing to move on a funding package for multiple purposes included in Biden’s request.
Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) wrote to colleagues that he’ll bring a funding bill to the floor as soon as next week “to ensure we as well as our friends and partners in Ukraine, Israel, and the Indo-Pacific region have the necessary military capabilities to confront and deter our adversaries and competitors,” also mentioning the need for humanitarian assistance for Palestinian civilians.
MEANWHILE: House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said Monday he’s “confident and optimistic” Congress can pass Ukraine and Israel aid — but didn’t commit to combining them. |
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Welcome to Evening Report! I’m Amee LaTour, catching you up from the afternoon and what’s coming tomorrow. Not on the list? Subscribe here. |
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The pause in fighting between Israel and Hamas since Friday will extend two days beyond the original four-day period agreed to last week, allowing more humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. Officials reporting on the hostage releases said Hamas had released 58 people in the first three days, with another 11 released on Monday. Scores of hostages remain in Gaza.
CNN reported Israel has released more than 100 Palestinians from Israeli prisons, with more to come. |
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Percentage of companies that analyze their hiring practices by race or ethnicity, according to a report from Paradigm, a diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) consulting company. |
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Finance, administrative law cases close out SCOTUS year |
The Supreme Court began its final argument session of the year Monday. The two-week session will feature major finance and administrative law disputes about Purdue Pharma’s bankruptcy deal, a provision of Republicans’ 2017 tax system overhaul and enforcement proceedings brought by the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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‘Magic, Wonder, and Joy’ the theme of White House holiday decor |
The White House’s annual holiday decor, unveiled Monday, “is designed to capture the pure, unfiltered delight and imagination of childhood,” according to a press release. Among the decorations: around 142,000 lights and 15,000 feet of ribbon. |
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3 days until the Gavin Newsom-Ron DeSantis debate on Fox News. 9 days until the fourth GOP presidential primary debate. |
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Monday-Wednesday: Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in Brussels, Belgium for the NATO Foreign Ministers Meeting, which includes the first foreign ministers meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council.
Tuesday: The House is back in session. President Biden, first lady Jill Biden, Vice President Harris and all living former first ladies will attend a memorial service for former first lady Rosalynn Carter in Atlanta.
Thursday: Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) is set to hold a press conference amid an expected expulsion vote. Also, Biden hosts a bilateral meeting with Angolan President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço.
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