US President Joe Biden will convene the top four congressional leaders at the White House on Tuesday to pressure lawmakers to pass an emergency aid package for Ukraine and Israel, as well as to avoid an imminent government shutdown next month, according to a White House official.
The top four leaders include House Speaker Mike Johnson, Republican of Louisiana, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, also Democrat of New York, and Leader of Senate Minority Mitch McConnell, Republican of Kentucky.
During the meeting, the president will discuss the “urgency” to pass the aid package, which has bipartisan support, as well as legislation to keep the federal government running until the end September, said the White House official, who requested anonymity to discuss a meeting not yet publicly confirmed.
The Republican-led House is also under pressure to pass the US$95 billion (C$128 billion) national security plan that boosts aid to Ukraine, Israel and the Indo-Pacific. The legislation was greenlit in the Senate by a 70-29 vote earlier this month, but Mike Johnson has been reluctant to bring the aid bill to the House for a vote.
“This is one of those cases where one person can change the course of history. “President Johnson, if he were to submit this bill, would produce a strong, bipartisan vote in favor of aid to Ukraine,” White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said Sunday. ’emission This week from the ABC channel.
Mr. Sullivan emphasized that the Ukrainians need weapons and ammunition to repel Russian forces and that in his personal conversations with the speaker, he “indicated that he would like to secure funds for Ukraine.”
Regardless of the national security agenda, the first tranche of government funding is set to expire after 1er March. The rest of the federal government, including agencies such as the Pentagon, the Department of Homeland Security and the State Department, expires on March 8.