Name: House Passes Bill to Block Biden From Withholding Military Aid to Israel
Uploaded: 2024-05-17T03:37:01.000Z
Description: The House passed a bill on May 16 that would prohibit the Biden administration from withholding military assistance or services from Israel.

Jack Bradley is a Washington correspondent for NTD News based in Washington, D.C. Jack previously anchored "NTD Newsroom" and worked as an assistant producer for the show. 

Jack Bradley

NTD Plus

News

News with integrity, from the U.S. and around the world. Focused reports and analyses that shed light on major issues the world deserves to know. NTD Evening News airs daily at 6 p.m. ET.

NTD Evening News

China’s Broken Promises Loom Over New Trade Deals

David Lam is a national correspondent based in California and a part-time anchor for "NTD Tonight." Before joining NTD he was a financial analyst.

David Lam

Californians React as Trump Calls for Gas Tax Suspension

Arleen Richards is NTD's legal correspondent based at the network's global headquarters in New York City, where she covers all major legal stories. Arleen holds a Doctor of Law (J.D.).


Arleen Richards

Federal Agencies Announce ‘Summer Surge’ of Law Enforcement into DC Ahead of 250th Anniversary

Christina Corona is a California-based reporter for NTD News. She primarily covers California news, politics, and entertainment.  

Christina Corona

Trump Administration Reports Zero Border Releases

Arian Pasdar is an international correspondent for NTD News based in South America. His reporting focuses on immigration and key events in Latin America.

Arian Pasdar

US to Host 1st Ever World Cup Final Halftime Show, Featuring Shakira, Madonna

Savannah Pointer is a politics reporter for The Epoch Times. She can be reached at savannah.pointer@epochtimes.us

Savannah Hulsey Pointer

Jason Perry is an Army veteran and NTD's National Security Correspondent based at the network's global headquarters in New York City. Jason primarily covers border security, national defense, foreign wars, and veterans' issues.

Jason Perry

Health News

Texas Children's Hospital to Open First-Ever Detransition Clinic Under Deal With DOJ

Sam Wang is a Washington correspondent for NTD News based in Washington, D.C. Sam covers politics on Capitol Hill, and U.S.-China relations. 

Sam Wang

Citizens Honor Police for Their Service and Sacrifice

Cary Dunst is the news anchor for NTD Evening News. He is also the co-host of NTD Good Morning.


Cary Dunst

Trump ‘Projecting American Influence and Leadership’ on Iran Issue in Beijing: China Expert

Chris Bob is a reporter for NTD and a host of "Profiles of Service." He is also a small business owner. Chris graduated from Union College with a concentration in politics and religion in Russia and the former Soviet Union.

Chris Bob

Senate Panel Advances Crypto Regulation Bill

Jason Blair is a national correspondent for NTD News based in California. 

Jason Blair

Lawmakers Weigh ‘Sanctuary’ Polices After Woman’s Death in Virginia

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 15)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 14)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 13)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 12)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 11)

Don Ma is an anchor and senior business correspondent based at the network's global headquarters in New York City. Don is the anchor and producer of NTD's "Business Matters," which airs weekdays at 4:30 pm ET.

Don Ma

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 10)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 9)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 8)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 7)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 6)

NTD Newsroom comprises teams of reporters, editors, and producers assigned to cover breaking news and other stories.


NTD Newsroom

Fast, compelling, first-hand news from China. China in Focus airs Monday–Friday at 8 p.m. ET.

China in Focus

China Sends Warships to Pacific Drill as Tensions With Japan Rise

Reuters is a news agency owned by Thomson Reuters. It employs around 2,500 journalists and 600 photojournalists in about 200 locations worldwide writing in 16 languages.

Reuters

We present news that is truthful and based on facts, outside of the political fog. Instead of focusing on the negative things happening around us, our mission is to give our viewers a good morning with empathetic and uplifting stories. Our aim is to provide an antidote to negativity by shining a light on the best side of people. We speak to inspiring people who positively impact communities, pursue topics that represent our common human values, and will never miss an opportunity to bring you heartwarming stories.

NTD Good Morning

2 US Embassy Personnel Assigned to Cartel Case Killed in Car Accident

The Associated Press is an American not-for-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. 

The Associated Press

US News

Gunman Kills 8 Children, Including 7 of His Own, in Louisiana Mass Shooting

Flora Hua is a reporter based at NTD's global headquarters in New York City, where she covers China news, U.S.-China relations, and human rights issues. Flora primarily contributes to NTD's "China in Focus."  

Flora Hua

Trump: Seized Iranian Ship May Have ‘A Gift From China’

Joseph Lord is a congressional reporter for The Epoch Times.


Joseph Lord

Aldgra Fredly is a freelance writer covering U.S. and Asia Pacific news for The Epoch Times.

Aldgra Fredly

Former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani Hospitalized in Critical Condition: Spokesman

Wildfires Across Georgia and Florida Have Destroyed Nearly 50 Homes and Are Forcing Evacuations

News you can trust from the U.S. and around the world. Critical information and insight. We cover the stories that others don’t. NTD News Today airs Monday–Friday at 11 a.m. ET.

NTD News Today

US Warns of China Hacks via Routers, Smart Devices

Juliet Song is an international correspondent exclusively covering China news for NTD. She primarily contributes to NTD's "China in Focus," covering U.S.-China relations, the Chinese regime's human rights abuses, and domestic unrest inside China.

Juliet Song

2 Americans Among Suspected Communist Rebels Killed in Clashes With Troops, Philippine Officials Say

Ryan Morgan is a reporter for The Epoch Times focusing on military and foreign affairs. He was previously a news writer for NTD. 


Ryan Morgan

Mari Otsu is NTD's White House correspondent based in Washington. 

Mari Otsu

World News

Middle East

Iran

3 US Warships Fend Off Iranian Attacks, Trump Says Ceasefire Still Holds

3 Dead in Suspected Hantavirus Outbreak on Cruise Ship in Atlantic Ocean: WHO

The House passed a bill on May 16 that would prohibit the Biden administration from withholding military assistance or services from Israel.

The Israel Security Assistance Support Act, <a href="https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-118hr8369ih/pdf/BILLS-118hr8369ih.pdf" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">introduced</a> by Rep. Ken Calvert (R-Calif.), passed in a 224–187 vote, with 208 Republicans and 16 Democrats voting in favor and 184 Democrats and three Republicans voting against it.

The move comes after the administration put a hold on a shipment of bombs and munitions to the Jewish state over Washington's concerns about a full-scale Israeli operation in the Gazan city of Rafah.

The bill would require any withholding of U.S. defense assistance and services for Israel to be resumed within 15 days of enactment. Otherwise, Congress would hold back funding for the National Security Council and the offices of the Secretary of Defense and Secretary of State until those defense articles or services are delivered.

The White House and House Democrat leadership are against the bill.

"The legislation would constitute an unprecedented limitation on President Biden's executive authority and administrative discretion to implement U.S. foreign policy," said House Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) in a message to House Democrats, urging them to vote against the bill.

The measure would require the State Department and Defense Department to allocate all funding for Israel within 30 days of the bill's enactment.

The bill would apply to U.S. security assistance for Israel passed during and before the 2024 fiscal year, prohibiting the administration from withholding, canceling, halting, or reversing U.S. military aid or services to Israel.

It would also block the funding of the salaries of State Department and Defense Department employees who take such action.

The White House said in a statement that the bill would "undermine the president’s ability to execute an effective foreign policy."

In a May 14 <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/SAP-HR8369.pdf" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">statement</a>, the administration said that the bill would go against the president's authority as commander-in-chief in accordance with Article II of the Constitution that also includes conducting foreign policy.

"The bill is a misguided reaction to a deliberate distortion of the administration’s approach to Israel," said the White House.

"This bill, if enacted, could lead to spiraling unintended consequences, prohibiting the United States from adjusting our security assistance posture with respect to Israel in any way, including to address unanticipated emergent needs, even if Israel and the United States agree that military needs have changed and supplies should change accordingly," it added.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) fired back at the White House over its veto threat.

"It wasn't that long ago when President Biden called for the Elimination of Violence. He's not doing that anymore," he said, adding that he has "turned [his] back on Israel" and is "carrying water for Iran," which backs the Hamas terrorist group, which launched the Oct. 7 attack on Israel.

Rep. Neal Dunn (R-Fla.) told The Epoch Times that the hold "is crazy" and an example of the United States treating its allies "shabbily."

House Democrats have expressed mixed feelings about the bill.

Just hours ahead of the vote, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) called the bill unserious.

“It is not a serious effort at legislating, which is why some of the most pro-Israel members of the House Democratic Caucus will be voting no,” he said at his weekly press conference.

“Despite this long record of support for Israel, House Republicans yet again intend to use Israel as a political cudgel, which weakens Israel and undermines Israel’s leverage in this conflict—continuing a despicable and shameful pattern of using Israel and Jews as political pawns," said Rep. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.) in <a href="https://goldman.house.gov/media/press-releases/statement-congressman-dan-goldman-president-bidens-support-israel-house" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">a statement</a>.

“If Speaker Johnson moves ahead with a vote on another false, meaningless and misguided bill, once again choosing to undermine the bipartisan nature of support for Israel, I will vote no,” he added.

Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) told The Epoch Times that Republicans are using the war between Israel and Hamas "more so as a pawn instead of being serious about foreign affairs."

Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) told The Epoch Times that he is "not going to be complicit in what's happening in terms of humanitarian suffering" in Gaza and that the Biden administration was right to place the hold on bombs and munitions for Israel.

Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) told The Epoch Times that the administration is justified in placing the hold because were Israel to invade Rafah, "there'll be mass slaughter and it's unnecessary and stupid, frankly, to do so."

The bill is dead on arrival in the Senate anyway, as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) noted the White House's opposition to the measure.

"If Schumer refuses to bring this up for a vote, he'll be telling the world that his party, the Democrats, are no longer willing to stand with our great allies," said Mr. Johnson on May 16.

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) predicted that public pressure will force Mr. Schumer to put the bill on the Senate floor. To not do so, said Mr. Scalise, would be to "[side] with Hamas."

In an interview on CNN last week, President Joe Biden said his administration would continue to provide defense weapons to Israel, but it would not give Israel the military assistance it needs to carry out a full-scale invasion of Rafah.

<em>From <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/house-passes-bill-to-block-biden-from-withholding-military-aid-to-israel-5650515">The Epoch Times</a></em>

Latest

Videos

israel

Politics

04_Top Stories

Latest Clips

Management

02_Second Lead

Jackson Richman is a Washington correspondent for The Epoch Times. In addition to Washington politics, he covers the intersection of politics and sports/sports and culture. He previously was a writer at Mediaite and Washington correspondent at Jewish News Syndicate. His writing has also appeared in The Washington Examiner. He is an alum of George Washington University.

Jackson Richman

Congress

Israel–Hamas War

Luis Eduardo Martinez is a correspondent for NTD News based in Washington. He holds a master’s degree in International Relations and Democratic Politics from the University of Westminster in London, England.

Luis Eduardo Martinez

Stacy Robinson is a reporter for The Epoch Times.

Stacy Robinson

Latest and breaking news, documentaries, movies, and lifestyle content on NTD+.
 
Empower your knowledge and elevate your spirit with NTD+, your go-to destination for truthful news, insightful documentaries, and captivating lifestyle content that enriches your life.