What's in the Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act?

Posted on:November 2, 2023 at 03:05 PM

As of November 1, the House Rules Committee is actively discussing and preparing to report the Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024 out of committee. This development comes amidst a pessimistic response from Senate Majority Leader Schumer, who essentially declared it dead on arrival. If that wasn’t enough, President Biden’s threatened to veto the bill should it pass both chambers.

What’s in this thing?

The bill spans roughly 13 pages, and while it’s a brief read, I’ll summarize the key provisions here:

How does it differ from Biden’s request?

The House GOP appears to have agreed with the White House’s figures in its request for emergency supplemental funding for Israel. However, complexities emerge upon observing that the bill excludes funding for Ukraine, despite the White House’s months-long advocacy. The White House had proposed combing aid for Israel, Ukraine, and border funds into a single package to expedite its passage. This strategy is favored by Senate Democrats and some GOP members, including Mitch McConnell, whereas the House is less inclined to address Ukraine aid separately.

Another point of contention is the proposal to retract funds earmarked for the IRS, originally intended for system enhancements and the hiring of additional agents under the Inflation Reduction Act. Democrats, who have been proponents of these initiatives to enhance IRS efficiency and boost revenue from high-income individuals, find this proposal problematic. On the other hand, Republicans argue that the funding would be utilized to disproportionately target families with lower incomes.

House Speaker Mike Johnson defended the IRS funding cuts, arguing they would counterbalance the cost of aid to Israel. However, the Congressional Budget Office’s evaluation indicated that the bill would lead to a significant decrease in revenues, amounting to $26.8 billion, and ultimately result in a net deficit increase of $12.5 billion over the coming ten years, thus undermining the intended fiscal offset.

Despite facing significant hurdles, the House Rules Committee has advanced the bill, setting the stage for a full House vote on the rule.

What is in the rule?

The House will consider the bill under a closed rule, prohibiting amendments. The bill will be subject to a vote following one hour of debate and a potential motion to recommit. The decision to employ a closed process indicates that the House leadership is firmly committed to their stance, at least for now.

U.S. investment in Iron Beam

Amidst the unfolding events in Israel and Gaza, viral social media posts falsely claimed to show Israel’s Iron Beam laser-defense system in action. Although these posts were debunked, they sparked renewed interest in the system’s progress.

Within the proposed aid package, $1.2 billion is allocated for the research and development of the Iron Beam system. This funding is a significant milestone for Israel, which has been actively seeking U.S. financial support for its laser-defense system. Notably, during President Biden’s visit to Israel in the summer of 2022, Israel had expressed hopes for an additional $300 million to be dedicated specifically to the advancement of its laser-defense capabilities.

Sources