House Passes Bill to Cut IRS Funding, Increase Aid to Israel
The House Votes to Provide Supplemental Funding to Israel Amid Conflict with Terror Groups
The House of Representatives made a significant decision on November 2nd, advancing a bill to provide additional funding to Israel during its ongoing war with the Hamas and Hezbollah terror groups. Surprisingly, all 203 Democrats voted against the bill, creating a contentious atmosphere.
The supplemental funding was approved by a narrow margin of 213-203, potentially indicating the outcome of the final vote expected later that day.
The bill aims to allocate the requested $14.3 billion by the Biden administration. However, Democrats strongly oppose the bill due to its provision of equal cuts to IRS funding under the Inflation Reduction Act, which they consider unacceptable.
According to the Congressional Budget Office, this legislation would result in a net increase in the deficit of $12.5 billion over the next decade, as it would decrease revenues by $26.8 billion during that period.
The bill specifically designates $4.4 billion for defense maintenance until September 30, 2025, and requires the Secretary of Defense to notify Congress at least 15 days in advance of any fund transfers.
Furthermore, the legislation sets aside $801.4 million for Israel’s army ammunition procurement, $10 million for naval weapons acquisitions, and $38.6 million for air force missile procurement, all valid until September 30, 2026.
Most notably, the bill allocates $4 billion for the Iron Dome missile defense and David’s Sling air defense systems, which can be utilized until September 30, 2026. Although there is no specific funding for the Arrow missile defense systems, it is possible that the air force missile procurement could be used for that purpose.
Additionally, the bill designates $1.35 billion for research, development, testing, and evaluating Israel’s defense until September 30, 2025. Out of this amount, $1.2 billion can be utilized for the development of the Iron Beam defense system, specifically designed to intercept short-range rockets.
Finally, the bill sets aside $3.65 billion for State Department operations in Israel until September 30, 2025.
Despite its passage in the House, the bill is expected to face significant opposition in the Senate. Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.), the Senate president pro tempore and chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, predicts that the bill will be “dead on arrival.”
The White House has made it clear that President Joe Biden would veto the bill if it were to reach his desk.
Reaction to IRS Offset
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB), a part of the White House, expressed disappointment in a statement, stating that the bill fails to address the urgent national security needs in a bipartisan manner. OMB criticized the bill for deepening divisions and eroding historic bipartisan support for Israel’s security.
OMB further highlighted that the bill introduces partisanship into support for Israel, turning it into a political pawn at a time when unity is crucial. The agency also noted the omission of humanitarian assistance for Palestinians.
According to OMB, the bill’s provision to strip IRS funding sets a dangerous precedent by politicizing support for Israel and treating it differently from other allies. They referred to this provision as a “poison pill.”
However, Republicans defended the IRS offset in the bill, praising it as a strong move to independently support Israel. Representative John Rutherford (R-Fla.) described it as an excellent decision, while Representative Chip Roy (R-Texas) commended House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) for putting Israel at the forefront and ensuring its funding.
OMB urged Congress to pass President Biden’s supplemental funding request, which includes assistance not only for Israel but also for Ukraine, the Indo-Pacific region, and border security. The request also emphasizes the need for humanitarian aid in Gaza, controlled by Hamas, as well as in Israel.
While Democrats advocate for combining assistance to Israel with aid to Ukraine, Republicans argue that the two issues should be addressed separately. However, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) have called for simultaneous passage of assistance for Ukraine and Israel.
The United States has a long history of providing assistance to Israel, dating back to before its independence in 1948. From 1971 to 2007, Israel received economic aid, and between 1946 and 2023, the United States provided over $114.4 billion in military assistance, primarily for defense purposes, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service.
Currently, Congress allocates $3.8 billion annually to Israel, with $3.3 billion dedicated to defense assistance.
What are the concerns raised by Democrats regarding the allocation of funds to Israel in the supplemental funding bill?
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