President Joe Biden is set to convene the top four congressional leaders at the White House on Tuesday to discuss passing an emergency aid package for Ukraine and Israel, as well as averting a potential government shutdown next month. The meeting will include House Speaker Mike Johnson, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.
The urgent focus of the meeting will be on the bipartisan-supported $95 billion national security package aimed at providing aid to Ukraine, Israel, and the Indo-Pacific region. While the Senate has already approved the legislation with a 70-29 vote, Speaker Johnson has been hesitant to bring it to a vote in the House.
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan emphasized the critical need for aid to Ukraine, particularly in the form of weapons and ammunition to defend against Russian forces. He expressed hope that Speaker Johnson would move forward with the funding for Ukraine.
In addition to the national security package, there is also a looming deadline for government funding, with the first tranche set to expire on Friday. Senate Majority Leader Schumer highlighted the lack of agreement to prevent a partial shutdown of key agencies, urging Speaker Johnson to prioritize funding to keep the government operational.
Responding to Schumer's call, Speaker Johnson criticized the letter as counterproductive and accused Democrats of pushing unrealistic policy demands. He emphasized the need for a swift resolution while underscoring the importance of addressing border security concerns.
The meeting between President Biden and congressional leaders is expected to address these pressing issues and seek a path forward to ensure both the emergency aid package and government funding are secured in a timely manner.
