The battle to boost the U.S. debt ceiling rekindled debate in Congress over funding for Ukraine, as House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy stated on Tuesday he had no instant plans to take up laws to spice up protection spending past what was in final week’s deal.

McCarthy’s feedback may sign a more durable street via Congress when President Joe Biden subsequent asks for added funds for Ukraine. The House and Senate final permitted assist for the Kyiv authorities – $48 billion – in December, earlier than Republicans took management of the House.

That cash is predicted to final at the least via Sept. 30, the tip of the present fiscal 12 months. Lawmakers stated Biden is predicted to request extra funds by August or September.

The debt ceiling settlement, which Biden signed into legislation on Saturday, capped nationwide safety spending within the 12 months ending Sept. 30, 2024 at $886 billion, the quantity Biden requested however beneath what congressional protection hawks wished.

After some Republicans threatened to vote in opposition to the deal over the tightened protection spending, the Senate’s Democratic and Republican leaders promised that the caps wouldn’t forestall the chamber from passing supplemental spending laws to offer more cash for Ukraine and the Department of Defense.

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However, McCarthy, who negotiated the settlement with Biden, stated he wouldn’t robotically permit a vote on supplemental spending laws within the Republican-led House.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s Ukraine or anything else. The idea that someone wants to go do a supplemental after we just came to an agreement is trying to blow the agreement,” McCarthy informed reporters on the Capitol.

SOME SENATE REPUBLICANS DISAGREE

However, some Republican senators nonetheless stated they believed a supplemental spending invoice could be vital.

“I strongly believe we are going to need a supplemental for defense,” Senator Susan Collins, the highest Republican on the Senate Appropriations Committee, informed reporters.

McCarthy stated he supported Ukraine and serving to Ukraine to defeat the Russian invasion however would need extra info earlier than transferring forward.

“I’m not giving money for the sake of giving money. I want to see what is the purpose, what is the outcome you want to achieve and then show me the plan to see if I think that plan actually can work?” he stated.

House Republicans need any cash for Ukraine – or different priorities – to maneuver forward through “regular order,” with Congress debating and passing the 12 appropriations payments lawmakers will work on this summer time to fund authorities packages within the fiscal 12 months starting Oct. 1.

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Overall, the House and Senate have permitted greater than $113 billion of navy help and different assist for Ukraine since Russia invaded in February 2022. The 4 tranches of help all handed with sturdy assist from each Republicans and Democrats, though all had been permitted whereas Democrats managed each the Senate and House.