Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, seen right here on Capitol Hill on April 10, mentioned Saturday that he’ll “continue to engage with the White House to insist upon a proper response” following Iran’s assault on Israel.

Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

disguise caption

toggle caption

Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, seen right here on Capitol Hill on April 10, mentioned Saturday that he’ll “continue to engage with the White House to insist upon a proper response” following Iran’s assault on Israel.

Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

The House of Representatives is shifting its schedule for the approaching week to think about laws supporting Israel within the aftermath of Iran launching drones toward Israel on Saturday, marking a big escalation within the Middle East battle.

“In light of Iran’s unjustified attack on Israel, the House will move from its previously announced legislative schedule next week to instead consider legislation that supports our ally Israel and holds Iran and its terrorist proxies accountable,” mentioned House Majority Leader Steve Scalise in an announcement.

He added: “The House of Representatives stands strongly with Israel, and there must be consequences for this unprovoked attack.”

Israeli officers say that is the primary time Iran has launched an assault on Israel from Iranian soil. U.S. forces have been lively in capturing down Iranian drones to assist Israel, based on a senior U.S. protection official.

Iran mentioned its assault was retaliation for an airstrike on its consulate in Syria earlier this month, which it blames on Israel. Israel has neither confirmed nor denied being behind the assault.

President Biden returned to the White House forward of schedule from Delaware Saturday afternoon to be briefed by high nationwide safety advisers.

House Speaker Mike Johnson mentioned in an announcement he “will continue to engage with the White House to insist upon a proper response” to the assault.

The form of an help bundle is unclear

It’s not clear what kind of invoice to assist Israel the House might take up. The Senate previously passed a $95 billion foreign aid package that devoted help for Israel and Ukraine. That bundle hasn’t been taken up by the House, the place blocs of Republican members object to extra Ukraine funding. Some progressive members have additionally expressed resistance to funding for Israel.

Former House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., mentioned the chamber ought to take up the Senate-passed invoice.

“It is absolutely imperative that when the House returns on Monday, we pass the national security supplemental immediately to provide Israel and Ukraine with essential aid to defend itself and deter further attacks from Iran and Russia,” he said.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell also pushed for the House to take up the Senate-passed supplemental.

“The national security supplemental that has waited months for action will provide critical resources to Israel and our own military forces in the region,” McConnell mentioned in an announcement Saturday night time. He added, “Tehran and its proxies are emboldened when they see divisions between the U.S. and Israel.”

What lawmakers are saying

There have been fast bipartisan calls from members of Congress to go help for Israel within the aftermath of the Iranian assault.

Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., referred to as on Johnson to “bring forward a supplemental package of aid for Israel in order to support them in their time of need.”

“This direct Iranian attack, after the regime has consistently used its proxies, warrants immediate U.S. action to support any Israeli response,” Lawler, who sits on the Committee on Foreign Affairs, mentioned in a statement on X.

Rep. Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y., referred to as Iran “the single most destabilizing force in the Middle East.”

“Iran has fired drones at Israel. The United States will stand with Israel as it seeks to defend itself in the face of an Iranian attack,” he mentioned in a statement. Torres has been one of the crucial outspoken House Democrats in protection of Israel after the militant group Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7.