Biden must summon elected officials from Congress to talk about Ukraine and funding

Photo: Evan Vucci Associated Press US President Joe Biden at the White House on Friday in Washington

Seung Min Kim – Associated Press in Washington

February 25, 2024

• United States

US President Joe Biden will convene the top four congressional leaders at the White House on Tuesday to pressure lawmakers to pass an emergency aid package for Ukraine and Israel, as well as to avoid an imminent government shutdown next month, according to a White House official.

The top four leaders include House Speaker Mike Johnson, Republican of Louisiana, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, also a Democrat of New York, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Republican of Kentucky.

During the meeting, the president will discuss the “urgency” to pass the relief package, which has bipartisan support, as well as legislation to maintain the federal government active until the end of September, said the White House official, who requested anonymity to discuss a meeting not yet publicly confirmed.

The Republican-led House is also under pressure to pass the US$95 billion (C$128 billion) national security plan that boosts aid to Ukraine, Israel and the Indo-Pacific. The legislation was greenlit in the Senate by a 70-29 vote earlier this month, but Mike Johnson has been reluctant to bring the aid bill to the House for a vote.

“This is one of those cases where one person can change the course of history. “President Johnson, if he were to submit this bill, would produce a strong, bipartisan vote in favor of aid to Ukraine,” White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said Sunday. ABC show This Week.

Mr. Sullivan emphasized that the Ukrainians need weapons and ammunition to repel Russian forces and that in his personal conversations with the speaker, he “indicated that he would like to secure funds for Ukraine.”

Regardless of the national security agenda, the first tranche of government funding is set to expire after March 1st. The rest of the federal government, including agencies such as the Pentagon, the Department of Homeland Security and the State Department, expires on March 8.