Scoop: House committee heads prepare bipartisan pro-Israel measure

• Lawmakers have expressed concerns that the House's inability to conduct business in the absence of a permanent speaker has made them impotent at a watershed foreign policy moment.

Driving the news: The resolution, a draft copy of which was obtained by Axios, affirms the U.S.'s "commitment to Israel's security, including through security assistance" and calls for "full enforcement" of sanctions on Iran.

• It also condemns "Iran's support for terrorist groups and proxies, including Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad" and calls on all countries to "unequivocally condemn Hamas' brutal war."
• The measure is being led by McCaul and Ranking Member Greg Meeks (D-N.Y.) and is being circulated to members of the Foreign Affairs Committee for co-sponsors.

The big picture: At least 700 Israelis and 413 Palestinians have died in the fighting following Hamas' surprise attacks against Israel on Saturday.

• President Biden told Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu in a call on Sunday that the U.S. plans to send additional military assistance to Israel, Axios' Barak Ravid reported.
• But while the administration doesn't require congressional authorization for its initial assistance package, Biden officials are concerned that chaos in the House, most notably the lack of a speaker, could hamper approval of more aid.

What they're saying: "Now is the time to show the world the United States firmly stands with our friend and ally Israel in our condemnation of this heinous attack by Iran-backed terrorists," McCaul said in a statement.

• McCaul said when the bill comes to the floor, he expects it to "receive overwhelming bipartisan support."
• "The bipartisan resolution will demonstrate this is one issue in which the US House of Representatives is united, and I expect it to pass the House with broad bipartisan support," said Meeks.