House plans raft of Iran sanctions votes after attack on Israel
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House Speaker Mike Johnson. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images.
The House on Sunday teed up more than a dozen new votes for this week on bills sanctioning Iran and its proxies in retaliation for a wide-ranging drone attack on Israel.
Why it matters: The switch-up from Republicans' plan to vote on several appliance-related "messaging" bills comes as lawmakers in both parties are pressing President Biden take a hard line against Iran.
- House Republicans are first set to meet on Monday evening, ahead of the first votes of the week, "regarding Iran's recent attack on Israel and defense supplemental funding," according to an invite obtained by Axios.
Driving the news: The bills would require the U.S. to "fully implement" sanctions on Iran and ensure they aren't being skirted, restrict Iranian imports and transactions between Iran and U.S. financial institutions, and sanction on Chinese companies that buy oil from Iran.
- Other bills would target U.S.-designated terror groups, particularly Hamas.
- There are also resolutions urging the EU to designate Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. a terrorist organization and declaring the slogan "from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free" to be antisemitic.
Zoom in: Another measure appears to break with Biden's entreaty to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he not retaliate militarily against Iran.
- The three-page resolution introduced by Rep. Tom Kean (R-N.J.) declares that the House "stands with Israel as it ... seeks to re-establish deterrence against Iran and its proxies."
- It would also affirm Israel's "right to respond to this aggression through military, diplomatic, economic, and other necessary means."
What they're saying: The bills are meant to "demonstrate our support of Israel and take action against Iran," House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) said in a statement.
- "These bills ... represent a comprehensive response to the Iranian threat by supporting Israel's response to the attack and sanctioning Iran's leaders, cutting off their revenue sources, and targeting their partners and terrorist proxies," he added.
Between the lines: The bills will require a two-thirds majority to pass under what is known as "suspension of the rules," but many are bipartisan and thus stand a chance of passing.
- What will be more contentious is possible votes on aid to Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan – the subject of considerable partisan sparring in recent months.
- House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has said he will put a standalone Israel bill on the floor — as well as, potentially, a Ukraine aid package with various offsets that could make it a tough sell for Democrats.
The other side: Many Democrats, including Biden, have urged Johnson to put the Senate's $95 billion Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan aid bill on the floor when the House returns on Monday.
- Biden reiterated that point in a call with Johnson and other congressional leaders on Sunday, according to a White House readout.
Editor's note: This article has been updated with more details on the bill and with comment from House Majority Leader Steve Scalise.
