Iran attack on Israel spurs more calls to end Congress' recess
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Sen. Lindsey Graham speaks to reporters at the CNN presidential debate in Atlanta on June 27, 2024. Photo: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images.
A growing number of lawmakers is calling for Congress to cut its October recess short following an Iranian missile attack against Israel on Tuesday.
Why it matters: It builds on bipartisan calls from senators and House members in states affected by Hurricane Helene who said Monday that Congress should reconvene sooner than scheduled.
- Leadership in both chambers has given little indication that they will cut short the October recess – a critical period for campaigning ahead of the Nov. 5 election.
Driving the news: The U.S. and Israel were largely able to repel the roughly 180 ballistic missiles Iran launched in a two wave attack against Israel on Tuesday, Axios' Barak Ravid reported.
- An Israeli official said several missiles landed and that "the damage is being assessed." It was Iran's largest-scale direct attack on Israel.
- In addition to the attack on its close ally, the U.S. is staring down as much as $35 billion in economic losses from Helene, which devastated the Southeastern U.S. and has left more than 150 people dead.
What they're saying: Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), a defense hawk whose state was in the path of the storm, said in a statement it is "imperative that Congress reconvene to pass a supplemental aid package."
- Graham said he was "reaching out to Republican and Democratic colleagues to put a package together as soon as possible."
- Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) said in a post on X following the attack that Congress "should consider returning to Washington" to provide funding for Israeli anti-missile systems and disaster relief.
Zoom in: Several pro-Israel House Democrats told Axios they would also support cutting the recess short following Iran's attack.
- They include Reps. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.), Haley Stevens (D-Mich.) and Greg Landsman (D-Ohio).
- "I have no objections to returning from recess for emergency purposes," Torres said.
Between the lines: The Federal Emergency Management Agency is currently being funded by a stopgap federal funding bill that keeps spending at the same level of the previous fiscal year.
- Democrats and some Republicans in disaster-prone states say that is inadequate, with Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.) on Tuesday proposing $15 billion in supplemental disaster relief.
- Congress passed $17 billion in supplemental defense aid to Israel in April to help its fight against Hamas, but Israel is now grappling with escalating tensions with Lebanon, Iran and other neighboring Middle East countries.
Zoom out: In addition to calling for aid to Israel, some lawmakers are pushing the U.S. and Israel to hit targets inside Iran – a major escalation.
- "Iran has made a mistake, it has put its nuclear facilities on the board as fair game," Moskowitz said in a post on X.
- Graham said in a separate statement that the U.S. should "coordinate an overwhelming response with Israel, starting with Iran's ability to refine oil."
What we're watching: As for returning to session, one House Republican told Axios that Iranian attack has not made it more likely that leadership will bring the House back into session before November.
- Spokespeople for House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) did not respond to requests for comment.
