House Republicans unveil $95 billion plan for the Iran war, farm aid and elections
WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans on Wednesday unveiled a $95 billion package focused on strengthening defense, helping farmers and enforcing stricter voter registration rules. huge tax and spending cut bill President Donald Trump signed the law last year.
The 47-page bill, called the budget resolution, is a long-term initiative designed to shore up the Pentagon’s finances. Iran war and addressing change, Trump’s top priority. voter registration requirements. A more ambitious version of the bill was scaled back to address conservatives’ concerns about how it would be paid for and how it would increase the budget deficit. The decision does not seek any compensation for new expenses.
The resolution calls on the Armed Services Committee to draft legislation that will not increase the budget deficit by more than $60 billion; Select Committee on Intelligence, $13 billion; Agriculture Committee, $12 billion; and the House Administration Committee, $10 billion. The second round of funding will focus on enacting an election law revision that requires those registering to vote to provide: proof of citizenship.
To begin drafting the party bill, both the House of Representatives and the Senate will need to pass the same resolution. This could be a long process, with most of the action taking place after MPs return from their August recess and in the middle of the election season. Democrats are expected to overwhelmingly oppose the final product, forcing Republicans to vote on several tough changes.
Still, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., expressed confidence in the effort.
“Congressional Democrats continue to BLOCK our attempts to secure our elections and fund our men and women in uniform,” Johnson said in a written statement. “Not anymore.”
Johnson said he applauded Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, and others on the panel for moving quickly to advance the resolution and unlock Republicans’ third compromise bill this Congress. The panel will consider the resolution on Thursday, and the full House will take up the issue next week before lawmakers return to their districts for the next five weeks.
Trump has insisted that Republicans pass an election overhaul bill called the SAVE Act, which has passed the House but lacks the votes to clear the 60-vote threshold in the 100-member Senate. So Republicans are trying to get most of that share through the difficult reconciliation process that allows both chambers to pass the bill with a simple majority.
The GOP’s efforts also include a request the Trump administration made to Congress last month. Renovate the Pentagon From the Iran war. Trump asked for $67 billion at that time.
Additional aid for farmers dealing with high gas and fertilizer prices and retaliatory tariffs has become an election-year priority for many legislators with large rural constituencies.
