Speaker Johnson Defends Stand-Alone Israel Bill

The White House dismissed the proposal as a ‘ploy’ driven by politics.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) speaks at a roundtable on the southern border at the U.S. Capitol, on Jan. 31, 2024. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) defended a recent proposal to provide about $17.6 billion in funding for Israel with no strings attached.

It’s the House’s second Israel-centric proposal since Mr. Johnson took the speaker’s gavel. An earlier proposal would have granted Israel roughly $14 billion, offset by cuts to the IRS.