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House Republicans Advance $95 Billion Iran War Funding Plan/ TezzBuzz/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ House Republicans cleared the first hurdle for a $95 billion budget package that would fund the Iran war, provide farm assistance and advance President Donald Trump’s election priorities. The proposal passed the House Budget Committee on a party-line vote but faces uncertain prospects in both the House and Senate. Democrats criticized the plan for increasing debt while ignoring affordability concerns.

House GOP Budget Package Quick Looks

• House Budget Committee approved the $95 billion package.
• Vote passed 20-14 along party lines.
• About $60 billion would fund the Iran war.
• Additional funding targets intelligence, agriculture and elections.
• Package includes money tied to stricter voter registration requirements.
• Speaker Mike Johnson is using budget reconciliation.
• Republicans hope to pass the measure without Democratic votes.
• Democrats criticized the package as fiscally irresponsible.
• Senate Republicans remain skeptical of the proposal.
• House committees are expected to draft legislation over the August recess.
• Final House action is expected later this year.
• The package represents Republicans’ third reconciliation effort this Congress.

Budget Committee Approves Trump-Backed Package

House Republicans cleared the first legislative hurdle Thursday for a sweeping $95 billion budget package that would finance military operations against Iran, provide aid to farmers and advance President Donald Trump’s election priorities.

The House Budget Committee approved the budget resolution on a 20-14 party-line vote, sending the proposal toward consideration by the full House next week.

Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington described the legislation as another effort to deliver on Republican campaign promises before November’s midterm elections.

The resolution establishes instructions for House committees to draft legislation that Republicans hope to pass through the budget reconciliation process.

Iran War Funding Makes Up Largest Share

The largest portion of the proposal—approximately $60 billion—would support ongoing U.S. military operations connected to the Iran conflict.

Arrington acknowledged that lawmakers may disagree about the broader war but argued that additional funding is necessary to support deployed American forces.

He said the request covers basic operational requirements, including “just the bombs, bullets and battlefield readiness for our men and women in uniform to finish the fight successfully and return home safely — that’s it.”

The package also directs congressional committees to develop legislation providing:

• $13 billion for intelligence programs.
• $12 billion for agriculture and farm assistance.
• $10 billion for House Administration, including election- initiatives.

Republicans Again Turn to Budget Reconciliation

Speaker Mike Johnson is once again relying on the budget reconciliation process to move Trump’s priorities through Congress without Democratic support.

Budget reconciliation allows legislation affecting taxes and spending to pass the Senate with a simple majority instead of the usual 60-vote threshold.

Republicans previously used the same procedure to approve Trump’s tax legislation and Homeland Security funding earlier in this Congress.

Johnson has spent the week meeting with Trump at the White House and gathering House Republicans at Camp David in an effort to solidify support.

Despite those efforts, the proposal remains politically challenging because Republicans hold only a narrow House majority.

Election Changes Included in Proposal

The budget resolution also includes funding connected to Trump’s push for stricter voter registration requirements.

The House Administration Committee would receive $10 billion to develop legislation tied to election administration and proof-of-citizenship requirements.

Republicans have made election integrity one of their central priorities heading into the midterm elections.

Democrats argue the election provisions could complicate voter registration while Republicans say they are designed to strengthen confidence in federal elections.

The budget resolution itself does not establish those policies but directs committees to prepare legislation.

Farm Aid Addresses Rising Costs

The proposal also provides $12 billion for agricultural programs.

Republicans say additional assistance is needed as farmers continue dealing with higher fuel, fertilizer and production costs.

Agricultural lawmakers have argued that producers remain under financial pressure because of rising operating expenses and international trade disruptions.

Farm assistance has become an increasingly important political issue in rural districts.

Democrats Attack Costs and Priorities

Democrats unanimously opposed the proposal during Thursday’s committee debate.

Rep. Brendan Boyle of Pennsylvaniathe committee’s ranking Democrat, argued the legislation ignores the financial concerns most important to American voters.

He noted that the lengthy proposal never mentions affordability.

Democrats repeatedly questioned how Republicans intend to finance the additional spending.

They argued that the legislation would either increase the federal deficit or require future cuts to domestic programs.

Democrats Offer Alternative Amendments

During several hours of committee debate, Democrats introduced more than a dozen amendments.

Among them:

• Rep. Brendan Boyle proposed restoring healthcare funding reduced under earlier Republican legislation.
• Rep. Ilhan Omar sought to restore Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program funding.
• Rep. Scott Peters suggested redirecting immigration enforcement funding to offset other spending priorities.

None of the Democratic proposals altered the Republican package.

Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Texas argued that Americans are already paying higher costs because of the Iran conflict.

House Vote Still Faces Challenges

Although the committee approved the resolution, Republicans must still pass it in the full House.

Speaker Johnson can afford only a handful of Republican defections.

Some conservatives remain concerned that the package adds spending without enough budget offsets.

Rep. Chip Roy, a leading member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, did not vote during Thursday’s committee session because he was in Texas responding to severe flooding in his home state.

Roy has previously expressed reservations about the proposal.

Senate Republicans Express Doubts

Even if the House approves the measure, the Senate presents another obstacle.

Republican senators have questioned both the spending levels and the lack of corresponding budget reductions.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune acknowledged significant concerns remain.

Senators have “a lot of questions” about the proposal, Thune said.

Defense hawks want stronger military funding while fiscal conservatives seek greater deficit reduction.

Deficit Concerns Remain Central

Fiscal conservatives continue to warn about growing federal deficits.

Its. Ron Johnsonwho is expected to become chairman of the Senate Budget Committee following the death of Sen. Lindsey Graham, has consistently argued that Congress must reduce spending.

The absence of spending offsets remains one of the proposal’s biggest political challenges.

Some Republicans fear approving additional borrowing could become an issue during the midterm elections.

Others argue the defense funding is necessary regardless of the fiscal impact because of the ongoing conflict.

Legislative Process Continues

The House plans to hold a procedural session Saturday that will allow the budget resolution to remain on schedule for floor consideration next week.

If approved, House committees would spend the August recess drafting detailed legislative language based on the committee instructions.

Republican leaders hope to assemble the final reconciliation package and bring it back to the House for a vote later this fall.

The Senate would then have to approve the same budget resolution before both chambers could complete work on the underlying legislation.

Given divisions within the Republican conference and skepticism in the Senate, the proposal faces an uncertain path despite clearing its first committee vote.

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