Chamber approves series of bills aimed at squeezing Tehran financially

The Republican-led House on Monday voted in favor of a series of bills aimed at squeezing Iran financially in response to an unprecedented drone and missile attack launched by the Islamic Republic against Israel over the weekend.

Three separate bills were brought to the floor on Monday under suspension of the rules, an expedited process that requires two-thirds support for approval, allowing a floor vote to be held immediately.

The bills largely seek to impose financial sanctions on Iran, those who support it and its network of proxies.

Israel, in partnership with the US, UK, France and allies in the Middle East, repelled a massive Iranian airstrike launched on Saturday night, shooting down what it said was 99 percent of nearly 300 drones and missiles.

The bills voted on Monday night are largely uncontroversial and have the support of a majority of Democrats.

They include a bill to end the tax-exempt status of nonprofit organizations that support terrorist groups; legislation aimed at preventing Chinese purchases of Iranian oil and petroleum products; and an effort to prevent the Iranian government from using the U.S. financial system.

But even though Democrats support this package of bills, they criticize Republicans for failing, for weeks, to bring to a vote the $95 billion national security supplement approved by the Senate, which includes aid not only for Israel, but also to Ukraine and Taiwan.

Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Ill.) expressed support for H.R. 6408 – a bill that would end the tax-exempt status of organizations supporting terrorism, which he co-sponsored with Rep. David Kustoff (R-Tenn.) .

But Schneider implored Republicans to bring the supplemental national security legislation to the floor.

“I want to once again thank my colleague, Rep. Kustoff, for his partnership and work on this legislation… and I urge all of my colleagues to not only support this legislation, but also, as we said, support essential security funding. this came from the Senate,” he said.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) on Monday night revealed a plan to Republicans to introduce four separate bills to address aid to Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan and other national security priorities. It is not yet clear how Democrats will respond to the proposals.

The White House said Monday it opposed a stand-alone Israel aid bill.

On Monday morning, a bipartisan group of lawmakers called on Johnson to put the Senate-approved national security supplement to a vote on Monday night.