Newly Appointed Speaker Johnson Begins by Supporting Israel

Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La., made passing a resolution that supports Israel and condemns Hamas his first move as the newly elected speaker Wednesday.

The House approved the four-page measure, H.R. 771, in a 412-10 vote just hours after Johnson was elected to succeed Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif..

Nine Democrats voted against the resolution: Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, Cori Bush of Missouri, Jamaal Bowman of New York, André Carson of Indiana, Al Green of Texas, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Summer Lee of Pennsylvania, Delia Ramirez of Illinois, and Ilhan Omar of Minnesota.

Six other Democrats voted present: Pramila Jayapal of Washington, Joaquin Castro of Texas, Nydia Velázquez of New York, Greg Casar of Texas, Chuy García of Illinois, and Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts.

Only one Republican lawmaker, Thomas Massie of Kentucky, voted against the measure.

The resolution declares the House “stands with Israel as it defends itself against the barbaric war launched by Hamas and other terrorists” and “reaffirms Israel’s right to self-defense.”

In addition, the measure condemns Hamas for its Oct. 7 terrorist attack that killed more than 1,400 Israelis, and it urges the group to cease further attacks, release hostages, and return the bodies of hostages who have been killed.

Johnson delivered a speech before introducing the measure, lamenting several weeks of standstill in the Republican-led chamber as it scrambled to find a replacement for McCarthy, who was ousted in a historic motion to vacate vote on Oct. 3.

“The country demands strong leadership of this body, and we must not waver. Our nation’s greatest ally in the Middle East is under attack,” Johnson said.

“We’re going to show not only Israel but the entire world that the barbarism of Hamas that we have all seen play out on our television screens and wretched and wrong, and we’re going to stand for the food in that conflict.” 

The resolution sets the stage for the likely passage of billions of dollars in aid for Israel, as requested by the Biden administration.