House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries implored his Republican counterparts to “get their act together” amid the speakership deadlock and war in Israel.
Jeffries (D-NY) lamented the “very heartbreaking” and “tragic situation” while implying that the stalemate in Congress could hamper the US response.
“It’s my hope that my Republican colleagues get their act together, can settle on a speaker who can receive 217 votes,” Jeffries told CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday.
“And that we can move forward to get the business of the American people have done both as it relates to our domestic needs,” Jeffries continued, “as well as our national security considerations in terms of being there for Israel, being there for the Ukrainian people.”
Last Tuesday a band of eight Republicans led by firebrand Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) joined with a unified bloc of Democrats to oust former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) in a 216 to 210 vote.
With McCarthy out, Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC) has assumed the post as Speaker Pro Tempore, but the extent of his powers to bring bills up to the floor remains in question.
Never before in US history has a Speaker of the House been ousted via a motion to vacate. McCarthy has bowed out of consideration for the gavel.
Half a world away on Saturday, the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas unleashed a sprawling surprise attack on Israel just a day after the 50-year mark of the outbreak of the Yom Kippur War.
Israel’s cabinet invoked Article 40 Aleph, marking the nation’s first formally declared war since 1973.
Jeffries affirmed his support for Israel. He visited the Jewish State back in April.
“The United States will continue to stand strongly behind Israel. America’s bond with Israel is unshakable and unbreakable. We have stood strongly behind Israel during its first 75 years we will stand strongly behind Israel for the next 75 years and beyond,” he said.
“There will likely be a need for some additional appropriations with respect to Iron Dome or David’s Arrow, David’s Sling, some of Israel’s defense systems that perhaps will need to be bolstered given likelihood of a prolonged engagement,” he added.
As the No. 1 House Democrat, Jeffries is a member of the so-called Gang of Eight — members of Congress who are entitled to top classified intelligence briefings by the administration.
He was briefed on the situation in Israel, but has not yet had a Gang of Eight briefing.
“I do anticipate that we’ll have an opportunity to have a secure briefing at some point next week. But our commitment to Israel’s security is ironclad,” he stressed.
House Republicans are slated to hold a candidate forum for speaker on Tuesday followed by a vote on Wednesday.
The top two contenders are Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Oh.) and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.)
Jeffries refrained from commenting on either of the two Republicans, but reiterated his offering in an op-ed last week to establish a “bipartisan path forward.”
“We’ve made clear as Democrats that we are ready, willing, and able to find common ground to enter into a bipartisan path forward so we can govern the House in an enlightened fashion that ensures that bipartisan priorities that has significant support from Democrats and Republicans in the House can receive an up or down vote” he said.
Within “the last day or so,” Jeffries has not had correspondence with his Republican counterparts in leadership about the speakership situation, but emphasized that are “ongoing discussions” with other House Republicans and Democrats.