Lawmakers Urge Quick Resolution to Speaker Race Amid Attack on Israel

A surprise attack on Israel over the weekend by the terrorist group Hamas is adding urgency to the push to elect a new U.S. House speaker following Kevin McCarthy’s ouster, as the chamber remains largely at a standstill, unable to take almost any action, without a leader.

House Republicans are set to hold a candidate forum on Tuesday before holding an internal speaker election and chamber-wide vote in the following days. But should the vote drag on in the intensely divided chamber, some lawmakers warn that efforts to provide assistance to Israel amid the conflict would be stymied.

“Given the situation in the Middle East with one of our closest allies in the world, it is critical that we bring this to a close expeditiously,” Rep. Mike Lawler, New York Republican, told CNN on Sunday, while calling for McCarthy to be reinstated as speaker in what’s considered to be a longshot move.

Since McCarthy’s ouster, two candidates have formally announced their bid for the speakership – House Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana and Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio. But with a razor-thin GOP majority in the chamber, whether either can get the 218 votes needed to secure the gavel, a task which took McCarthy 15 rounds in January, remains to be seen.

Accordingly, questions about the role of Rep. Patrick McHenry, who stepped in as “speaker pro tempore” after McCarthy’s historic ouster, have begun circulating. The position is widely considered to be a placeholder with the primary function of helping the chamber to elect a new speaker. But some experts have argued the House can vote on resolutions, like one condemning Hamas, without a speaker.

Still, without the ability to conduct typical House operations, the push to elect a new speaker in a timely manner has only grown.

Rep. Michael McCaul, a Texas Republican and chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, told CNN that the absence of a speaker “sends a terrible message” to U.S. adversaries, emphasizing that electing a new speaker this week is necessary so that lawmakers can pass legislation replenishing Israel’s rocket defense system, in addition to the resolution underscoring support for Israel.

“We have to move quickly on this,” McCaul said. “We cannot paralyze democracy, especially when we have these hotspots all over the world.”

Rep. Dan Goldman, who was in Israel when the deadly attack began, likewise called for Congress to replenish the Iron Dome “as soon as possible.”

“I hope Republicans can get their House in order so we can pass emergency legislation to assist Israel in defending herself,” the New York Democrat wrote in a post on social media.

Meanwhile, the absence of a speaker has led to questions about how to conduct intelligence briefings, which are normally provided to the leaders of Congress and its intelligence committees, known as the Gang of Eight.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who is leading a bipartisan congressional delegation in China, was briefed by State Department officials Sunday, and announced an all-Senators classified briefing on the matter this week.

Adding to concerns over the absence of a speaker, the U.S. also lacks an ambassador to Israel at present, spurring a number of Senate Democrats over the weekend to call for the speedy confirmation of Jacob J. Lew, who President Joe Biden nominated for the post last month.

“Right now, it is as critical as ever that we have a Senate-confirmed ambassador in Israel,” Sen. Ben Cardin, a Maryland Democrat and chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, said in a statement. “That is why I hope my colleagues will join me in promptly confirming Secretary Jacob J. Lew as the new U.S. Ambassador to Israel.”

The Senate is set to return from recess next week, rendering both chambers of Congress unable to take action in the immediate aftermath of the war.