HOUSE MAJORITY IN DISARRAY OVER AID TO ISRAEL, UKRAINE

Special to El Rrun-Rrun

Speaker Mike Johnson said he's "confident and optimistic" Congress will be able to pass additional funds to help Israel and Ukraine before the holidays — provided lawmakers are able to coalesce around border security policy changes sought by Republicans.

"I think all of that will come together in the coming days," he said at an event in Sarasota, Fla. "I’m confident and optimistic that we’ll be able to get that done — get that over the line."

Johnson said there's a "sense of urgency" in getting aid to both Israel and Ukraine, adding there is "a lot of thoughtful negotiation, ongoing” among members of Congress. He said he was texting with senators involved in those talks during his flight from Louisiana to Florida on Monday.

The recently installed speaker said assistance to Israel was a "top priority" for the U.S. and called helping Ukraine "another priority."

"Of course, we can’t allow [Russian President] Vladimir Putin to march through Europe, and we understand the necessity of assisting there," he said at the event. "What we've said is that if there is to be additional assistance to Ukraine, which most members of Congress believe is important, we have to also work in changing our own border policy."