US House unveils $95 billion package including Iran war funding, farm aid and tougher voting rules

House Republicans on Wednesday introduced a $95 billion budget resolution that seeks to expand defence spending for the ongoing conflict with Iran, provide financial relief to farmers and advance tougher voter registration requirements championed by President Donald Trump.

The 47-page proposal is intended to serve as a follow-up to last year's sweeping tax and spending package signed into law by Trump. House Speaker Mike Johnson is pushing the measure as a key Republican legislative priority ahead of the midterm elections, even though it faces significant political and procedural hurdles.

Johnson said the package focuses on what Republicans consider Congress' core responsibilities.

"Safeguarding American elections and strengthening our national defense are the most basic responsibilities of Congress," he said.

The Republican leadership plans to use the budget reconciliation process, which would allow legislation to pass with a simple majority in the Senate, bypassing Democratic opposition if both chambers first approve the same budget framework.

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Iran war funding dominates proposal

The bulk of the $95 billion would go for the U.S.-led war against Iran, reflecting the White House's request for supplemental spending to rebuild stockpiles and fund classified programs, among other expenses related to Operation Epic Fury.

The resolution calls for the House Armed Services Committee to craft legislation that will not increase the deficit by more than $60 billion; the Select Committee on Intelligence, $13 billion; the Agriculture Committee, $12 billion; and the House Administration Committee, $10 billion.

The latter funding would be focused on enacting aspects of an election law overhaul that requires those registering to vote to provide proof of citizenship and is a top Trump priority.

Overall, the plan is on par with a request the White House submitted to Congress last month, as the Iran war drags past four months. But it falls far short of the $350 billion increase the White House proposed for the Defense Department through the reconciliation process in its own budget this year.

Approving extra war funding will be difficult, even among Republicans supporting the Iran effort, as the nation confronts staggering annual deficits, reaching nearly $2 trillion this year.

Trump pushes Congress for voting law changes

Both the House and the Senate would have to pass the same budget resolution to launch the crafting of the party line bill, which is politically difficult in the Congress where Republicans hold only narrow majority control.

Along with the war funds, the package would include some $10 billion for voting law changes, the GOP's effort to impose strict citizenship requirements in line with provisions of the SAVE America Act, which has been a top Trump priority.

Trump has insisted that Republicans approve the elections overhaul bill, which has passed the House but does not have the votes to overcome the 60-vote threshold in the 100-member Senate. So Republicans are looking to get parts of it through the arduous reconciliation process that allows both chambers to pass a bill with a simple majority.

It's unclear how the budget package would impose or fund voting law changes and if any alterations could be made before the midterm elections, with many state elections processes already underway.

Overall, passage of the package would be a lengthy process, with much of the action taking place after lawmakers return from their August recess and during the heart of election season. Republicans hope to kick off the effort before they leave town at the end of the month.

Democrats mount opposition to the GOP package

The additional aid for farmers dealing with higher gas and fertilizer prices and retaliatory tariffs has become an election year priority for many lawmakers with large rural constituencies.

But even the addition of that type of farm aid is not likely to be an incentive for Democrats to lend support for what is essentially a Republican-only bill. Democrats are expected to overwhelmingly oppose whatever final product emerges and force Republicans to take votes on scores of difficult amendments.

Johnson, of Louisiana, applauded Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, and others on the panel for moving swiftly to advance the resolution and unlock what would be Republicans' third reconciliation bill this Congress.

Trump's big tax breaks bill last year and the Homeland Security funding bill this year both passed largely along party lines.

With inputs from agencies