Israel and Ukraine and who Democrats# would like to see holding the gavel,## we're joined by House minority# Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York.
Leader Jeffries, welcome back to the "NewsHour."
REP. HAKEEM JEFFRIES (D-NY): Good# evening.
Great to be GEOFF BENNETT: The Israel-Hamas war is now aircraft carriers, fighter jets to# aid Israel after the Hamas attacks.
What additional U.S. assistance,# though, is being held up by the## infighting among House Republicans and the# resulting absence to have a Ho REP. HAKEEM JEFFRIES: Under the# leadership of President Joe Biden,## the United States will continue to stand# Is rael's right to defend itself, until# Israel is able to defeat Hamas decisively,## and put the country and the region# on a path toward peace and stability.
I'm thankful for the leadership of President Biden# and what the administration has done to date,## using the authority that it currently has.
Over# the next week or so, it's my expectation that an# additional supplemental appropriations request# will be sent to the Congress for us to consider.
And that's why it's so urgently necessary that# the Republicans get their act together and elect## the speaker from within their own ranks, as it is# the responsibility of the majority party to do,## or have traditional Republicans break# with the extremists within the House## Republican Conference and partner with# Democrats on a bipartisan path forward.
We are ready, willing and able to# do so.
I know there are traditional## Republicans who are good women and men# who want to see government function,## but they are unable to do it within the ranks# of their own conference, which is dominated by## the extremist wing.
And that's why we continue# to extend the hand of bipartisanship to them.
GEOFF BENNETT: Extending Ukraine funding# is now a point of contention among House## Republicans.
Do you support the idea,# as is being discussed, of linking aid# to Israel with extended Ukraine funding as# a strategy to have put both priorities pass?
REP. HAKEEM JEFFRIES: Well, I think# it's important for the Congress to## meet the needs of the American people# in That involves ensuring that we are providing# the state of Israel with the support that it## needs to defeat Hamas and stabilize the# situation in the region.
But it also## means that we should stand by the Ukrainian# people in their courageous effort to defeat## Russian aggression in Europe, the largest# conflict in Europe since World War II.
There are also some other national# security priorities that may be## important in an increasingly dangerous# world that may be part of the requests## that the administration submits.
And so# we're taking a wait-and-see approach until## the administration actually sends# up the specifics of the requests.
But I do think, Geoff, that# it should be comprehensive,## which would include aid to Israel, aid to# Ukraine, and aid to other allies w free world to make sure that we are meeting the# national security needs of the American people.
GEOFF BENNETT: Let's talk about this# race to elect a new House speaker.
Even though Congressman Steve Scalise# defeated Congressman J the Republican nomination to# be speaker.
He does not have## the 217 votes that he would need of# the full House to be to be electe Still, though, is Steve Scalise someone who# Democrats could work with?
And is there any## scenario under which Democrats would supply# him the votes that he needs to be elected?
REP. HAKEEM JEFFRIES: I have had a positive# working relationship with Steve Scalise throughout## the years.
He is obviously he's very conservative# and we have different values in terms of w we believe is right for the health and safety,# the economic well-being of the American people.
But this is an issue right now for# the Republicans to work out.
It is## the responsibility of the Republican majority# to identify a speaker wh under the current number of people who are# in the House, or hold and maintain 217.
And## over the last week or so, the Republican# majority has been unable to do either.
And that's why we continue to# offer a bipartisan path forward,## so we can restructure the rules of the House# to enable commonsense bipartisan legislation## that has strong support from Democrats and# Republicans to receive up-or-down votes without## being blocked by the extreme MAGA Republican# wing of the House Republican Conference.
There is a real path and a# real opportunity to be serious,## to be substantive, to be sober in meeting# the needs of the American people and our## allies like Israel and Ukraine across# the world.
But we just need traditional## Republicans to break from their extremist# wing and join us in a bipartisan coalition.
GEOFF BENNETT: When you talk# about this bipartisan path,## are you talking about the fact# that you w House Republicans to join with the 212# Democrats and elect you House speaker?
And we should say there are 18 Republican# members who are -- who have been elected## from districts that Joe Biden# won?
Is that we are speaking of?
REP. HAKEEM JEFFRIES: No,# because, from the very beginning,## we have said this should n individual's aspirations to lead either# House Democrats or House Republicans.
This is about what is good for the American# people, not as Democrats or Republicans,## but as Americans.
That's why, at this moment,# we have got to find a way to come together,## restructure the House in a bipartisan# way, designed to allow for commonsense## things to come to the floor, receive an# up-or-down vote, for us to be able to## actually move legislation that emerges from# the Senate that is bipartisan in nature.
And Leader Schumer has done a tremendous# job in working with Leader McConnell in## that regard.
And we want to# get the House back on track,## function.
And we can figure out a way to do# it.
We are inherently reasonable about what## we think can occur.
But we just require# Republican partners in order to do it.
GEOFF BENNETT: Practically,# though, how would this work?
So there would be a Republican Hous more committee memberships, they'd have a greater# say in how the functions of the floo REP. HAKEEM JEFFRIES: Well, the details need to be## negotiated in a good-faith fashio But, first, we need Republicans# to agree on the principle.
And## there are only two options here.# The House can either continue to## be driven by the most extreme members of# the Republican Conference, or we can alt the legislative landscape in a structured# way to facilitate bipartisan cooperation.
I'm hopeful that my traditional Republican# colleagues who are interested in governance,## who care about the institution of the# people's house are willing to sit down## and talk with us about finding an enlightened# path and agreement that allows us to do the## business of the American people and solve# problems for hardworking American taxpayers.
GEOFF BENNETT: In the absence# of that, as you well know,## House paralysis will reach a tipping We have this November 17 government# shutdown deadline.
Is there a path forward?
REP. HAKEEM JEFFRIES: I think there# is a path forward, because the matters## that will be before us over the next# few weeks are incredibly pressing.
We have to provide full funding for the# government so we can meet the needs of the## American people and, of course, address our# national security considerations and stand## by our close friend and ally Israel during this# urgent time of need, after it has been brutally,## unspeakably attacked by Hamas, an incredible# terror visited upon the Israeli people in the## most horrific way possible, and to make# sure we can continue to stand with the## Ukrainian people in their battle against# Vladimir Putin and Russian aggression.
These are urgent matters that require immediate# attention.
The Senate is out on recess this week,## but they will be back next week.
And# our hope is to have a fully functional## House of Representatives as well so# that we can meet the requests that## come forth by President Biden, who's# done -- who is doing an incredible## job at this very fragile moment# in America and across the globe.
GEOFF BENNETT: Democratic Leader# Hakeem Jeffries of New York,## thanks again for your time this evening.
REP. HAKEEM JEFFRIES: Thank you.
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