LIVE: Speaker Johnson, GOP House Leaders Hold Post-Conference Media Availability

we must come together to condemn Hamas without any footnotes or disclaimers support our Ally Israel and secure our own borders House Republicans have provided the blueprints to do all of this I can only hope that the Biden White House and Democrats and Congress will eventually join us in delivering on these Common Sense policies for the American people and with that I turn it over to our Majority Leader Steve scales well thank you whip Emer uh the house is off to another busy start but if you just look at the first 24 hours under speaker Mike Johnson uh we started off passing a very strong overwhelmingly bipartisan resolution supporting Israel uh it was it was an important I think first statement that this is the focus of our new speaker getting the house open for business again uh we followed that up just a few hours later passing an Appropriations Bill getting that process back on track because now if you look at last night's action coming in passing more pro-israel res resolutions as well as passing yet another Appropriations Bill yesterday uh two more teed up this week uh we will be at over 80% of government funding passing the House of Representatives and yet the Senate is finally starting to take action because they realize that the house is serious about getting this Appropriations process back on track and our speaker has made that very clear to our Senate colleagues as well as to the president uh about what's at stake and about what the focus of the house is on uh if you look at today really important pieces of legislation that we have not just the Appropriations process but supporting Israel of course we have a critical piece of the funding structure for Israel bringing the bill to make sure that Israel has the tools it needs to fight and defeat Hamas uh whether it's replenishing iron doome some of the other strategic weapon systems that their uh leaders ship has asked our Administration for these are things that have gone through a a very strict vetting process we've been working with the leadership of Israel as well to make sure that in a very targeted package we're going to pass a bill hopefully very bipartisan that gives Israel the funding that they need to continue uh to make sure they can defend themselves from these vicious taxs that whip emmer described we've all seen the horrid hor details uh this is not a time to sit idly by the house is going to take strong action today to send that message and send that bill over to the Senate as we continue other focuses and this is something an area where the Administration has been incredibly weak and that is standing up to Iran the house is not going to be weak in that regard today you're going to see a strong Bill to come to the house floor to say that we will put sanctions again against Iranian oil uh to diminish the role that Iran has played in this this as we've seen from the Biden Administration over and over these last few weeks when it's been well chronicled how closely Iran has worked with Hamas not just for weeks months but even for over a year to plan these attacks it's not just the planning and the coordination but the funding primarily comes from Iran and yet last year alone Iran by most estimates made about $80 billion dollar selling their oil on World Markets because Joe Biden dropped sanctions that used to be in place 80 billion to Iran to sell oil at a time when he's blocking American Oil President Biden how psychotic of a policy when you're blocking americanmade oil which is the cleanest in the world made by Americans and allowing Iran to sell their oil on World Markets generating over 80 billion dollar for their economy that they use to fund terrorism like Hamas and so the house will bring a bill today to reimpose strong sanctions so Iran cannot sell their oil on world markets sending a message all around the globe that you don't need to go buy Iranian oil you don't need to put money into the hands of the largest state sponsor of terrorism get your oil from stable sources like America but don't fund what is the the largest source of revenue for amas and other groups all around the world Hezbollah so many other terrorist organizations that will come to the floor today as well we need to continue to send that strong message and we're not going to slow down in the house because we've got a leader now who's gotten the house back on track who's gotten the house open for business and sent a strong message to our allies around the world and to this Administration that were serious about conducting the people's business fighting for those families who were struggling standing with our allies and that is our speaker Mike Johnson thanks Steve thanks so much I I am uh really grateful for this extraordinary leadership team good morning to everybody and welcome here um grateful to have you I was just uh in our Republican conference meeting and uh there is such a great feeling of a spree decor amongst House Republicans we are not only unified we are energized and part of the reason for that is that uh our members were uh allowed to go home for the weekend and do some District work and everyone met with constituents most everyone got to go home at least for a couple of days and they came back with reports glowing reports about the sentiment that is felt out in the Grassroots amongst the American people and not just amongst Republicans but amongst all Americans what what happened is we went through 3 weeks of uh two M here obviously everybody watched it you all walked through that Valley with us but we came out even stronger and I'm telling you that right now this group is ready to govern and we have begun that already in Earnest uh we we share enduring core principles and I referenced this on the floor Wednesday night before last week before I took my oath of office what we stand for are the core principles of America I call them the seven core principles of American conservatism but as I said uh from the chamber there up in the rostom that it's really America principles um it's individual freedom and limited government and the rule of law peace through strength and fiscal responsibility free markets and human dignity these are the the ideas that have guided our nation since its founding and I believe that when we anchor ourselves to those again we do right by the country we are the greatest nation in the history of the world and we are proud to say that and proud to defend it and U preserve those principles uh because of all this we have really healthy debates uh even inside our own conference sometimes about tactics like every family does but during a perilous time at home and abroad we are united and we're United in our pursuit of very clear objectives we want to reain in Reckless spending we want to reduce inflation and of course right out of the blocks here as has been noted we're going to support our close friend and Ally Israel let let me explain a few of these things and then we'll take some questions so on Appropriations um we want Americans voices to be heard in Washington that's what the Republicans here in the house are dedicated to and that's why we're restoring regular order uh we're fin finishing our Appropriations process and we're doing this in a way that is very transparent uh we have accountability to be assured here we have participation from all members of Congress and we're moving quickly on that agenda last week as was mentioned after I was sworn in as as Speaker we passed our Appropriations bill for energy and and and water development yesterday we passed our approach bill on the legislative branch and later this week we're going to bring up two more Appropriations bills that's interior and environment and transportation Housing and Urban Development so while each of these bills fund different parts of the government they all share one thing in common they're fiscally responsible they ensure that our government is is funded in a responsible manner while finding critical savings for the American people as conservatives we understand that savings are needed now more than ever you all know that we've crossed the the the terrible landmark of $ 33.6 trillion in federal debt and that threatens our security our freedom our way of life Treasury Department announced earlier this week that there we have to borrow and the American people need to understand the scope of this we are going to borrow an additional $1.5 trillion just to fund the government over the next two quarters 6 months we're going to have to borrow the money this is not a sustainable trajectory and so what's happening is the effect on the American people has been really devastating you you have a record high inflation is causing real pain for hardworking American families it's it's leaving their their Futures uncertain uh families are having to make very tough life altering decisions because the cost of living is too high meanwhile the skyrocketing interest rates are are quickly turning the American Dream into a mirage for millions of Americans we feel that acutely here and that's why House Republicans will not stop until we get this job done we're on Pace now to have eight of our 12 Appropriations bills passed by fly out tomorrow as you heard and we'll be uh right back here over the next two weeks to to finish the job if you need a reminder that's eight more eight more Appropriations bills passed than the Democrat L Senate which is passed as of today zero Appropriations bills we're doing our job and we hope and expect that they'll do the same regarding Israel um while House Republicans are leading on AES we're also leading the charge to support our cherished friend and last week in one of my first acts speaker we passed a resolution reaffirming our commitment to Israel and its moment of peril and now as Israel Begins the next phase of its War it's been kind of disturbing to us I've heard Democrats uh suggest that there needs to be a ceasefire let us be clear we've been very clear about this there was a ceasefire it was before October 7th and Hamas broke it and Israelis suffered unspe able acts of evil as you've heard even recounted here this morning Israel doesn't need a ceasefire it needs its allies to cease with the politics and deliver support now and that's what we're doing how's Republicans plan to do that we're going to do it in short order and it provides Israel the aid it needs to defend itself free its hostages and eradicate Hamas which is a mission that must be accomplished all of this all of this while we also work to ensure responsible spending and reduce the size of the federal government to pay for that commitment to our friend an ally we cannot waste any time getting Israel the aid it needs we're going to work on that we'll take a few questions I you down here um you say the GOP is Unified um is that to mean that you've been able to flip Thomas Massie and MTG in the last couple of days here on this Israel package or are you moving forward without I've had great discussions with um Thomas and and margorie are close friends and committed conservatives and I don't disagree with them on many issues um and principles they they understand the necessity of us getting our Appropriations bills done and sent over and also um the Peril that Israel is in U Steve S mentioned that on Saturday we were in uh Las Vegas we flew over there for the night to to be with the Republican Jewish Coalition and um there was a gentleman there who was on stage who spoke before us and he shared harrowing firsthand accounts he he was a um support worker in Israel of the things he saw with his own two eyes and I want even repeat them here because it's it's so it's just so um jarring to hear it but what they're doing to to small children and pregnant women and the rest um I I spoke with uh prime minister Netanyahu on the phone on Saturday evening and he used the terms that he that he the next day he used in a public statement and he said this is a battle between good and evil it's between light and darkness and I could I could not agree more there is absolutely no equivocation here um we have to stand with Israel and so even our our um our most Hardline you know fiscal conservatives and those who typically oppose the idea of foreign aid in principle they understand the necessity of this and what it means and so I'm I'm optimistic we'll get those bills over one I I'm not going to speak for either of them but I'll tell you that I'm continually speaking with them we'll see how that goes follow followup uh you stressed the need to be able to pay for the Israel funding as you know President Biden has issued a veto threat on this bill would you consider putting a bill on the floor that includes funding for Israel but does not have spending cuts or is that a onar no listen we we are in Dire Straits as a nation and if you talk to leaders at the Joint Chiefs of Staff the Pentagon sometimes even in recent years under oath they've testified before the house armed services committee where I served until um last week um if you ask them what the greatest threat is to our national security you would expect most people expect they'd say China Russia Iran terrorism they say it's the national debt we have to address it we we have obligations and we have commitments and we want to protect our our and help and assist our friend uh Israel but we have to keep our own house in order as well and I think people at home I think the American people understand that at home you have to balance your budget at home you have to make tough decisions and Washington should run the same way and so we are here to change the environment to change the Paradigm The Way Washington thinks if we continue on the trajectory we're on it's going to hurt our country terribly and it's going to hurt hardworking Americans even more seniors and the rest so we have to while we take care of obligations we got to do it in a responsible manner so I I made this very clear to the president myself in our in our cordial meeting that we had I've made it very clear to our colleagues House Republicans I spoke at their I mean uh Senate Republicans I spoke at their at luncheon yesterday um I've to every cabinet official I've spoken to all the way down the line that we're going to do this in a responsible Manner and that's that's a very important principle for us speaker right here can I get a timeline from you on on your thoughts about impeachment chairman comr has suggested that his investigation is winding down do you feel right now that there is enough evidence to move on articles of impeachment and how quickly could we see that process play out and if you've already decided that you're heading towards articles of impeachment or is there more that you need to see so many of you know my background I'm a constitutional law attorney I I I believe this is a very serious matter I I was called upon to serve on the impeachment defense team in the house twice under President Trump when the Democrats used it for raw partisan political purposes and I decried that at each uh step of the way the reason is because the impeachment power that we have in the constitution in the house specifically next to a declaration of war You could argue it's the most it's the heaviest power that we have and it cannot be wielded for political purposes so I have been very consistent consistent intellectually consistent in this and and and uh and persistent that we have to follow do process and we have to follow the law that means following Our obligation under the Constitution and and doing appropriate investigations in the right way at the right pace so that the evidence comes in and we follow the evidence where it leads we follow the truth where it leads so as we stand here today I'm not predetermined that but I do believe that very soon we are coming to a point of decision on it we're in the impeachment inquiry phase as you know which is an important step and that do process and what you're seeing right now although a lot of American people are anxious about this many you know Republicans across the country are anxious to get to the endpoint on this and I think some Democrats want to know how it ends as well what you're seeing right now is a deliberate constitutional process that was envisioned by the founders the framers of the Constitution This Is How They Envision this to go not the way the Democrats did it snap impeachments sham impeachments and all the rest so I I know that um I know that people are are anxious about it but I will say uh chairman comr chairman Jordan in judici chairman Smith and Ways and Means they've done an extraordinary job very methodically and I I would say outside the scope of politics they've been taken in the evidence as it go so we're going to follow the evidence where it leads and we'll see and I'm not going to predetermine it this morning Scott real quick Mr Speaker um this has obviously been a whirlwind week for you with a lot of changes you have the security detail now uh people want to take photos with you in the capital uh it's been probably AAR transition can you talk on a personal level what this week has been like for you and and your family back at home well I'm from Louisiana so I describe everything in either football or hurricane metaphors let me say this is like an F5 uh hurricane um it's been a whirlwind but in in a great way um Scott I've I've U we're so humbled and blessed to have been asked by our colleagues to do this and to have a unanimous vote on the floor was an extraordinary thing and we needed that to unify our conference and and the energy that's been f Del around the country I'm under No Illusion it's not about me it's about this idea that we can unify this team can pull together and get this job done for the country and so it's a historic moment and I I did not I don't believe I overstated it and I think I said this on the floor Wednesday night but I I genuinely believe that the the future of our Republic May well be decided in the next 12 to 14 months there there's this is a a heavy time if you look over the scope of all human history and I'm a I'm an amateur historian myself you know there you'd be hardpressed to find a moment in our history where there are so many challenges U sort of compounded upon us at the same time and so maybe the time of the Civil War I mean I think arguably even in the the world wars and the Great Depression we've not seen the collection of challenges upon us as we face right now so we go into that very sober minded um the first week in the job has been um has been a whirlwind we've had I've I've uh spent time with three heads of state um cabinet officials you know the uh secretaries of defense and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs and and uh individual members of the Senate and all of them collectively and everyone um and and my message has been the same to everyone let let's stay the course Let's Be steady let's provide principal leadership and I commit that that's going to happen in the house we're serious about it and we'll continue it so thanks you have uh some appointments to make as well whether be to Intel in your Deb commission you said you think about shair you kind of want to launch that um this week I think you saw Sunday a matter of days it can launch um have you thought about who's going to chair the commission and who you would on Intel as well I've thought a lot about it but I'm not going to reveal it here uh but we have some great candidates to chair the debt commission and by the way it will not only be bipartisan I don't know if you noticed but when I mentioned that on the floor uh last week um many of our Democrat colleagues applauded that as well that's a very encouraging sign that we this is not a partisan issue the debt is U something that we all have to contend with and so it's not only going to be bipartisan but also by Camal so I mentioned I had lunch with the um Senate Republicans yesterday they were all there and uh I I mentioned that and it the idea was met with great enthusiasm so I believe we're going to have very thoughtful people on both sides of the aisle in both Chambers come together and have um some very productive discussions about that and by the way I I believe it's also an important principle that the speaker not predetermine the outcome of that or dictate you know objectives or benchmarks I think it needs to be an organic um U decision process that's made by very thoughtful people who have a passion about the issue and have expertise in the in the subject matter and U we have thank thankfully an embarrassment of riches because we have so many people in our conference for example who do have great expertise and many ideas on this and and I think that the time has come for it so when I said I wanted to do it immediately I meant that and it's a top priority right now let me take one more Mr Speaker Mr Speaker one more please okay let me get Jake and out on govern funding because you're two weeks away from the government funding deadline is your plan to move forward with the CR into January and when do you well um it's yet to be determined I mean I think everyone here recognizes that just because we're running out of out of time that we may not get all this done by November 17th as quickly as we're moving the approach bills here the Senate's a little behind and obviously we have the conference committee process and all of that so um there's a there's a growing recognition that we are going to need another stop Gat funding measure I've I've made clear that my initial idea was to extend that to January 15th to get us beyond the sort of the Christmas rush and the things that that typically Jam Us in the house um I think there's there's some good Arguments for that but some of my colleagues have other ideas as well one one idea that was pitched this morning to be very Frank with you is a um a laded CR um I'll unpack for you what that means here in the in the coming days but uh potentially that that you would do a CR that extends U individual pieces of the Appropriations uh process individual bills we'll see how that goes I think we can build consensus around it but um I think there's a recognition that we have to complete the job and uh we we run out of the clock on this but we want to do what's right with the American people so stay tuned for further details last question with J yeah do you Israel I want to you UK saying not pass isra unless it's offet is that that's that's what we're going to do and and the reason for that is back the look right right we're um their their decision uh they have to make on their own but our decision is look the reason we pulled it from the Israel fund is that's a a pile of money $67 billion it's sitting over there to uh ref Bish uh build up and and hire new IRS agents and the rest um if you have to look at uh the this the scope and the um importance of our commitments right now uh my belief is that these this dire situation in Israel is so important that it's more immediate than that and if if Democrats in the senate or the house or anywhere else where else want to argue that hiring more IRS agents is more important than standing with Israel in this moment I'm ready to have that debate but I I did not uh attach that for political purpose purposes okay I attached it because again we're trying to get back to the principle of fiscal responsibility here and and that was the easiest and largest pile of money that's sitting there for us to be able to pay for this immediate obligation and so we're going to stand for that and I'm going to continue to message that to the American people and you know what I suspect they're with us on it on Ukraine how do you intend to handle that um Ukraine will will come in short order it will come next and you've heard me say that uh we want to uh pair border security with Ukraine because I think we could get bipartisan agreement on both of those matters look the American people feel very strongly about this and I do as well and I can tell you House Republicans do we we have obligations and we have things that we can and should do around the world but we have to take care of our own house first and as long as The Border's wide open we're opening ourselves up for for great threat and uh again it's just a matter of principle that we if we're going to take care of a a border in Ukraine we need to take care of America's border as well and I think there's bipartisan support for that idea we're going to get right to that thank you for your time thank you for your time thank you Mr speak thank you sir on l