GOP leaders push for bipartisan resolution on China balloon incursion

House Republicans previously discussed a resolution directly targeting President Joe Biden and his ball handling – which POLITICO reported for the first time – as they aimed to put it to a vote possibly on Tuesday, the same day as its annual State of the Union.

But several members, including Foreign Affairs Chairman Michael McCaul (R-Texas), have privately pressured GOP leaders to pivot to bipartisan censorship of Chinese spying tactics — a rare issue behind which the two parts come together. Since then, the GOP project has changed significantly, according to several Democrats, and could now receive agreement from across the aisle.

“My strong recommendation was… This is one of the things you want as a country to seem to come together. You don’t want a partisan resolution,” McCaul said. “I think that’s more important than our petty partisan politics.”

The Texas Republican hasn’t just spoken to McCarthy: He’s also in conversation with his foreign affairs panel counterpart, Rep. Greg Meeks (DN.Y.). He planned to review the language with Meeks later that evening.

Meeks did not rule out possible democratic cooperation, depending on the language of the measure — as well as its timing. Few Democrats were interested in a high-profile resolution to land the same day as Biden’s biggest address of the year. That now seems unlikely.

“We are looking into it. They have something, and there is a dialogue going on. So we’ll see what happens,” Meeks said, adding that the final resolution could go through the House Armed Services Committee, instead of the Foreign Affairs panel. “It depends on what he says. It depends on the moment. »

McCarthy and his team are also setting up a briefing for all members on the Chinese ball, according to three GOP lawmakers. That briefing will likely take place on Thursday, the same day the Senate receives its briefing, according to an executive aide.

Lawmakers were also given information to review ahead of time in the Capitol’s sensitive compartmented information center.

Jordan Carney contributed to this report.