McCollum Statement on H.R. 5323, the  Iron Dome Supplemental Appropriations Act

Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-04) issued the following statement today after the House passed H.R. 5323, the Iron Dome Supplemental Appropriations Act:

"Iron Dome is an Israeli missile defense system paid for by the American people. Today's emergency bill appropriating up to $1 billion for Iron Dome was not requested by the Biden administration and it is in addition to the $500 million for Iron Dome and other Israeli missile defense programs already included in the Fiscal Year 2022 Defense Appropriations bill. I authored that bill, which passed the Appropriations Committee in July.

"The funding in this emergency bill is limited to the replenishment of Iron Dome as a result of the May 2021 conflict with Hamas. While Iron Dome is critical to defending Jewish Israelis and Palestinian citizens of Israel, I have serious concerns as to whether these funds can even be expended with current Iron Dome production levels already at capacity. I continue to believe that additional funding for Iron Dome could have been worked out in a bipartisan conference committee at the end of the year, through the regular Appropriations process.

"While Iron Dome saves innocent Israeli lives from Hamas rockets, innocent Palestinians who live under military occupation are regularly killed by Israeli security forces. These Palestinians have no ‘Iron Dome' to defend themselves against Israeli human rights abuses, and Congress ignores Israel's blatant violations of international humanitarian law, especially against Palestinian children. I voted to support today's bill because it is intended to save lives. I remain absolutely committed to continuing my work to advance peace, human rights, and security for the people of Palestine and the people of Israel."

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