McCollum No Vote on Israel Supplemental
Thank you Ranking Member DeLauro.
Mr. Speaker, the United States faces two immense national security crises at one time.
Russia’s illegal and unjust invasion of Ukraine,
and Israel’s military response to the barbaric Hamas terrorist attacks of October 7th.
I commend President Biden for swiftly sending a comprehensive emergency appropriations request that addresses attacks on both democracies and addresses the crisis in Israel and Gaza.
I fully believe Israel deserves support for its security after children and families were hunted down and attacked in their own homes by Hamas terrorists. At the same time our country cannot ignore the suffering of children and their families in Gaza who are in immediate danger and desperately need humanitarian assistance and a safe place to be.
That is why it is so disappointing that a fringe, extreme minority in the Republican Majority has insisted on bringing this bill to the floor –
On numerous votes, more than 300 House members on both sides of the aisle are on record supporting Ukraine’s fight for freedom, along with the Senate and the President.
The Republican bill ignores the urgent need to sustain support for our NATO allies and Ukraine, effectively abandoning their democracy and their ability to protect their people against Russian aggression. Putin himself claims “if the aid stops tomorrow. [Ukraine] will live for only a week [until] they run out of ammo.”
This bill fails to include urgently needed humanitarian assistance for Palestinian civilians in Gaza who are in immediate harm’s way.
The situation there currently for families and children is rapidly deteriorating because countless Palestinians lack access to food, safe shelter, medical supplies, and even potable water.
Humanitarian assistance must flow faster.
All hostages must be released.
And we must work with the United Nations and regional partners on a ceasefire that every involved party is held to.
We must work together to bring the conflict to an end before it escalates further.
Until then, declared safe areas must be truly safe for innocent civilians in Gaza fleeing violence.
For the security of both Israeli and Palestinian families – the violence must stop.
Finally, this bill ignores the longstanding bipartisan precedent of providing emergency appropriations without an offset.
This so-called pay-for cuts funds from IRS tax enforcement that will only enable more tax evasion by rich tax cheats costing taxpayers money.
President Biden has already said he will veto this ill-conceived bill.
We are wasting precious time on a bill that’s dead on arrival.
Therefore, I stand in strong opposition and urge my colleagues to oppose this bill that fails to meet the moment.
We cannot let a handful of extremist MAGA Republicans dictate our foreign policy.
I yield back.