00:00It is now in order to consider Amendment No. 8, printed in Part A of House Report 119-749.
00:07For what purpose does the gentleman from Kentucky seek recognition?
00:11Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
00:14The Clerk will designate the amendment.
00:16Amendment No. 8, printed in Part A of House Report No. 119-749, offered by Mr. Massey of Kentucky.
00:23Pursuant to House Resolution 1423, the gentleman from Kentucky, Mr. Massey, and a member oppose each.
00:31We'll control five minutes.
00:33The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Kentucky.
00:36Madam Chair, my amendment is simple.
00:38It strikes $3.3 billion of foreign aid to the country of Israel from the State Department funding bill.
00:47You know, we've got $39.4 trillion of debt.
00:52We've got needs at home, which include our infrastructure, our roads and bridges.
00:57We've got a shortfall in that fund.
00:59We've got our locks and dams that we're perpetually trying to figure out, new funding mechanisms to come up with.
01:06And we've got homeless veterans.
01:07And we're sending more money to Israel in this bill than we spend on homeless veterans in this country.
01:13Just to put it in perspective, there are 3,000 counties in this country.
01:19And if you divide that into $3 billion, that's $1 million from every county.
01:23This is not a significant amount of money that is going overseas.
01:28So I think we should stop it.
01:31We should put them on a diet.
01:32They're the biggest welfare recipient of the United States and have been for many years.
01:39$310 billion has been received by Israel from the taxpayers of the United States.
01:44That's in inflation-adjusted dollars since we've been giving them money.
01:49And that's why I think this amendment is important, and I reserve the balance of my time.
01:54The gentleman reserves.
01:57For what purpose does the gentleman from Florida seek recognition?
02:00Madam Chairman, I rise to claim time and opposition to the gentleman's amendment.
02:04And it's recognized for five minutes.
02:06Thank you, Madam Chairman.
02:08And as chairman of this subcommittee since 2023, I'm proud to be a leader in this body
02:14and providing unwavering support to our friend and ally, Israel, especially, especially after the October 7th terrorist attack.
02:25The $3.3 billion in foreign military financing for Israel included in this bill supports American, our national security interests
02:36overseas.
02:38You see, the same terrorists and terrorist entities that threaten Israel also threaten the United States and our people directly.
02:48You see, when we give Israel the tools and capabilities to eliminate these terrorist threats and to protect their homeland,
02:58by the way, including the many Americans who visit and live there,
03:02we are making America and the American people safer.
03:06The United States and Israel have worked together on successful military operations,
03:11like those in the past year to decimate Iran's nuclear program and missile capabilities.
03:18And Israel is also using the overwhelming, overwhelming majority of this funding to actually purchase American-made weaponry.
03:29So it actually helps our defense industrial base and our economy.
03:37And we've worked together extensively on developing military capabilities and other capabilities.
03:43Because of these advancements for our mutual interests and for our mutual security,
03:49there is currently a discussion, frankly, of moving to a new security partnership with Israel after the fiscal year 2028.
03:57Now, just to be clear, the assistance in this bill for fiscal year 2027 is under the terms of the
04:04existing MOU,
04:06Memorandum of Understanding, which runs for two more fiscal years.
04:10This does not in any way prejudge the outcome of ongoing negotiations.
04:16This is about fulfilling our commitment to one of our closest and most important allies that we have in the
04:28entire world,
04:28at a time when terrorists are butchering people around the world.
04:36And we made that commitment because it makes the American people, our country, stronger.
04:42So I urge the feet of the amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.
04:48The gentleman reserves.
04:50The gentleman from Kentucky.
04:52Thank you, Madam Chair.
04:53I heard a common refrain in my colleagues' arguments there that,
04:57oh, don't worry, all this money is going to the military-industrial complex.
05:03Well, I've got a problem with that.
05:04That's not a sustainable economy, buying weapons and letting people use them overseas on other people,
05:12particularly oftentimes innocent civilians.
05:15And I'm not compelled by the argument that our job is to be here and enrich the military-industrial complex,
05:22now called the defense industrial base.
05:24With that, I would like to yield two minutes to my friend and colleague, Mr. Castro from Texas.
05:29The gentleman is recognized.
05:31Madam Speaker, Israel does not need, and quite honestly, does not deserve, more American money for weapons.
05:40Prime Minister Netanyahu has taken Israel down an ugly path.
05:44The tragedy of October 7th has become a justification for the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians.
05:51Self-defense does not include indiscriminately bombing homes, hospitals, churches, schools, or refugee camps.
06:00There were even credible reports of children intentionally shot in the head and chest.
06:08For decades, our nation gave Israel billions to facilitate peace and a two-state solution.
06:14Instead, Israel has chosen more war and more occupation.
06:19Today, it occupies not only Gaza and the West Bank, but parts of Syria and Lebanon.
06:24If there are no consequences, why in the world would Benjamin Netanyahu change what he's doing?
06:32And words are not enough.
06:34Condemnations are not enough.
06:35If we hope to change Israel's behavior, we must use our leverage.
06:39The American people have seen this tragedy with their own eyes.
06:44They have made their judgment.
06:46They do not support giving Israel more weapons.
06:50Do not reward a wrongdoer.
06:53Now it's up to us in this chamber to take action.
06:57I support this amendment, and I yield back.
07:02I now recognize the gentleman from Kentucky.
07:05May I inquire as to how much time I have remaining?
07:09The gentleman has a minute and a half remaining.
07:11I reserve.
07:13The gentleman reserves.
07:15The gentleman from Florida is recognized.
07:17Thank you, Madam Chair.
07:18When I yield to the distinguished ranking member of the subcommittee, the gentleman from Florida,
07:23Ms. Franklin.
07:24For one minute.
07:25The gentlewoman is recognized.
07:28Ms. Franklin.
07:31Should I yield to?
07:32Okay.
07:35Thank you, Mr. Chair.
07:36I rise in very strong opposition to this amendment.
07:39Maintaining stability in the Middle East has long been a vital United States strategic interest,
07:44and what happens there affects our economy, our national security, the safety of our American
07:50service members.
07:51And as written, this amendment is overbroad in that it prohibits or could limit the use of
07:56funds for longstanding initiatives related to peace building, refugee settlement, and U.S.
08:02embassy operations.
08:03And this amendment would restrict our country's ability to confront Iran's proxies, Hamas,
08:10Hezbollah, and other terrorist organizations in the region who are sworn enemies of the
08:15United States, Israel, and our allies.
08:17A 10-minute debate is not the way to change policy as we have a mission of peace and prosperity,
08:25both for Israelis and Palestinians, and peace in the region.
08:37I would like now to yield one minute to the gentleman from Maryland, Mr. Hoyer.
08:44Gentleman from Florida, Maryland.
08:50You're recognized.
08:57Madam Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to this amendment, which would dangerously undermine
09:05American national security.
09:08If adopted, it would, as Leader Jeffries rightly pointed out, limit our ability to confront
09:15terrorist organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah that expressly target American citizens and
09:21military personnel.
09:22And it would make it harder for America to use our relationships with Israel and regional
09:28partners to promote a negotiated two-state settlement.
09:34The only realistic path to deliver on the promise of peace, security, and self-determination for
09:42both Israel and Palestine.
09:44I understand the frustration that many members feel some of the policies and actions of the
09:49current Israeli government, as well as their concerns about its commitment to the peace process
09:54and a two-state solution.
09:55However, this amendment would embolden the enemies of peace, those pursuing the complete elimination
10:04of Israel and those who seek the death of Jews.
10:09It is a vote to weaken our ability to engage in the region, and it's a vote against American
10:15security, against American interest, and against American safety.
10:20Vote no.
10:23The gentleman, I now recognize the gentleman from Florida.
10:32Let me just very briefly conclude.
10:34As I said before at this bill, I've said it many times, if you're an ally in front of the
10:39United States, this bill supports you.
10:42And if you're an adversary, you're not going to like this bill.
10:44We have no stronger ally than the state of Israel.
10:49This is our commitment under the MOU, which is why I respectfully, but very strongly, very
10:55strongly opposed this amendment.
10:58And with that, I would yield back.
11:01The gentleman yields.
11:03Gentleman from Kentucky.
11:05And with that, I would like to close by saying that Israel has the strongest economy in the
11:10Middle East.
11:11Their debt per GDP is in much better shape than ours.
11:15They don't need our money.
11:16In fact, they've claimed recently they want to get off of the welfare.
11:20But I'm concerned that the other funding mechanisms they're talking about or commingling
11:24our technology and supply chains will have even less transparency than what's going on
11:29here today.
11:30So I'm opposed to that as well.
11:32I'm opposed to all foreign aid.
11:33I didn't pick on Israel here.
11:35I've offered an amendment to defund Egypt and also to defund the aid to Jordan, which
11:41we'll talk about in a little bit.
11:43But I am particularly concerned this year about the foreign aid to Israel.
11:47There have been 70,000 casualties in Gaza, and I don't think we should be part of that.
11:52American taxpayers should not be conscripted into funding the military adventures of Israel.
11:58And I urge adoption of my amendment.
12:01And with that, I yield back.
12:02The gentleman yields back.
12:04The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Kentucky.
12:08Those in favor, say aye.
12:10Aye.
12:11Those opposed, say no.
12:13No.
12:13In the opinion of the chair, the no's have it.
12:19First, does the gentleman from Kentucky seek recognition?
12:22I request the yes and nays.
12:25Does the gentleman request for a recorded vote?
12:27I request a recorded vote.
12:29Pursuant to Clause 6 of Rule 18, further proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from
12:35Kentucky will be postponed.
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