On the recordNovember 2, 2023
I thank the gentlewoman from Texas for her leadership on this issue. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of our friends in Israel. I thank the chairwoman and my friend, Ms. Granger, for bringing this vital legislation to the floor, for the opportunity to speak on it. Mr. Speaker, the choice today is pretty clear to me. We either support our Israeli friends, or we don't. We have heard, and we will continue to hear complaints about the funding offset and the lack of non-Israel funding in this bill, and each Member is entitled to their opinion, but, at the end of the day, this bill will provide over $14 billion in support of Israel in its war against these murderous terrorists. That is the important part. These aren't just numbers, Mr. Speaker, on a piece of paper. Real lives are at stake here. This funding will save Israeli lives through replenishment of its missile defenses, it will give Israel the ability to rid the world of dangerous terrorists, and it will help reestablish deterrence in the Middle East at a time when Iran is aggressively advancing on all fronts. What happened on October 7 was tragic. No one, not one person, can argue that the cruel and gruesome atrocities were justified. Israelis were killed in their homes, massacred for having different religious beliefs than their terrorist attackers. Unfortunately, these actions have not been met with universal condemnation, not even in this very House. Mr.…
