Political Quotes

“Mr. Chair, I rise today in opposition of the Perry amendment No. 74, which prohibits any funds from being made available for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) through the FY 24 Appropriations for the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs (SFOPs). The subcommittee for State and Foreign Operations has, in a bipartisan manner, supported the Biden Administration's decision to reengage with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), including its inclusion in the Fiscal Year 2023 bill of additional funding from previous years for food assistance to refugees in the West Bank and Gaza. It is imperative that we put aside political agendas and instead make policy-based decisions that benefit our national security and humanitarian core values. Like other reengagements with the United Nations (UN) system, the Department of State's strategic partnership with UNRWA is clearly demonstrating the benefits of U.S. financial support. Earlier this year, Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield told UN Security Council members, ``At this moment of heightened tensions, we must be sure to support UNRWA, which serves as a lifeline to Palestinians and plays an important stabilizing role in the region.'' Four out of the Agency's five fields of operation are in crisis: ranging from the aftermaths of a terrible natural disaster, a seriously deteriorating security situation, and unprecedented financial and economic collapse.…”