On the recordNovember 14, 2023
Mr. President, thank you to my colleagues for their comments today and for their arguments. Many were good arguments. Some of the facts, the American people disagree with. Some of the conclusions, the American people disagree with. What I heard today was once again from my colleagues spending 80 percent of their time focusing on Ukraine funding; but I didn't hear one person say why we shouldn't go ahead and fund Israel today, why we shouldn't send a bill to the President's desk today. Look, we have debated Ukraine at lengths. Put a bill on the floor. Let's vote on Ukraine funding. My friends across the aisle have said that Ukraine is winning this war, and many of the same reasons they give us to continue to support Ukraine are the same words I heard in grade school as to why we should support the cause in Vietnam. They are the same arguments. If Ukraine is winning, then why have Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary abandoned Ukraine? Why is the frontline not moving? Some of my friends brought up aid. Look, if you want aid to the hospitals in Gaza, if you want aid to Gaza itself, then tell Iran to stand down. Tell Hamas to release the hostages. I don't hear anyone talking about that. Tell Hamas to surrender. Let's send a message from the Senate that we unequivocally stand beside Israel. And I will close with this: One of my friends across the aisle talked about President Reagan.…
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