Rand Paul: “I wish to commend the Senator from Oklahoma on being a leader in trying to repair and restore our infrastructure. I…”

“I wish to commend the Senator from Oklahoma on being a leader in trying to repair and restore our infrastructure. I think the Senator from Oklahoma has shown that this is a bipartisan issue. I rise today not only to support the bipartisan nature of rebuilding our infrastructure but also to address an urgent concern regarding what is happening in Egypt. I rise to introduce an amendment to suspend foreign aid to Egypt until they release our American citizens. The situation in Egypt over the past year has been tumultuous, and their people and government stand at a moment where they will choose their future. Will they stand for freedom? Will they choose to stand with the United States? The choice is entirely theirs, of course, but their recent actions are troubling and should give us reason to reconsider our significant aid to the Government of Egypt. What bothers critics of our foreign policy is the disconnect between hope and reality. Well-intentioned people vote to give aid to countries in hopes they will promote freedom, democracy, and the interests of the United States abroad. Too often, though, it does none of those things. Instead, it enriches dictators and emboldens governments that act against our interests. Right now American citizens who work for prodemocracy organizations in Egypt are being held hostage. There really is no other way to put it.…”