On the recordNovember 1, 2023
yesterday, the Senate Appropriations Committee heard from the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of State about the administration's request for supplemental appropriations. We heard about a wide range of threats to the national security and the national interests of the American people. Now, I believe that we need to support Israel, our staunch ally. We see the Israelis fighting for their very existence. They need our help, and they need it now. I believe this includes not only military assistance but also standing against Iran. Various attacks have been launched at U.S. forces across the Middle East since October 7, and they have been launched at the behest of Iran--we know that--and we must make it clear to Iran that there are consequences for attacking U.S. forces. In addition to support for Israel, I also recognize that we need to support Ukraine. We know from history that tyrants like Putin do not stop. They must be stopped. And as we support Ukraine, we need a strategy for victory to end this war, not to have a continued stalemate. Ukraine does not want the war to drag on, and neither do we. So I will continue to press the Defense Department, as I did yesterday with the Secretary of Defense, to ensure that we are on a path to win, that Ukraine is on a path to win and end the conflict, not to have an ongoing war. So we need to support Israel, and we need to support Ukraine.…
