Josh Gottheimer: “I thank Chairman Smith, Ranking Member Thornberry, and all the Armed Services Committee members for all their hard work…”

“I thank Chairman Smith, Ranking Member Thornberry, and all the Armed Services Committee members for all their hard work on this bill. I rise in support of the en bloc package, which contains four amendments I have introduced. Mr. Chair, Iran has engaged in reckless conduct, destabilizing the region, with their attacks on allied tankers near the Strait of Hormuz and with the support of terrorist organizations, including Hezbollah and Hamas. We must remain vigilant with Iran. My amendment ensures that the Defense Department reports on threats to freedom of navigation on all international waterways. My second amendment directs the Defense and State Departments to send recommendations to Congress to improve the Cooperative Threat Reduction Program. This will help eliminate nuclear material and prevent proliferation. My third amendment prohibits funds and support from going to foreign terrorist organizations, including Hamas, Hezbollah, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, al-Shabaab, and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, by adding these to the prohibited list in section 1224 of this bill. We must stop terrorism in its tracks. Finally, brave Americans of every background have served in our Armed Forces, including Jewish American veterans who fought Nazis in World War II. My fourth amendment requires the Defense Department to question whether our Active Duty servicemembers have experienced anti-Semitism while bravely serving our country. Mr.…”