Political Quotes

“I want to thank all of the authors of this bill for your important work, and I appreciate your bringing these issues once again to the attention of my colleagues and to all of those who are watching us this evening. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the United States-Israel Strategic Partnership Act. During a period of tremendous turmoil in the Middle East, the passage of this important legislation sends a strong signal to our steadfast ally that the United States Congress remains fully committed to its security. This bill, which I cosponsored, supports greater U.S.-Israeli cooperation on a number of fronts, including energy, cybersecurity, homeland security, and agriculture. It also extends the authorization for U.S. weapons to be stored in Israel in case they are needed by either of our countries to respond to an emergency. Additionally, this bill provides for the greater congressional oversight of Israel's qualitative military edge over its neighbors, a status that remains absolutely critical to Israel's ongoing security needs. Lastly, this bill encourages Israel's inclusion in the Visa Waiver Program and supports a greater engagement with Israel on meeting the program's requirements. I remain committed to making it easier for young Israelis to travel to the United States. As I have said before, our visa policies should reflect the unbreakable bond between our nations and people.…”