On the recordDecember 12, 2023
Madam Speaker, shortly after the war in Ukraine began, I attended our annual pilgrimage commemorating Bloody Sunday in Selma, Alabama, along with Steny Hoyer. Just before our departure to return to Washington, I was approached by one of our honored foot soldiers of that march from Selma to Montgomery who asked to have a private word with me. I assumed she wanted to discuss what we might or might not be doing about voting rights which is always the major topic of that event. Instead, she shared her serious concerns about the war in Ukraine and stressed that it was Congress' responsibility to act in defense of democracy at home and abroad. I rise today to bring the concerns of that veteran of the war against voting suppression to the attention of this body. That longtime defender of our democracy here at home said to me that if we fail to do that which is necessary to stop Putin in Ukraine, then we may soon find ourselves in need of defending our homeland. The failure to honor President Biden's supplemental request is endangering the safety and security of our closest allies. We need to do the right thing for freedom, for democracy, and for international stability before time runs out. The American people know that for the sake of our democracy we can't let Putin win. This delay in funding is a gift to Putin, and every day that goes by without action strengthens his position and the resolve of other autocrats.…





