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Floor Speech
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Mr. BLUMENTHAL. Mr. President, I see my colleague from Kentucky on the floor, and I want to take this opportunity to express to him and to Senator McConnell my condolences for what the people of Kentucky have endured with this catastrophic devastation. I know he has been a strong advocate for his State, and I fully support a swift, strong Federal response to alleviating the suffering and assisting in rebuilding. In times of tragedy, our Nation comes together to support all who are in this kind of need. Unanimous Consent Request--H.R. 5323
Mr. President, I also express my strong support--and it is the reason I am here--for $1 billion of supplemental security assistance to replenish Israel's Iron Dome Supplemental Appropriations Act. The Senate must pass H.R. 5323 as quickly as possible. The Iron Dome has widespread, bipartisan support in Congress--as well it should. It has the administration's support, which it richly deserves.
During the May 2021 conflict between Israel and Hamas, the Iron Dome defense system intercepted about 90 percent of the missiles that were targeting populated civilians in Israel. In total, 4,400 rockets were launched by Hamas. If the Iron Dome had failed, countless Israeli civilians would have been killed. The system performed exceptionally well, and it showed its necessity for both humanitarian and strategic defensive purposes.
I am very concerned that one of my colleagues previously blocked the passage of this bill in the Senate. I hope provisions of this year's Defense Authorization Act, specifically sections 1213 and 1214 and section 9021 of last year's Defense appropriations bill, assuage any ongoing concern about transferring funds to the Taliban. No funds--none--zero--will be used to help or support or enable, in any way, the Taliban. Funds previously appropriated for the Afghanistan National Security Forces are deeply needed to terminate contracts that are already in place. These funds will not go to the Taliban but to those who supported the U.S. mission in Afghanistan.
If any Pentagon employee breaks the law--if any one of them makes funds available to the Taliban--that individual could and should face criminal penalties, including jail time under the Antideficiency Act. We cannot continue to use the U.S.-Israeli relationship as a political football. It is against our own strategic interests; it violates our humanitarian values; and it is a security problem.
I am a strong, strong supporter of Israel, but I often say that friends can disagree, and friends can criticize each other. I have been critical at times of my friends in the Israeli Government. I am standing again on the floor of the U.S. Senate, being, arguably, critical of one of my colleagues, and I ask: Where are my colleagues across the aisle when one of their own Members is actively impeding Israel's ability to defend itself from Hamas? It is a cause they say they support. Where is their concern? Where is the outrage?
I urge all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this critical funding.
So, Mr. President, as if in legislative session, I ask unanimous consent that at a time to be determined by the majority leader, following consultation with the Republican leader, the Senate proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 140, H.R. 5323; that there be up to 2 hours of debate; and that upon the use or yielding back of time, the bill be considered read a third time, and the Senate vote on passage of the bill without intervening action or debate.
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Mr. BLUMENTHAL. In fact, that money is necessary to terminate contracts, to fulfill obligations, not only under the contracts but to our allies, the Afghan at-risk allies who sought to fulfill our mission. We have a moral imperative, and we have, arguably, a legal obligation.
That money is not just sitting there. It is not fungible. But put aside the merits of that argument, we have also a moral and strategic interest to our ally Israel to replenish its defenses at a time when it depends on our assistance to defend itself, to provide that Iron Dome that saves lives of innocent civilians who otherwise would have perished as a result of those 4,400 rockets launched by Hamas and possibly led to escalating contention and conflict in that region.
So it is a win-win, in fact, for us to replenish the Iron Dome without conditioning it in any way on other funds. Therefore, I will not modify my request.
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Mr. BLUMENTHAL. Mr. President, if I may just finish.
We are here again. I will come back again to the floor to seek this Iron Dome money.
Many of us are absolutely determined that the United States fulfill this moral, humanitarian, and foreign policy obligation. It is in our strategic interest.
This obligation is paid for; it is not debt; and it will incur no obligations that are unpaid for. So I regret that my colleague, again, has blocked this from proceeding.
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