America Stands with Israel

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. MANN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to make it crystal clear: America stands with Israel.

On October 7, 2023, Iranian-backed Hamas terrorists invaded Israel, killing and kidnapping both Israelis and Americans, resulting in the deadliest day for the Jewish people since World War II.

In the aftermath of the October 7 attacks, House Republicans made it clear that we always have been and always will be staunch supporters of Israel. Unfortunately, the Biden administration and some radical Washington Democrats have taken a different approach.

Since day one, President Biden's mission has been to appease the Iranian regime in Tehran as if it would be effective in discouraging bad behavior. President Biden took a sledgehammer to President Trump's policies, which actually worked and deterred terrorism, by reversing permanent sanctions on Iranian drones and missiles, allowing them to expire in October 2023.

In September of last year, President Biden unfroze $6 billion in Iranian funds for the release of five American hostages. While we are grateful that those Americans are free, exchanging $6 billion in assets sets an alarming precedent that only further incentivizes hostage- taking by Iran and other bad actors. America does not negotiate with terrorists.

The President's appeasement in dealing with the terrorist regime in Tehran backfired and put American and Israeli lives at risk. After 4 years of peace in the Middle East under President Trump, President Biden has empowered Iranian proxies and put the entire region at risk.

If it isn't clear enough to the Biden administration, here is a wake- up call: The President's policies aren't working. They are failing. In fact, President Biden's policies are so disastrous that for the first time in history, Iran has launched a direct military assault on Israel.

Some people are claiming that Israel should not respond to Iran's attack based on the punches thrown but rather on the punches that landed. Of the more than 300 drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles that Iran launched at Israel, fortunately, the Iron Dome and other defense mechanisms protected Israel from much of the damage that Iran intended to cause.

In no other country would we spew such a nuanced foreign affairs strategy. America would not tolerate this behavior from any neighboring country, and neither should Israel.

Since October 7, House Republicans have passed legislation to support our ally. We supported Israel's right to self-defense, condemned Hamas terrorism, rejected anti-Semitism, reaffirmed America's commitment to Israel's security, pushed the Biden administration to reinstate and refreeze the Iranian assets and further prevent Iran from funding terrorism. We have fully funded U.S.-Israel cooperative missile defense programs and supported the expansion of the Abraham Accords to encourage peace in the Middle East.

This week, Congress will again vote on legislation to condemn the behavior of the Iranian regime and show our unequivocal support for our ally, Israel. For House Republicans and for me, there is no question: America stands with Israel.

Now, Mr. President, the choice is yours. Abandon our strongest ally in the Middle East or join House Republicans in standing with our ally and sole democratic partner in the Middle East, Israel.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source