Condemning Iran's Unprecedented Drone and Missile Attack on Israel

Floor Speech

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Mr. SCALISE. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New Jersey for leading this effort and for making sure all of our colleagues have the opportunity to stand with our friend, Israel, while they are at war.

We all know, starting October 7, Israel was attacked barbarically by one of Iran's proxies, Hamas, a terrorist organization. They went into Israel, barbarically murdered Israelis and took hostages. Still to this day they have about 130 hostages, including some American citizens.

While this war to eviscerate the terrorist organization known as Hamas is going on, Israel then over the weekend faced an unprecedented attack directly from Iran. No longer is it only the proxies--whether it is Hamas, Hezbollah, or the Houthis, all who are supported by Iran--now Iran directly attacked with 300-plus drones and missiles to try to kill more Israelis.

Fortunately, of course, Israel and a coalition of the United States and other allies joined together to shoot down those missiles and drones. At the same time, Iran made it clear they wanted to attack Israel directly, which means Israel now is looking at how they properly respond.

During this time, again, a war that started--this idea of a cease- fire, the cease-fire ended when Hamas decided that they were going to go murder Israelis. Israel has a right to self-defense. This Congress has always stood by our friend, Israel, our greatest ally in the Middle East, a democracy.

They are always under attack. They have been under attack since their existence. They know how to defend themselves. When they respond-- whatever choice the people of Israel make through their elected leaders--we need to express our support for that defense. That is Israel's right.

We saw September 11, but there have been other attacks on our homeland; of course, Pearl Harbor. When America is attacked, America responds. We don't have our allies calling us, saying: Don't respond. This is a time when the allies of Israel, including the United States, need to support Israel in their right to respond. Call out Iran, as this resolution does. Mr. Kean has been very good about laying out the case for why we need to condemn Iran and their actions, but we also need to support Israel as they consider their options in how to properly respond to deter this from happening again.

It was unwarranted. It shouldn't have happened. We shouldn't just look and say: Well, all the missiles and drones were shot down, so everybody should just look the other way. They will keep trying until they kill innocent civilians.

Iran has always sponsored terrorism, and they have gotten away with it. We need to put sanctions back on Iran. They shouldn't be able to sell their oil on world markets, for example. Iran has made about $60 billion in the last 3 years selling their oil on world markets. They shouldn't have that access. They use that money to sponsor terrorism, and now they are using that money directly to attack our friend and our ally, Israel.

While Israel is under attack, now more than ever we need to be unequivocal in our support for our friend, Israel, in their right to self-defense. God bless the people of Israel. We stand with them. This resolution makes it very clear.

I thank, again, my friend from New Jersey for bringing this important piece of legislation. I urge its adoption, Madam Speaker.

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