Providing for Consideration of H.R. Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, Providing for Consideration of H.R. Ukraine Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, Providing for Consideration of H.R. Indo-Pacific Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, Providing for Consideration of H.R. 21st Century Peace Through Strength Act; and Providing for Concurrence By the House in the Senate Amendment to H.R. with An Amendment

Floor Speech

Date: April 19, 2024
Location: Washington, DC

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Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Speaker, those who committed atrocities against Israelis on October 7 were not martyrs. They were murderers and rapists. But neither were those murderers children, and the children of Gaza have paid an incredible cost for Netanyahu's massive assault. His policies have shown conscious indifference to children, journalists, humanitarian aid workers, and civilians in general. I believe strongly in Israel's right to self-defense, but that does not require dropping hundreds of 2000-pound nonprecision ``dumb'' bombs in densely populated areas, nor does it require a medieval-type siege denying water, food, and medicine, using famine as a weapon of war, nor does it require killing, not only World Central Kitchen aid workers, but so many others.

This rule gives us a proper opportunity to finally, belatedly, vote to help desperate Ukraine from Putin's war crimes and offensive without voting to support Netanyahu, but the rule, I believe, improperly rejected amendments that would have permitted a vote in support of Israel's right to self-defense without embracing Netanyahu's wrongful policies, which are killing the innocent, sacrificing the hostages, and endangering Israel's long-term security.

Sending more offensive weapons to Netanyahu while begging him not to use them simply does not protect Rafah and others from an assault. I would vote to defend Israel but do not want to be complicit in providing weapons for an assault on Rafah that will cause thousands of deaths and likely lead to a wider and tragic war.

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