[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 65 (Tuesday, May 23, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E936-E937]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 PALESTINIAN ANTI-TERRORISM ACT OF 2006

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                             HON. ROY BLUNT

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 22, 2006

  Mr. BLUNT. Madam Speaker, I would like to thank my friend from 
Florida, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, for bringing this legislation to the 
floor. I would also like to thank my other friends, Chairman Henry Hyde 
and Tom Lantos, for their hard work on this bill.
  As many of my colleagues have already stated, the need for this bill 
could not be clearer. In January of this year, the people of the 
Palestinian Authority elected Hamas, a terrorist entity with decades of 
experience in killing and maiming Jews, to govern the Palestinian 
Authority. When we pass this bill, the United States House of 
Representatives will tell the world that no terrorist organization can 
expect any support from the American taxpayer.
  Some of my colleagues have complained that existing U.S. laws already 
provide the tools needed to combat Hamas effectively. But the fact is 
that none of us, during the process of passing those laws already on 
the books, believed that Hamas, one of the most dangerous groups in the 
world, would actually seize the reins of power in the Palestinian 
Authority. The Palestinians must understand that American assistance to 
others is not an entitlement.
  I trust President Bush's instincts on his commitment to Israel. I 
view this bill as supporting those instincts. I believe, as the 
President does, that the Hamas government must either completely change 
its view of Israel and the existence of the Jewish state, or it must 
fail. Today, the House is acting to say this: Until Hamas changes or it 
is relieved of its authority to govern by the Palestinian people, 
American taxpayer dollars will not be used to support it either 
directly or indirectly. No general waiver authority is needed, in my 
opinion, to advance this goal.
  Of course none of us here want to see the Palestinian people suffer 
needlessly. This bill does not cut off the stream of humanitarian

[[Page E937]]

funding that some Palestinians unfortunately rely on to survive. But 
none of us here want to see the Israeli people suffer either. Hamas 
wants to and will take every opportunity to kill Israelis and Jews of 
other nationalities. It says so in their charter. And it was 
demonstrated just weeks ago in the bombing of a Tel Aviv restaurant, in 
which a close relative of my good friend Eric Cantor was murdered.
  Leading the world by example is not easy, Mr. Speaker. It requires 
hard choices, it requires moral courage, and it requires standing on 
principle. Some of our closest friends overseas may try to take the 
easy way out by offering incentives to an unreformed Hamas government. 
But today the House stands with Israel, as we always have, against 
terrorism. We encourage the Administration to stand firm; and today we 
give them legislation to help them do just that. I look forward to 
working with colleagues from the Senate to get this bill to the 
President's desk. I urge my colleagues to vote yes on H.R. 4681.

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