[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 112 (Wednesday, July 31, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6085-S6095]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
TRANSPORTATION, HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND RELATED AGENCIES
APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2014
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Under the previous order, the
Senate will resume consideration of S. 1243. The clerk will report the
bill by title.
The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:
A bill (S. 1243) making appropriations for the Departments
of Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and
related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30,
2014, and for other purposes.
Pending:
Murray (for Cardin) modified amendment No. 1760, to require
the Secretary of Transportation to submit to Congress a
report relating to the condition of lane miles and highway
bridge deck.
Coburn amendment No. 1750, to prohibit funds from being
directed to Federal employees with unpaid Federal tax
liability.
Coburn amendment No. 1751, to prohibit Federal funding of
union activities by Federal employees.
Coburn amendment No. 1754, to prohibit Federal funds from
being used to meet the matching requirements of other Federal
programs.
Murphy amendment No. 1783, to require the Secretary of
Transportation to assess the impact on domestic employment of
a waiver of the Buy American requirement for Federal-aid
highway projects prior to issuing the waiver.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Kentucky.
Amendment No. 1739
Mr. PAUL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to call up amendment
No. 1739.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so
ordered.
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The clerk will report the amendment.
The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:
The Senator from Kentucky [Mr. Paul] proposes an amendment
numbered 1739.
Mr. PAUL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that reading of the
amendment be dispensed with.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so
ordered.
The amendment is as follows:
(Purpose: To redirect certain foreign assistance to the Government of
Egypt as a result of the July 3, 2013, military coup d'etat)
At the end of title I, insert the following:
Sec. _____. (a) Congress makes the following findings:
(1) On June 30, 2012, Mohamed Morsi was elected President
of Egypt in elections that were certified as free and fair by
the Egyptian Presidential Election Commission and the United
Nations.
(2) On July 3, 2013, the military of Egypt removed the
democratically elected President of Egypt, arrested his
supporters, and suspended the Constitution of Egypt. These
actions fit the definition of a military coup d'etat.
(3) Pursuant to section 7008 of the Department of State,
Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Act, 2012 (division
I of Public Law 112-74; 125 Stat. 1195), the United States is
legally prohibited from providing foreign assistance to any
country whose duly elected head of government is deposed by a
military coup d'etat, or removed in such a way that the
military plays a decisive role.
(4) The United States has suspended aid to countries that
have undergone military coups d'etat in the past, including
the Ivory Coast, the Central African Republic, Thailand,
Mali, Fiji, and Honduras.
(b)(1) In accordance with section 7008 of the Department of
State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Act, 2012
(division I of Public Law 112-74; 125 Stat. 1195), the United
States Government, including the Department of State, shall
refrain from providing to the Government of Egypt the
assistance restricted under such section.
(2) In addition to the restrictions referred to in
paragraph (1), the following restrictions shall be in effect
with respect to United States assistance to the Government of
Egypt:
(A) Deliveries of defense articles currently slated for
transfer to Egyptian Ministry of Defense (MOD) and Ministry
of Interior (MOI) shall be suspended until the President
certifies to Congress that democratic national elections have
taken place in Egypt followed by a peaceful transfer of
power.
(B) Provision of defense services to Egyptian MOD and MOI
shall be halted immediately until the President certifies to
Congress that democratic national elections have taken place
in Egypt followed by a peaceful transfer of power.
(C) Processing of draft Letters of Offer and Acceptance
(LOAs) for future arms sales to Egyptian MOD and MOI entities
shall be halted until the President certifies to Congress
that democratic national elections have taken place in Egypt
followed by a peaceful transfer of power.
(D) All costs associated with the delays in deliveries and
provision of services required under subparagraphs (A)
through (C) shall be borne by the Government of Egypt.
(c) Any amounts retained by the United States as a result
of implementing subsection (b) shall be made available to the
Secretary of Transportation to carry out activities under the
heading ``bridges in critical corridors''.
Mr. PAUL. A once great city, Detroit, lies in ruins with 50,000 feral
dogs roaming the city, and abandoned houses litter the landscape. It is
a bleak and forlorn future that awaits Detroit. Creditors clamor for
nearly $20 billion in debt. City employees wonder if they will be paid.
There is not enough money to even replace the street lights in Detroit.
God forbid that a major fire should break out.
At some level I think the President does care about Detroit, but
today all I can see is the billions of dollars--the billions of
American tax dollars--that he chooses to send overseas. I see the shiny
new technology, America's best, going to arm people who are indifferent
to us, and, at worst, hate us. The President sends billions of dollars
to Egypt in the form of advanced fighter planes and tanks. Meanwhile,
Detroit crumbles.
Chicago is a war zone. More people died in Chicago this year than in
Afghanistan. Yet the President insists on building a $34 million fort
in Afghanistan. Hillary Clinton insists on spending $80 million on a
consulate in Afghanistan that will never be used. As Detroit decays,
Chicago is a maelstrom of violence, yet no one questions sending
billions of the taxpayers' dollars to Egypt, to despots, to dictators
in foreign countries.
Our Nation's bridges are crumbling and few politicians from either
party will question the billions of dollars that are being sent
overseas while our Nation's infrastructure is crumbling. The law is
very clear. Everyone here in Congress can read. They recognize that the
law says when there is a military coup, the aid must end.
Today we will vote on whether they will obey the law or whether they
will openly flout the law and disobey. When a military coup overturns a
democratically elected government, all military aid must end; that is
the law. There is no Presidential waiver. The law states unequivocally
that the aid must end.
When the military coup occurred in Egypt, how did the President
respond? How did Congress respond? The President and his cohorts in
Congress responded by shoveling good money after bad into the failed
state of Egypt. The President is intent on building nations abroad and
not taking care of our Nation here at home. I propose that we take the
billion dollars that is now being illegally given to Egypt and spend it
at home.
We have bridges crumbling at home. Can't we fix some of our problems
at home? We have had a bridge collapse this year in Washington State.
We had one collapse in Minnesota a few years ago. We have a bridge in
northern Kentucky that is becoming increasingly unsafe. Yet there is
not enough money to repair our bridges because our politicians are
sending the money overseas. It is unwise, and right now it is illegal.
Countries such as Egypt are getting billions of dollars in aid.
Meanwhile, they recently let a mob advance and climb atop our Embassy
and then burn our flag. I say not one penny more to these countries
that allow mobs to burn our flag.
In between cashing our checks, Egypt finds time to convict 16
Americans on trumped-up political charges. Fortunately, the Americans
were able to escape. If they hadn't left the country, we would have 16
Americans in prison in Egypt. Luckily these Americans were able to get
out of the country.
How do these establishment politicians respond? How will the other
side respond today when they get up and plead we should break the
law? What will they say about Detroit? What will they say about
Chicago? What will they say about the bridges in northern Kentucky that
will not be built because we are sending the money to countries that
are burning our flag?
I think it is unwise to send arms--particularly advanced arms--into
the chaos of Egypt. I fear one day someone may arise in Egypt who says:
Let's attack Israel with these planes. Let's attack Israel with these
tanks. I fear these weapons we are giving to Egypt may someday be used
against America and our allies.
Even the Egyptians don't want our aid. There was a Gallup poll last
year which showed that 70 percent of Egyptians don't even want the
money we are sending them. To understand why we have to understand that
American aid doesn't go to the Egyptian people; it goes to the despots
and the dictators who run the place. We have to realize that when
protesters gather in Tahrir Square in Cairo by the hundreds of
thousands--and even millions--why they are unhappy with America. They
are unhappy with America because they are being sprayed with tear gas
bought with American tax dollars, manufactured in Pennsylvania, and
given to the Mubarak family or given to the military. Why are they
unhappy? Foreign aid doesn't go to foreign people; it goes to foreign
despots and foreign dictators. Foreign aid is more likely to buy a
lavish chateau in Paris than it is to buy bread in Egypt.
We send money to Egypt and it buys private jets for the Mubarak
family to fly to Europe. The Mubarak family is said to have stolen
billions of dollars of American aid. Over the past 30 years, Americans
have been forced to finance the Mubarak family living large. So when we
see pictures of depression in Detroit, when we see abandoned housing in
Detroit, when we see boarded up housing, when we see 50,000 feral dogs
running through the streets of Detroit, when we see a once great
country, a once great nation, a once great city lying in decay, we
think of our politicians who chose to send that money to Egypt and not
keep it here at home.
As the money is stolen and squandered around the world and as Detroit
decays, as Chicago is overrun with violence, as Americans struggle to
put
[[Page S6087]]
food on the table, Mubarak and his family dine on caviar and champagne.
As Mubarak flew to Europe for weekends on his jet and lived the life of
a king, his people rotted in jail indefinitely, without charge, without
trial. They have been living under martial law for 30 years. We wonder
why they are unhappy with us. We have been financing the guy who has
been giving them martial law and indefinite detention without trial for
30 years. To add insult to injury, when they protest against their
government, they are doused with tear gas made in our country.
Foreign aid doesn't go to foreign people; it goes to foreign despots
and dictators.
The President claims he feels our pain. The President says he can
feel the pain and he wants to help the middle class. But it seems as
though he wants and intends to help foreign people, foreign countries
more than he wants to help America. The President promised us hope and
change, but the more he claims that things change, I think the more
they stay the same.
I wanted to believe the President would be different. I wanted to
believe he would bring change. I wanted to believe he would stand up to
the arms race, to the military industrial complex; that he would stop
the flow of arms to despots and dictators across the planet. But hope
and change just turned out to be a slogan. In Detroit and in Chicago
and in the once great cities of America, no change came. Hope and
change was just a slogan. The poverty, the murders, the abysmal
schools, they continue.
Where are you, Mr. President? In our hour of need in our country, why
are you sending our money to people who hate us? Why are you sending
arms to countries that don't like us or our allies? Why would we do
that?
The President maintains he will end the war in Afghanistan, and I
support him. But he insists on fighting new wars, secretly, without
congressional approval, in Libya and Syria. While Detroit decays and
descends into bankruptcy, the President, as did so many Republicans
before him, continues to send American tax dollars overseas to
countries that persecute and kill Christians. Hope and change--I guess
it was just a slogan.
The law clearly states that when there is a military coup overturning
elected government, the military aid must end. Even the President
doesn't dispute the law. He doesn't even dispute it is a coup. He just
says, I am not going to say it is not a coup or it is a coup; you can't
make me. It is ridiculous to any intelligent person or country--and I
wonder if anyone on the other side will stand and say it is not a coup.
How do we say, when the military takes over a country and boots out a
government, that it is not a coup? Only a fool or a demagog would
attempt to argue that the military junta in Egypt is not a coup; that
the military takeover that actually installed the lead general as
Deputy Primary Minister is somehow not a coup.
Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, will the Senator yield for a unanimous
consent request?
Mr. PAUL. Not yet.
In a remarkable bit of sophistry, the President admits the law does
not mandate an end to military aid when a coup takes place--he says it
does, but he says it can't make him decide, so he is not going to
decide whether there was a coup. What it is, is brazen and open
flouting of the law.
The President's argument reminds me of a third grader at recess. A
third grader says he will not call it a coup and you can't make him.
That is absurd. We passed a law. It is the law of the land. It says if
a coup happens, if the military takes over or participates in a
substantial way in removing an elected government, the military aid
ends. We are either a nation of laws or we are not.
When the President refuses to acknowledge it is a coup or that it is
not yet an acknowledged coup, he says the aid is going on indefinitely
and he will go on indefinitely flouting the law.
Americans should be outraged and insulted by such blatant shirking of
the law. Either we are a nation of laws or we are not. Will we obey the
law?
We have the presumption to tell the world how to behave, to criticize
Egypt for not obeying the rule of law--all legitimate concerns. Yet the
President blithely ignores our own law. If we choose to ignore our own
laws, can we, with a straight face, preach to the rest of the world
about the rule of law? I think by openly flouting our own laws we take
away from our ability to lead the world, we take away from our moral
authority to show the right way. America has always been the leader by
example. But how do we lead by example when we are not willing to obey
our own laws?
There is a question: Are we a monarchy or a republic? Are we to be
ruled by caprice? If we pick and choose which laws to obey, what
message does that send?
I say to all Americans--Democrats, Independents, and Republicans--
enough is enough. We aren't going to take it anymore. We should call
our representatives and tell them enough already. Tell them to take
care of our country. Tell them not one penny more to countries that are
burning our flag.
I suggest today we do something historic and listen to the American
people. The American people don't want good money after bad shoveled
and sent overseas; they want to fix some of the problems we have at
home. They want to do some Nation building here at home.
My amendment will give our representatives a chance to vote. We are
going to say: Yes, we will obey the law. We are not sending any more
weapons to Egypt and we are going to take the money and we are going to
build some bridges in our country. We are going to repair some roads.
We are going to work on some infrastructure here at home.
Everybody seems to say they are for it. In fact, the President has
now come out and said he wants some grand bargain to take some new
money and actually work on infrastructure. Mr. President, it is right
here. I am offering it today.
I have another amendment that would say all foreign profit can come
home at 5 percent. We can take that revenue and build new bridges. They
will not even let me vote on that one. So the President's grand bargain
to increase infrastructure spending--I have it. It is on the floor.
Mr. President, call the leadership of the Senate. Tell them it is on
the floor and you support this; that you want infrastructure spending.
I have a bill that would do precisely that. This amendment will do a
little bit in that direction. Take the $1 billion we spend in Egypt and
spend it in America.
When we see the pictures on the news of what is going on in Detroit--
if you live in Detroit and you are suffering through the bankruptcy of
your city; if you see around you the chaos and poverty of Detroit, you
call the President and say: Mr. President, why are you sending that
money to Egypt? Why are you sending money overseas when our Nation is
crumbling, our cities are crumbling, our infrastructure is crumbling,
our bridges are crumbling? The President says: I am going to send that
to Egypt. I am going to send that overseas.
This amendment will give everyone a chance to put their money where
their mouth is, to say: Do you care about America? Do you care about
repairing American infrastructure or do you care more about sending
money to a dictatorship in Egypt? I think the choice is clear. I think,
if we ask the American people, three-fourths or more of them--I think
maybe nearly 100 percent of the American people--are with me. Let's
spend that money at home. Let's not send that money overseas to people
who hate us, to people who burn our flag. Keep it at home.
There is a finite amount of money. We can't do everything. We can't
fix everything if we have to fix everybody else's problems first. Let's
address some of the needs we have at home.
I encourage a ``yes'' vote, to vote to keep the money at home and not
to send it overseas.
I reserve the remainder of my time.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Oklahoma.
Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, regretfully, I am going to oppose this
amendment. I am going to have to cover some points which my good friend
from Kentucky made that I think are totally wrong.
First of all, I don't agree we need to be going up there with Federal
dollars bailing out cities that are having problems. Of course, that is
a decision that
[[Page S6088]]
is going to be made, I suppose, by a lot of people.
Also, the Senator from Kentucky talks about sending billions of
dollars overseas. I agree with my colleague from Kentucky about some of
the foreign aid and I would join with him but certainly not in this
case. Before I tell my colleagues why, let me clarify something. There
are Members of this body and people outside this body who are
conservatives believing this is some kind of a conservative program to
defund the military in Egypt. Let me assure my colleagues it is not.
This is coming from a person who is probably--in fact, I am certain of
it. I have been ranked as the most conservative Member of this body
more than any other single person. So this is coming from a
conservative, not from a liberal and not from a Democrat.
We have a unique situation. I wish to respond to a couple of things
my friend from Kentucky said. First of all, yes, it probably fits the
description of a coup. I know what the law is. The law says we can't
send foreign aid after a coup. I have a bill drawn up right now that if
this is determined to be a coup, it could pass the House and the Senate
and be signed by the President in 1 day. So that is something that can
be done. I have the best of intentions of obeying the law to the
letter.
As far as the situation in Egypt, Morsi is gone. Let's face that
reality. There are a lot of things we don't like about this. But I will
say this: If you have any feelings at all toward our good friends, our
best friends in the Middle East--that is Israel--then you cannot
consider this amendment. Israel has all of the interests at stake.
It goes back to 1979, the Camp David accords. I remember that very
well. The Camp David accords put together something between Israel and
Egypt. But keep in mind, it is not Egypt. It is the military, the
Egyptian military. They have been our friends. They have been Israel's
friends for years and years and years--since 1979. If we turn our backs
on the military now, there are others who would love to fill that
vacuum.
Should they have F-16s? I am glad they have F-16s. They ought to have
more F-16s. Some have been purchased and not delivered yet. They should
be delivered. But if it is not going to be F-16s, if we should pass an
amendment like this, you are going to find yourself with a bunch of
MiG-29s coming over from Russia instead of our F-16s.
If this were 10 years ago, if this were 15 years ago, I might agree
with my friend from Kentucky. But that was before we realized the
threats we have in the Middle East. We have some friends in the Middle
East. We have Israel. We have Jordan. We have Kuwait, U.A.E., Qatar,
Saudi Arabia. If that coalition of friends in the Middle East breaks
up, what can happen to us here in America? Our intelligence has said--
and it is unclassified since 2007--that Iran will have the capability
of a weapon and a delivery system by 2015. If we do not have our
friends in the Middle East to keep that from happening, we could pass
an amendment like this, turn our backs on Israel, and that is exactly
the thing that could happen.
I know a lot of people want to talk on this who are a lot more
articulate than I am. But I can say from a conservative--from this
conservative--we cannot do this to our friends in Israel and our other
allies in the Middle East.
Mr. CORKER addressed the Chair.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Tennessee is----
Mr. CORKER. I want to go in the appropriate order. I see the chairman
of the committee. I would like 5 minutes at some point. But does the
Senator want to go ahead?
Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. President, what is the parliamentary situation? I
understand the opponents of this amendment have 30 minutes; is that
correct?
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator is correct. The Senator
from Oklahoma has used 5 minutes of the time in opposition.
Mr. MENENDEZ. Then I ask unanimous consent that as the chair of the
Senate Foreign Relations Committee I control the remainder of the time.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so
ordered.
The Senator from New Jersey is recognized.
Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. President, I----
Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, will the Senator respond to a question?
How is the time going to be allocated?
Mr. MENENDEZ. Yes. It is my intention to consume about 8 minutes
approximately, to yield Senator McCain 6 minutes, Senator Graham 6
minutes, and Senator Corker 5 minutes.
Mr. CORKER. Perfect.
Mr. MENENDEZ. That should take the remainder of our time.
Mr. President, this amendment may be good politics but it is bad
policy. I appreciate the concern of the Senator from Kentucky for
Detroit. He and others in this Chamber have had plenty of times to vote
for America's cities, but I have not seen those votes be there.
Nothing in this amendment, notwithstanding what we heard, suggests
that cutting all aid to Egypt ultimately means putting that money into
the cities of America, such as Detroit. So let's not be mistaken about
that.
I share many of the concerns that have been raised by my colleague
today about the situation in Egypt. I believe, however, halting all
military assistance to Egypt at this time is misguided and it is
shortsighted. It would drastically reduce U.S. influence with both the
interim government of Egypt and the military at an incredibly delicate
time for Egypt and its people. And in so doing, it may in fact
undermine our shared goals and desire to see elections and a
democratically elected government reestablished in Egypt as quickly as
possible.
It has been just a little more than 2 years since the onset of the
Arab spring and a revolution in Egypt that unseated Hosni Mubarak after
two decades in power. During these tumultuous 2 years, Egypt has
struggled as a society with the transition to democracy that its people
clearly want, and with efforts to create the economic opportunities
that its people clearly need. That struggle is real and ongoing.
The demonstrations that ousted Mubarak in a clear military coup were
unprecedented--until they were eclipsed by demonstrations this summer
which drew as much as a third of Egypt's population of 83 million
people onto its streets. That is more than 30 million people who have
been emboldened by the revolution, who are united in their call for
reform and democracy, and who have embraced their ability and right to
peaceful protests and to demand change.
If you think about it, a comparable protest in the United States
involving a third of our Nation would mean that 100 million Americans
would be on the streets of the cities of America. That is the
equivalent of what has been happening in Egypt.
So my point is that Egypt is changing but perhaps not as quickly as
we would like and with a process that has been, not surprisingly,
pretty chaotic.
Abandoning our diplomacy and engagement with Egypt--a country that
sits at the heart of the Middle East--because the road that leads to
change is not straight or certain would be naive. It might make us feel
good, at least for a moment, but in the long run it would threaten to
undermine vital national security interests and set back our values.
Making such a significant change to U.S. foreign policy--with all the
potential implications for U.S. national security and for our ally
Israel--should not be done in haste. It should not be done carelessly
or thoughtlessly. It should not be done without a full understanding of
all of the ramifications of such a change. And it certainly should not
be tacked onto the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development
appropriations bill. It is far too important a decision to be an
afterthought to an appropriations bill. In my view, it is ill-advised
to make foreign policy on the fly without due consideration of all of
the consequences.
I would point out that my friend from Kentucky has introduced an
identical bill that has been referred to the Foreign Relations
Committee. Last Thursday the committee held its first extensive hearing
on the crisis in Egypt. I can assure my friend from Kentucky that the
committee will continue to work on this issue and to look at
appropriate policy options through a deliberative process.
We need time to determine whether the process underway in Egypt will
meet the demands of the Egyptian people and lead back to democracy or
if
[[Page S6089]]
the military leadership will dig in further and thereby invoke
restrictions in U.S. law with respect to assistance. Our patience is
not unlimited and our assistance is not without limitations. The
administration is already actively reviewing U.S. assistance.
The delivery of four new F-16 aircraft that was to occur last week
was halted by the administration, clearly sensitive to the situation.
At the end of the day we should allow for flexibility to deal with this
delicate situation as events dictate, not precipitate an unwanted
response with a knee-jerk reaction rather than deliberative reflection.
The administration has a process to make its decisions.
I would say this is about--as I listen to the Senator from Kentucky--
far more than Egypt. He basically opposes all foreign assistance
abroad. The reality is that foreign assistance abroad has worked for
the national interests and security of the United States. It has saved
millions of lives through PEPFAR against AIDS and HIV. It has helped
strengthen democracies. It has helped create democracies. It has helped
create open markets for American products and services. As a matter of
fact, these sales to Egypt--about $1.2 billion--are largely from the
manufacture of equipment here in the United States that creates jobs
here at home and then ultimately gets used in Egypt.
We need a more nuanced approach, one that speaks to both our values
and our interests, and one which provides the President with the
flexibility needed to conduct delicate and discriminating policy in a
challenging and chaotic environment.
A quick end to aid at this time--meat-clever approach, when a scalpel
is needed--is simply ill-advised.
Last week Ambassador Dennis Ross, whose reputation and experience as
a diplomat, Presidential adviser on the Middle East, and author, has
made him one of the Nation's most respected foreign policy minds on
both sides of the aisle, told the Foreign Relations Committee it is
imperative that America ``stay in the game.'' We cannot and should not
pull out now. Ending aid to Egypt would only cause Egyptians to shut
the United States out of discussions and disregard our advice.
Ambassador Ross also said that such an action could be the only thing
to unite all Egyptians across the entire political spectrum against the
United States--against the United States. In fact, that opinion was
shared by the majority panelists who feared our inability to influence
events in Egypt if we were to step out of the game.
In the interim, as we further assess the situation, our response and
our policy must be carefully calibrated to press for the democratic
reforms that the Egyptian people have demanded and--simultaneously--
support U.S. national security interests in the region.
U.S. assistance to Egypt has, for decades, helped support the Camp
David Accords. It also supports our security interests in countering
trafficking of weapons and people into the Sinai, and in antiterrorism
cooperation with the United States.
In recent weeks, Egypt's military has launched a major crackdown on
terrorist activity and extremists in the Sinai Peninsula, carrying out
arrests and attempting to seal smuggling tunnels connecting the Sinai
to Gaza. U.S. cooperation is essential to the continuation of these
activities.
Let me conclude by saying, at the end of the day, Egyptian leaders
and the Egyptian military must show that they are committed to an
inclusive political process, credible democratic elections, and
democratic governance that protects the rights of religious minorities,
women, civil society leaders, and a diversity of political parties.
That includes, from my perspective, vacating the June 4 verdicts for
the 43 individuals convicted in the politically motivated trial of
nongovernmental organization workers, including 16 Americans, and
permitting civil society organizations to reopen their offices and
operate freely. It also clearly means an immediate cessation of arrests
and use of force against peaceful protestors.
Steps that exacerbate the divide in Egyptian society, including the
use of force against protestors and arrests and harassment of pro-Morsi
and Muslim Brotherhood leaders, serve only to deepen the chasm and
forestall reconciliation.
The only way forward to a pluralistic, vibrant, and stable democracy
lies in the inclusion of all political parties and groups, as long as
they are committed to a democratic process and to peaceful change.
The United States has to move cautiously, not precipitously, in this
delicate situation. The Paul amendment is not the answer when it comes
to our future relationship with Egypt. The future of that relationship
will be determined by our actions in the coming weeks.
Whether we will have a stable and willing partner on crucial matters
of security, combating terrorism, trafficking of weapons and persons
into the Sinai, and support for peace in the Middle East is up to us or
we can stand aside and hope for the best. I think abandoning Egypt is a
particularly poor choice. That is why I oppose the amendment and urge
my colleagues to do the same.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The majority leader is recognized.
Mr. REID. Mr. President, I have a couple unanimous consent requests.
I would also say this: This is an important debate, and I ask unanimous
consent that--on the floor now we have Corker, we have McCain and
Graham--I ask unanimous consent that if they use more than the allotted
time here they be allowed to use that, and whatever time goes over that
allotted time we have in the existing order would also be given to
Senator Paul.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Is there objection?
Without objection, it is so ordered.
Unanimous Consent Agreement--Executive Calendar
Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that at 1 p.m.
today, the Senate proceed to executive session to consider Calendar No.
201, Todd Jones, to be Director of ATF; that there be 1 hour for debate
equally divided in the usual form prior to a vote on cloture on the
nomination; that if cloture is invoked, all postcloture time be deemed
expired and the Senate proceed to vote on the confirmation, with no
intervening action or debate, the motions to reconsider be considered
made and laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate;
that no further motions be in order to the nomination; that any related
statements be printed in the Record; that the President be immediately
notified of the Senate's action and the Senate then resume legislative
session
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Is there objection?
Without objection, it is so ordered.
Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that upon
disposition of the Paul amendment, the Senate recess until 1 p.m.
today; further, that the filing deadline for first-degree amendments to
S. 1243, the transportation bill, be 1:30 p.m. today; finally, that
when the Senate resumes legislative session following consideration of
the Jones nomination, the Senate proceed to a period of morning
business for 1 hour equally divided between the two leaders or their
designees, with Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each,
with the exception of Senator Inhofe, who is to be recognized for up to
30 minutes; that following the period of morning business, the Senate
proceed to executive session to consider the Power nomination under the
previous order.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Is there objection?
Without objection, it is so ordered.
Mr. REID. Mr. President, what this means is we will vote on the Paul
amendment, give or take, in a half-hour, at around 11 o'clock, or
shortly thereafter, whatever time the order allows, and we will then
recess until 1 p.m. Then we will have the debate on the Jones
nomination from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., then the cloture vote at 2 p.m. If
cloture is invoked, we will immediately vote on confirmation. We could
have two votes at 2 p.m. We will have morning business from around 2:45
p.m. to 3:45 p.m., and then the Power nomination--to be U.N.
Ambassador--debate from about 3:45 p.m. to 5:45 p.m., and then the vote
on confirmation at around 5:45 p.m.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from New Jersey.
Mr. MENENDEZ. I yield to the distinguished ranking member of the
Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Corker.
Mr. CORKER. I will be brief. I know that time may be extended. But
let me
[[Page S6090]]
start by saying I understand how citizens across our country are
frustrated. Our country has gone through financial distress. We have
economic issues that are impacting people of all walks of life. I know
as they look at what is happening around the world, there is
frustration, generally speaking, with issues relative to foreign aid. I
understand that.
I also understand we are a nation of laws. We have had an event in
Egypt which is going to cause us to have to deal with that. I think we
can deal with that in due time and live up to the laws of this Nation.
I also understand, though, that we are the greatest Nation on the face
of the Earth. One of the reasons we are the greatest Nation is because
of the values we extend around the world and the fact that we have been
a voice of calm.
We have been a country that has tried to continue to engender peace.
I know the Senator from Kentucky and I share Fort Campbell, a place
where some of our most outstanding fighting men and women are based. I
know the Senator understands that much of what we do with foreign aid
is to try to keep those men and women off the battlefield and in
training. We do that to try to keep peace and to keep those men and
women who protect our country from having to go to war.
The distinguished Senator from New Jersey just talked about the
importance of Egypt. From the very beginning, when this all began just
within the last month or 6 weeks, I have believed that the
administration, candidly, has handled this well; that our Nation should
be the voice of calmness. We should try to be the steady hand that
allows this transition to occur in the right way.
At the same time, we should push them toward democracy. I think that
is exactly what we are doing. We have had a debate throughout this week
in our lunch sessions among Republicans. I know the Senator from
Kentucky has made it clear that the poll numbers indicate we should cut
off foreign aid. I want to say that we have tremendous responsibilities
as Senators. One of the responsibilities we have, no doubt, is to
represent our citizens.
On the other hand, we know that sometimes we understand that we
should sell to the citizens the reasons that we do the things we do on
this floor. I think most people in this body understand that just on a
THUD bill, having an amendment that cuts off aid to Egypt is not a
thoughtful process as it relates to foreign aid.
My appeal today is really not to my friends on the other side of the
aisle, although I am sure some of them are contemplating what to do.
But my appeal is to my friends on this side of the aisle. I have talked
to many of them in private. I think many of them know this is terrible
public policy.
No doubt, without us explaining to the American people why we should
not jerk the rug out from under Egypt as they go through this
transition; no doubt, without us sharing the importance of that, the
American people are going to look at aid to Egypt and see what is
happening there and say: No, let's take that money and let's do
something else. I think most people on this side of the aisle
understand that is terrible public policy. I think most people on this
side of the aisle want to stand and to be thoughtful Senators and do
not want to have a poll-tested foreign policy.
We are going to have plenty of time to debate this issue in
September. I think all of us know a lot is going to be happening during
the recess. We have two Senators who are traveling to Egypt over the
weekend to look at what is occurring there. I am going to be in the
area in a few weeks.
It seems to me, as the greatest Nation on the face of the Earth,
instead of having some poll-tested amendment that may play well in the
short term, what we should do as Senators is be thoughtful, understand
the greatness of this Nation, understand the millions of lives and
livelihoods that are at stake in us being a calm hand in Egypt,
understanding the impact that this is going to have on people all
around the world and certainly our standing in the world, but our
continued ability to help promote human rights, promote democracy,
promote peace, promote calm.
So I would just urge the Senators on our side of the aisle, we have
these things that come up, and we certainly have groups who come forth.
I think all of us understand that is a big vote. This is a vote that
says a lot about who we are as Senators. This is a vote that gives us
an opportunity to step away from those short-term, hot, poll-tested
amendments that have nothing to do with furthering the greatness of
this Nation.
I would urge everybody in this body to stand, to be Senators, and to
do what we know is the right thing to do; that is, to be calm, to
address this issue as we should in the right way this September when
all of us have more information to deal with this issue.
I thank the Presiding Officer for the opportunity to speak. I hope
this body will rise and conduct themselves as the Senate should on
issues of this importance. I thank the chairman for the time.
I yield the floor.
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Ms. Hirono). The Senator from New Jersey.
Mr. MENENDEZ. I yield 3 minutes to the Senator from Florida.
Mr. RUBIO. Madam President, let me just say briefly that I have
gotten a lot of calls about Egypt as well. Look, I understand it. We
look at what is happening over there, we look at some of the wild
things that are happening in the streets, certainly tragedies as well.
We see the oppression of religious minorities, and we wonder: Why do we
continue to give aid to a country that does that? I think that is a
very important question.
I think the problem we face is we in this place are sometimes put
into a position between two absolutes, when there are other options
available to us. The choice before us is not to cut off aid to Egypt or
to continue aid to Egypt. I think the opportunity we have now is to
restructure aid to Egypt in a way that furthers our national interest.
What is our national interest in Egypt? Our national interest is to
have a secular, stable, democratic government that provides security so
their economy can grow, a government that lives up to the Camp David
Accords, that cooperates in counterterrorism, that prevents
discrimination to religious minorities. Our foreign aid should be
restructured--not simply canceled but restructured--so that it fits and
fills that aim that we have for that country and for our national
security interests in that country. That means we should restructure
our foreign aid, not simply eliminate it but go back to the Egyptians
and say: If you want to continue to get foreign aid from the United
States, you are going to have to show measurable improvement on these
four things: You are going to show us how you are protecting religious
minorities; you are going to have to show us how you are advancing
toward democracy and stability. You are going to have to show how you
are doing these things. That needs to be measured. If they stop doing
it, the aid stops coming.
I would also say regarding restructuring the aid that the aid should
be geared toward what they need. They probably do not need that many
for more F-16s. What they need is more capacity building for internal
security. What they need is more capacity building to live up to the
Camp David Accords. That is what they need. Our aid should be aimed
toward that.
I also think it is a mistake to just say we are eliminating aid
completely because if we eliminate aid completely, we lose leverage.
They are still going to buy weapons. They will just not get them from
us and our influence will be diminished.
So I think there is a third way. I think what has happened in Egypt
is a unique opportunity to restructure--not to cancel but to
restructure--and reframe our relationship with Egypt. If they do
certain things, they will continue to get aid. If they move toward
certain goals that are in our national interest, they will continue to
get aid. They will continue to get aid that helps them meet these
goals, not simply anything they ask for.
This is the opportunity we have now. This should be done in a
thoughtful and careful way. I hope that is the direction the body will
move. I think to simply cancel aid without putting these other
conditions in place is a missed opportunity from which we should not
walk away.
So I would say to our colleagues, let's not simply cut off aid. Let's
take
[[Page S6091]]
the time to work so that we can restructure aid with Egypt in a way
that furthers our national security interests: a secular, democratic
government that lives up to the Camp David Accords, that cooperates in
counterterrorism, that respects religious minorities, and that provides
the internal security they need to create the economic growth they need
so that they can be stable now and in the future and be a partner of
ours.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The majority leader.
Order of Procedure
Mr. REID. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the period
for morning business following the consideration of the Jones
nomination be extended by 40 minutes, with the additional time being
equally divided between the two leaders or their designees, with
Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each, with the
exception of Senator Inhofe for 30 minutes and Senator McCain for 20
minutes.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The Senator from New Jersey.
Mr. MENENDEZ. Madam President, I yield to the Senator from South
Carolina.
Mr. GRAHAM. I thank the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee.
First, I would like to associate myself with the remarks of the Senator
from Florida. Now is the time to be creative with our assistance to
Egypt to try to change things while there is still hope of things
changing in a positive direction.
I certainly understand. Why should we be selling F-16s to people who
behave this way? The administration has put on hold the four F-16s that
were due to be delivered to Egypt, trying to find out what is going to
happen next. That makes sense to me. But why are we selling weapons to
Egypt? It is because if we do not, someone else will. I want them to
have F-16s and come to our pilot training bases. I want Egyptian
officers to come to our military training academies. I want a
relationship with the Egyptian military that can be beneficial to our
national security interests. I want the people who build F-16s in
America to get the business from Egypt to get some of our money back.
If they buy MIGs or Mirages we lose that. It is not a question of if
they are going to buy fighter planes; it is a question of who they are
going to buy them from. We have every right to withhold sales. We have
every right to put them on hold temporarily. But to just sever this
relationship now would be a huge mistake.
In fairness to Senator Paul, he says we would resume aid once they
get their act together and move back toward democracy. I think that is
something worth noting. That is an understanding on his part that he is
looking for an outcome that we can be more supportive of. The
difference I have is that if we cut off aid now, then I cannot tell you
the consequences of what that would mean in terms of moving in the
direction we would all like.
Unintended consequences to the decision jump out pretty clearly in my
mind, and most of them are bad. Is it a coup? It certainly looks like
one. It certainly sounds like one. But at the end of the day, if we are
moving toward democracy and the military steps back and democratically
elected leaders take over, I think that is the goal for all of us.
I wish we did not live in a world like we do. I wish things were
easier. I wish the Arab Spring had been more successful. But the one
thing I can say is that what happens in Egypt really does matter to us.
If the largest country in the Arab world, the heart of the Arab world,
Egypt, becomes a failed state, I promise you it will affect our
national security interests for decades to come. It would be a
nightmare for Israel, and it would take the whole region down a path
that would be at best chaotic.
Can we prevent a failed state in Egypt? I think we can. I don't know
for sure what is going to happen, but I do know this: If America does
not try, if we do not stay engaged and shape history rather than
observe it, we will pay a heavy price as a nation. So part of this
amendment takes money that would be going to the Egyptian military and
puts it on projects in the United States. I think one is a bridge in
Kentucky. I have no doubt that there is a need for bridges in Kentucky
and South Carolina. I would love to get my port deepened.
But to the people of Kentucky and to the people of South Carolina, if
we stop the 1 percent of our budget--it is $50 billion. That is no
small sum. But if we cancelled it all out and just left $3 billion for
Israel--it seems everybody likes that idea. If we had $3 billion to
spend on affecting the world, is that smart?
How much of the debt would be retired if we canceled all foreign aid
and brought it back into the United States? Not a whole lot. But here
is what I believe would happen. If America withdrew our foreign
assistance, a lot of bad things would happen to us. Having a say,
having influence in a world that is increasingly dangerous seems to me
to be a good idea. I am tired of having to resort to the military as
the only solution to affect things.
The people in Egypt, the government particularly, wants a
relationship with us. They have to earn it, as Senator Rubio said. But
to cut off our relationship with Egypt at this critical time, I think,
would be extremely ill-advised, and the consequences to the people of
Kentucky and South Carolina and every other State in the Union would be
significant.
To my colleagues, when you cast your vote today about pausing, not
terminating aid, but trying to reconstruct aid, I don't know how that
fits in a 30-second sound bite. It is probably easier to explain the
``no'' vote than it is a ``yes'' vote. But I do know this: Your country
would be well served if you decide today to pause and wait to find out
the right answer in Egypt.
I do know this: If Egypt goes, the entire region blows up. The
biggest fear I have is radical Islamists are closer to getting nuclear
weapons and chemical weapons than any time in my lifetime. If Egypt
becomes a failed state, that is one more problem for us to have to deal
with, rather than focusing on the Iranian efforts to march toward a
nuclear weapon.
Radical Islam has not forgotten about us. The question for us is have
we forgotten about radical Islam. If we wish to stop this march in the
Middle East of radical Islam getting stronger and stronger and
stronger, let's try to hang on to our relationship with Egypt. If it
becomes a failed state, and the Sinai becomes one of the great safe
havens for terrorist groups--and the Egyptian Army, to their credit, is
now involved with the Sinai--the cataclysmic effect of a failed state
in Egypt would be the biggest boost to radical Islam I could think of.
It would do a lot of damage to our national security and our best
friend in the region, Israel.
I have a letter from our APAC. I asked them to comment on this. They
state:
Dear Senators Menendez and Corker:
We are writing to express our concerns over the Paul
amendment to the Transportation/HUD Appropriations bill that
would eliminate military assistance and sales to Egypt. We do
not support cutting off all assistance to Egypt at this time,
as we believe it could increase the instability in Egypt and
undermine important U.S. interests and negatively impact our
Israeli ally.
As you know, Egypt is the largest Arab state in the Middle
East and has played a vital role in advancing key U.S.
interests in that region. Citing just two examples, the
government of Egypt has maintained the peace with Israel and
is taking important steps to address the instability in the
Sinai. Events in Egypt are rapidly evolving, and we believe
that for now the United States should avoid taking any
precipitous actions against Egypt such as cutting off all
assistance. We look forward to continuing to work with you on
these critical issues.
One final thought: Maybe one day I will agree with Senator Paul in
saying we have to sever our ties with the Egyptian military and the
Egyptian people. Maybe one day I will come and cosponsor the Senator's
amendment or maybe come up with one of my own.
I can tell you if that day ever comes, it will be one of the saddest
days of my life because that would mean Egypt is gone. If Egypt is
gone, all hell is going to break loose.
Mr. MENENDEZ. I yield to the distinguished Senator from Arizona, a
member of the committee, Mr. McCain.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Arizona.
Mr. McCAIN. May I ask the time situation?
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under the previous order, the Senator from
Arizona has unlimited time.
[[Page S6092]]
Mr. McCAIN. Does the Senator from Kentucky wish to respond?
Mr. PAUL. Go ahead.
Mr. McCAIN. Madam President, I think it is important in the context
of this amendment on the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development
bill that we put into focus what this amendment is really affecting. It
is affecting the most important nation in the Arab world, the heart and
soul of the Arab world, Egypt. All countries in the Middle East are
important, but Egypt is the most important.
In Egypt today there are demonstrations, there are scores of people
being killed, hundreds being wounded. This Friday, only 2 days from
now, after prayers, there are predictions that there could be even more
carnage that will take place as a result of the pro-Morsi people taking
to the streets of Cairo and other cities throughout Egypt.
I think we ought to consider this amendment in the context of what is
happening in arguably the most important nation in the Arab world.
Should we ask ourselves that at this point without adequate hearings,
without adequate discussion, without input from the administration, as
well as the oversight responsibilities by the Foreign Relations
Committee, the Appropriations Committee, the Armed Services Committee,
all of whom, chairmen and ranking members, are opposed to this
amendment?
First, I caution against a rush to judgment on this issue. It
requires, frankly, more than 1 hour equally divided of debate on the
floor of the Senate.
I would also like to point out this amendment is part of a larger
debate that has been going on in the Republican Party for well over a
century. Prior to World War I, there was the isolationist wing of our
party. After World War I in the 1930s, there were the America Firsters.
After World War II, there was the Eisenhower wing of our party and the
Taft wing. The debate has gone on for the heart and soul of the
Republican Party.
This debate and this amendment that is posed by my friend from
Kentucky is part of that overall debate as to what the role of the
United States should be in the world. Should we take our money from
Egypt and give it to build a bridge in Kentucky? Should we take our
foreign aid and cut it to the point to where we no longer have
influence in these countries throughout the world and spend it on much
needed projects that are the result of a very ailing and still serious
recession in which we still remain?
I think the vote on this amendment has even larger implications than
that of whether we should cut off all assistance to Egypt. By the way,
my friends, I don't think it is an accident that APAC, our friends
there who represent the interests of the State of Israel, have opposed
this amendment. If there is further upheaval in the Sinai, and if there
is a collapse of the rule of law in Egypt, I don't think there is any
doubt that the threat to Israel is dramatically increased.
I made it clear, and so has my friend from South Carolina, that it
was a coup. It was a coup and our law calls for that. But that is an
implementation of a law that needs to be done in a way that is in
consultation with the Foreign Relations Committee, the Appropriations
Committee, and, in fact, all Members of the Senate.
I think it is important for us to send a message to Egypt that we are
not abandoning them, but what we are doing is trying to caution them to
try to modify their behavior, to tell General Aziz that he has to have
an inclusive government, he has to allow the Muslim Brotherhood to
partake in the upcoming elections, and the Muslim Brotherhood has to be
told that they have to renounce violence.
Right now Egypt is spiraling down into a situation of chaos, which I
can promise my colleagues will sooner or later pose a threat to our
vital national security interests. The most important nation in the
Arab world descending into chaos is going to be a threat to the United
States of America.
I urge my colleagues--and I urge my friend from Kentucky, with
respect--to realize this amendment would send the wrong message at the
wrong time. It may be coincidental, but this Friday is going to be an
important day in Egypt. Should we be sending the message to the
Egyptians: OK, you are on your own?
Yes, other countries in the region are contributing enormously to the
Egyptians without conditions. But the support or condemnation of the
United States of America, the best, most free, and still most
influential Nation in the world, is of vital importance. At this time,
I think it would be a terrific mistake for the United States to send
the message to Egypt: You are on your own.
I hope we understand that it is not about U.S. foreign assistance; it
is about what serves our interests and our values. This, my friends, is
a debate that we need to have over the weeks, months, and years ahead
in, probably, one of the best places to have that debate.
I urge my colleagues, no matter how they feel about assistance to
Egypt, that we are committed. I urge them to appreciate that we are
committed to a long debate about this issue.
I have confidence in the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee
that we will be addressing this issue seriously. The Senator from
Kentucky is a member and would certainly take part.
I urge my colleagues to understand that an amendment on the
Transportation, Housing and Urban Development-led appropriations bill
is not the venue. We need to have this debate not only about Egypt but
America's role in the world. I look forward to joining him, but today
is not the day to take a step that could have repercussions over time
that will damage the vital national security interests of the United
States.
I urge my colleagues to vote to table the Paul amendment.
I yield.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Kentucky is recognized.
Mr. PAUL. This is exactly, precisely the time it should come up
because on the infrastructure bill that we are looking at, this gives
Americans the chance to show great contrast. Do you want to do nation
building overseas or do you want to do nation building at home? Do you
want to spend billions of dollars in Egypt or would you rather build
some roads at home?
I think it provides a perfect contrast. In fact, there couldn't be a
better place to have a discussion on this issue.
We always hear a lot of empty thoughts and empty promises: Oh, we
will do this in committee. We will do this.
They don't want this debate. I have been fighting tooth and nail
against Members of my own party to get to this debate, to bring it to
the floor, to bring it to the American people.
Let's be very clear about what the amendment does. It halts military
aid until they have an election. It is just obeying the law.
Let's be very clear. Maybe we should do a summary of what their
arguments are. This is a summary of their arguments: They love sending
American money overseas so much that they don't mind breaking the law.
I didn't hear one of them explain how they are going to adhere to the
law. The law says military aid ends when there is a coup. The President
says you can't make him say there is a coup. There probably is a coup,
but he is never going to say it, and he is never going to adjudicate
it. Who is going to adjudicate whether there is a coup?
This is about temporarily halting aid. Some people rise and say: Oh,
we will be closed out, and they will buy their weapons someplace else.
They don't have any money. We give them the money to buy our weapons.
Some have said they want to promote democracy. Well, there is an
exemption. You can spend as much money on democracy promotion.
Mr. McCAIN. Will the Senator yield for a question?
Mr. PAUL. Not now.
The thing is, we have to understand what this is about. We have to
understand this is about a temporary halting of buying weapons. People
say: Well, if we don't give them planes, we don't pay them to buy our
planes, they will think we don't like them. They will go to war with
Israel and everything will be so much worse.
They have hundreds of F-16s. They have thousands of tanks. I am
precisely worried about them using them against Israel when there is
chaos and blood running in the streets, when there are millions of
people protesting.
[[Page S6093]]
Do you think it is a good time to send more weapons? Do you think it
is a good time to send more weapons when millions of people are in the
streets?
What happens if these weapons are used against Israel? The canard of
bringing the letter--it always happens. Someone brings in a letter. I
have spoken to many people who love, respect, and have a great deal of
admiration for Israel. I admire our relationship and alliance and am
very proud of the fact that we stand together on so many issues. To
bring it up and say the people who are against this don't care about
Israel is just a canard.
I think this precisely--continuing to arm an unstable government in
Egypt--could well be to Israel's harm. This is precisely why I bring
this amendment forward.
Also, it needs to be clear for the record that everyone who has come
forward together to send more of your money overseas, to send good
money after bad, every one of them was for sending it to the Muslim
Brotherhood. We hear them talking about Islamic jihadists and how they
are worried about them. No, they are not. They were for funding the
Islamic jihadists. They were for funding the Muslim Brotherhood just
months ago.
I have had this vote before. I voted to cut off aid to the Muslim
Brotherhood also. I have produced an amendment. They all voted against
it then because we were going to do this on a more rational, reasonable
pace someday, somewhere, in some fictitious committee. No, we are not.
They want the money to continue. It doesn't go to the Egyptian people.
It doesn't buy good will. It buys ill will. Do you know what the money
is spent on? Tanks. Tanks roll over people in protest.
I have no love lost for the Muslim Brotherhood, but they have
disappeared them. We are going to be giving money to the military that
is disappearing people. No one has heard from President Morsi. Most
people think he was actually elected in a fair election. I don't agree
with radical Islam. I don't think he would be a good President for any
country. I wouldn't give him any money. But we are going to give money
to people who make people disappear?
Does anybody remember the Soviet Union? These same people stand and
say how bad it is the Soviet Union makes someone disappear. I am
absolutely with them. I support that. It is terrible. That is what the
military in Egypt is doing--making people disappear. Most of the
members of the government haven't been seen in days, maybe weeks. We
have no idea where they are.
Once again, let me be clear. I have no sympathy for them. I don't
want to give them money either. But all these people who want to fund
the military, they all want to fund the Muslim Brotherhood. The only
thing consistent about their argument is sending your money to other
people.
There is a finite amount of money. Detroit lays in ruins, Chicago is
full of violence, and there are bridges everywhere. Don't let them
paint this that I have some special thing in Kentucky. There are no
earmarks. There is no special money going to Kentucky. This is going
into the Transportation bill for the whole country.
There is actually nothing in here special for Chicago or Detroit, but
I point it out that we have problems at home. Maybe we should do some
nation building here at home.
The other side will falsely say: Oh, you want isolationism. You want
to disengage from the world. Hogwash. I want to be involved. I am for
being involved with Egypt. I am for trade. I am for international and
global interaction and diplomacy and all those things. But do you think
you are making the world a better place by sending a few more F-16s and
tanks and tear gas to Egypt? Do you think that is somehow making the
world a safer place? No.
If I thought the foreign aid was going to do something good, I might
be for it. Mubarak and his family fly on private jets, dine on caviar
and champagne. Your money is more likely to buy a chateau in Paris for
the Mubarak family than it is to buy bread for the people of Egypt.
They say: Oh, well, the Egyptian people will not like us anymore if
we don't give them money. Seventy percent of the Egyptian people have
said they do not want our money. It doesn't go to them. The people, by
the millions, are rioting in Cairo. By the hundreds of thousands they
are rioting in Tahrir Square. They are not rioting for American aid.
They are rioting for us to quit giving aid to the despots who rule
them.
Mubarak ruled for 30-some-odd years. He ruled by martial law. He made
people disappear also. What about human rights? What about dignity?
What about trials they just recently--the Muslim Brotherhood--tried 16
Americans in absentia. If they were there, they would have put them in
jail. Yet all these same people are afraid to take away money.
How do you think leverage would best work? How would we have
leverage? Maybe if we withheld some aid, we would have leverage. But if
you give them everything they want all the time, any time, do you think
they are going to do something differently? They say the definition of
insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a
different response. We have given the aid for 30-some-odd years.
We gave a dictator in the Congo--Mobutu--aid for years and years.
They called his wife Gucci Mobutu. Why? Because she would take a Louis
Vuitton bag, full of about $1 million in cash, to Paris and spend it in
a weekend--your money, our money, spent on lavish homes. Mobutu had
seven palaces. I think Mubarak has six or seven palaces. They steal the
money. It doesn't buy the good will of the people. It actually buys ill
will. It does completely the opposite of everything they say it does.
It does completely the opposite.
So there is a disagreement on this. But the one thing there is not a
disagreement on is that it is against the law. The Republican Party
maintains: Oh, we are for the rule of law, and we proudly beat our
chest all the time and say to Democrats: Oh, you don't want the rule of
law; the President disobeys the rule of law. Guess what. This time many
Democrats and Republicans will flout the rule of law because the rule
of law says military aid ends when you have a coup. It doesn't say you
can wait around until it is convenient for you and maybe you can parcel
out the aid in different ways. It doesn't say that. It says military
aid ends until there is an election. It is very clear about this.
So the argument is about whether you believe in the rule of law. If
you do, there is no question you have to vote for this amendment
because this amendment simply restates the law. I am not even creating
the law. I am just restating the law that says aid ends and it resumes
when there is an election.
So those who say he is against all aid, don't listen to him, he is
against all aid, that is not what this amendment does. This amendment
enforces the law that actually every one of these men and women voted
for. They voted for this law. It has been on the books 30-some-odd
years, and the law says that aid ends when you have a military coup. So
they are all going to vote to bypass a law they have all supported.
Every one of them supported this law.
This isn't some extreme position of no aid; this is a position of
temporarily halting it. It is their plan, but it is not convenient now
to obey the law they passed.
This is an important debate. It is not about doing things to harm
Israel; it is about doing things that, actually, I think would be
beneficial to Israel. It is not about ending all aid; it is about
obeying the law. It shouldn't be about whether aid is good or bad. I
think there are a lot of bad things and unintended consequences that
come from the aid, but it is not about that. It is about whether we are
going to obey the law.
I say think long and hard about this. Some say they are going to do
something more important than what their people at home want, and they
are very proud they are going to stand against the will of the people.
Three-fourths of Republicans, three-fourths of Democrats, and three-
fourths of Independents or higher think it is a bad idea to be sending
good money after bad overseas. We do have problems at home and this
could go toward fixing them.
Some say it is only 1 percent. Foreign aid is only 1 percent. Guess
what. If you cut 1 percent of the budget each year, the budget balances
within about
[[Page S6094]]
5 years. It is called the penny plan. Many on my side have actually
endorsed this plan. So 1 percent isn't an insignificant amount of
money, and it is not working. It is doing the wrong thing.
So I urge a ``yes'' vote on the amendment.
I retain the remainder of my time.
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Donnelly). The Senator from New Jersey.
Mr. MENENDEZ. I ask unanimous consent to proceed for 2 minutes.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. President, this has been a robust debate. Listening
to my friend and colleague from Kentucky, I appreciate his views, but I
strongly disagree with him. Above all, let's say what it is and what it
is not about. This is not about Mubarak and chateaus. Mubarak is gone.
The Egyptian people decided that. He is gone. It is not about Mobutu or
anybody else. You can conflate anything you want and throw it up
against the wall, but this is a question of whether we will continue to
pursue our own national interest and national security in Egypt, in the
Middle East.
This is, in fact, about democracy. It is about the 30 million who
were protesting in the streets of Egypt, whom Senator Paul referred to.
But their call is not for us to leave; their call is for us to engage
with them. As the experts in this field who gave testimony before the
committee said, the one uniting thing among all elements of Egyptian
society we could do is cut off all aid. It would unite in what? Against
us.
This is about making sure we have a stable Middle East. It is not a
canard to suggest that Israel's security is at stake, because when you
have hundreds of tunnels in the Sinai being used by extremists to send
weapons into Gaza to attack Israel, it is about their security. I think
no one knows better about their security than the State of Israel
itself knows about their security.
It is not a canard. It is a fundamental element of whether we are
going to have an ally that can be safe and secure. It is a fundamental
element of whether we are going to have the ability to affect the
outcome in Egypt in a way that will create stability and peace. It is a
fundamental element of whether we have to send soldiers abroad versus
keeping them here at home. Because when there is peace and stability,
we ultimately do not have to engage with our military in pursuit of our
national interest and security.
When terrorists cannot organize in Egypt, we are safer at home in the
United States. So let's not cut off all aid to Egypt in a
transportation, housing, and urban development bill when, in fact, our
vital national interests are at stake. There is plenty of opportunity
to help America's cities. I was a mayor. No one wants to help America's
cities more. You will get to do that if you vote for the THUD bill, if
you put your vote up. But this is not a way to achieve that.
Mr. McCAIN. Will the Senator yield for a question?
Mr. MENENDEZ. I yield to the Senator from Arizona.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Arizona.
Mr. McCAIN. Ronald Reagan used to say facts are stubborn things. The
Senator from Kentucky just said Egypt has no money. Isn't it a fact the
Gulf countries and the Saudis have just given them $13 billion?
Mr. MENENDEZ. Absolutely.
Mr. McCAIN. Again, isn't the question whether the Senator from
Kentucky knows what is better for Israel or Israel knows what is better
for Israel? The fact is, AIPAC and the Israelis are adamantly opposed
to this amendment; isn't that correct?
Mr. MENENDEZ. It is true they are opposed, and I would assume Israel,
a sovereign state, knows what its security interests are better than
anybody else.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator's time has expired.
The Senator from Tennessee.
Mr. CORKER. What is the status of time right now? I think we should
bring this to a close soon.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. All time remaining is under the control of the
Senator from Kentucky, and he has 2 minutes remaining.
The Senator from Kentucky.
Mr. PAUL. Mr. President, several points have been made about whether
we should engage with Egypt. Absolutely, we should. But the Egyptian
people don't see it as engagement when the engagement is at the end of
a truncheon, when the engagement is tear gas bought with American money
and then sprayed on them. They do not quite understand that as
engagement. So buying arms--American tanks and American tear gas--to be
used for crowd control isn't exactly what the Egyptian people have in
mind as far as engagement.
With regard to Israel, there is no unified statement from the nation
of Israel saying they are for this. I have had both private and public
discussions with the leaders of Israel, and to tell you the truth,
without naming individuals, I can tell you they are not too excited
about sending more arms to Egypt. So for someone to come to the floor
and say they speak for the nation of Israel, they speak for all people
who love Israel in our country, is false.
There are probably 20 different groups in our country that support
the nation of Israel and support them as our ally. I speak to them all
the time. I visit with them daily and weekly in our office. So what I
can tell you is if you talk to the people, to the grassroots and not to
the so-called leadership, you will find a much different story. Because
I would promise you--let me speak to the entire crowd at an AIPAC
meeting and we will see whether they like sending more weapons to the
Muslim Brotherhood or more weapons to Egypt. I think you will find a
resounding no.
This amendment is ultimately about the law, and I hope my colleagues
will remember that if they vote against this amendment they are
flouting the law, they are voting to disobey the law, they are voting
against the rule of law, and they are actually voting against a law
they have all voted for.
I reserve the remainder of my time.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator's time has expired.
The Senator from Tennessee.
Mr. CORKER. Mr. President, I think most Members of the body realize
the THUD bill is not the place to address major foreign policy. I think
all understand that in September it is the plan of this body to deal
with the legal issues regarding foreign aid to Egypt, so I move to
table the amendment of the Senator from Kentucky.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question is on agreeing to the motion.
Mr. MENENDEZ. I ask for the yeas and nays.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second?
There appears to be a sufficient second.
The clerk will call the roll.
The bill clerk called the roll.
Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the Senator from North Dakota (Ms.
Heitkamp) is necessarily absent.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Are there any other Senators in the Chamber
desiring to vote?
The result was announced--yeas 86, nays 13, as follows:
[Rollcall Vote No. 195 Leg.]
YEAS--86
Alexander
Ayotte
Baldwin
Baucus
Begich
Bennet
Blumenthal
Blunt
Boozman
Boxer
Brown
Burr
Cantwell
Cardin
Carper
Casey
Chambliss
Chiesa
Coats
Cochran
Collins
Coons
Corker
Cornyn
Donnelly
Durbin
Feinstein
Fischer
Flake
Franken
Gillibrand
Graham
Hagan
Harkin
Hatch
Heinrich
Hirono
Hoeven
Inhofe
Isakson
Johanns
Johnson (SD)
Johnson (WI)
Kaine
King
Kirk
Klobuchar
Landrieu
Leahy
Levin
Manchin
Markey
McCain
McCaskill
Menendez
Merkley
Mikulski
Murkowski
Murphy
Murray
Nelson
Portman
Pryor
Reed
Reid
Roberts
Rockefeller
Rubio
Sanders
Schatz
Schumer
Scott
Sessions
Shaheen
Shelby
Stabenow
Tester
Toomey
Udall (CO)
Udall (NM)
Vitter
Warner
Warren
Whitehouse
Wicker
Wyden
NAYS--13
Barrasso
Coburn
Crapo
Cruz
Enzi
Grassley
Heller
Lee
McConnell
Moran
Paul
Risch
Thune
NOT VOTING--1
Heitkamp
The motion was agreed to.
Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote and lay that
motion on the table.
[[Page S6095]]
The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.
____________________