[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 33 (Thursday, February 26, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1150-S1151]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
WELCOMING THE PRIME MINISTER OF ISRAEL TO THE UNITED STATES FOR HIS
ADDRESS TO A JOINT SESSION OF CONGRESS
Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, on Tuesday of next week, Israeli Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will make an historic address before the
Congress. This is his third address as Prime Minister of Israel. At the
invitation of Speaker Boehner, he is coming to discuss Iran's nuclear
ambitions and the ongoing P5+1 negotiations, as well as the rise of the
Islamic State terrorist group and other jihadist groups across the
Middle East.
These are obviously serious issues of national security, both for
Israel but also for us here in the United States, and Prime Minister
Netanyahu and the citizens of Israel have a unique perspective on those
issues. In the interest of staying fully informed and aligned with our
closest ally in the region, Israel, Congress needs to listen to what
Prime Minister Netanyahu has to say, and I look forward to doing so.
I believe the Prime Minister's speech will be both informative and
timely, as the Obama administration is reportedly trying to lock down a
questionable nuclear deal with the Iranians by the March 24 deadline.
That is why I have introduced S. Res. 76 that welcomes the Prime
Minister of Israel to the United States for his address to Congress.
This resolution explains just a few of the reasons why the U.S.-Israel
alliance is so powerful and so enduring, and it states in part that we
welcome the Prime Minister and eagerly await his address before
Congress. This resolution reaffirms our commitment to stand with Israel
in times of uncertainty, strongly supports Israel's right to self-
defense, and finally reaffirms our support and the friendship between
our two countries. These sentiments are widely shared in Congress, but
in an increasingly perilous global security environment in which we
find ourselves, I think it is important to remind people of how and why
the United States stands with Israel.
A majority of Senators have cosponsored this resolution, and I
believe today it is time for the Senate to pass it, to reaffirm there
will be no daylight between the United States and Israel when it comes
to common issues of national security.
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign
Relations be discharged from further consideration of and the Senate
now proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 76.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The clerk will report the resolution by title.
The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:
A resolution (S. Res. 76) welcoming the Prime Minister of
Israel to the United States for his address to a joint
session of Congress.
There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the
resolution.
Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Cornyn
amendment be agreed to, the resolution, as amended, be agreed to, the
preamble be agreed to, the Cornyn amendment to the title be agreed to,
and the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The amendment (No. 262) was agreed to, as follows:
(Purpose: To make a technical correction)
On page 3, line 4, strike ``joint session'' and insert
``joint meeting''.
The resolution (S. Res. 76), as amended, was agreed to.
The preamble was agreed to.
S. Res. 76
Whereas, since its founding in 1948, Israel has been a
strong and steadfast ally to the United States in the Middle
East, a region characterized by instability and violence;
Whereas the United States-Israel relationship is built on
mutual respect for common values, including a commitment to
democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, free-market
principles, and ethnic and religious diversity;
Whereas the strong cultural, religious, and political ties
shared by the United States and Israel help form a bond
between our countries that should never be broken;
Whereas Israel continues to serve as a shining model of
democratic values by regularly holding free and fair
elections, promoting the free exchange of ideas, and
vigorously exercising a form of democratic government that is
fully representative of its citizens;
Whereas nations such as Iran and Syria, as well as
designated foreign terrorist organizations such as Hezbollah
and Hamas, refuse to recognize Israel's right to exist,
continually call for its destruction, and have repeatedly
attacked Israel either directly or through proxies;
Whereas, in particular, the Government of Iran's ongoing
pursuit of nuclear weapons poses a tremendous threat both to
the United States and Israel;
[[Page S1151]]
Whereas the negotiations between the so-called P5+1
countries and Iran over its illicit nuclear weapons program
are entering a key phase, and Congress has heard the
perspectives, both publicly and privately, of a number of
close allies involved in the negotiations; and
Whereas the United States is committed to ensuring that
Israel, as a strong and trusted ally, maintains its
qualitative military edge: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) warmly welcomes the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin
Netanyahu, on his visit to the United States, which provides
a timely opportunity to reinforce the United States-Israel
relationship;
(2) eagerly awaits the address of Prime Minister Netanyahu
before a joint meeting of the United States Congress;
(3) reaffirms its commitment to stand with Israel during
times of uncertainty;
(4) continues to strongly support Israel's right to defend
itself from threats to its very survival; and
(5) reaffirms its unequivocal and bipartisan support for
the friendship between the people and Governments of the
United States and Israel.
The amendment (No. 263) was agreed to, as follows:
(Purpose: To amend the title)
Amend the title so as to read: ``A resolution welcoming
the Prime Minister of Israel to the United States for his
address to a joint meeting of Congress.''.
Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, I yield the floor and suggest the absence
of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order
for the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
____________________