[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 105 (Wednesday, June 16, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4574-S4576]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                           EXECUTIVE CALENDAR

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the nomination.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk read the nomination of Tommy 
P. Beaudreau, of Alaska, to be Deputy Secretary of the Interior.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Florida.


                   Unanimous Consent Request--S. 1899

  Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Madam President, I stand again today in support 
of our great ally Israel. Israel is a vibrant democracy that supports 
capitalism, champions human rights, and holds free and open elections. 
Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East, and Israel deserves 
our unwavering support.
  Israel is surrounded by nations and terrorist groups that want it 
wiped off the face of the Earth. I saw this firsthand during my latest 
visit as Senator, which gave me a clear picture of Israel's proximity 
to its enemies--Hamas, Hezbollah, ISIS, and Iran.
  At my last visit, I was about a half mile from the Gaza Strip and 
went to a kibbutz. What was shocking to me is that there were little 
children there instinctively raised that, whenever they would hear the 
sirens, they instinctively raised their hands because somebody is going 
to pick them up and get them to a bomb shelter. I think what they were 
telling me when I was there is they had 15 seconds to get to a bomb 
shelter when the sirens went off, which said that Hamas was sending 
rockets. Also, they were told the story that Hamas was sending balloons 
with candy and explosives. So when the balloon would come down, if the 
children would touch it, it would explode. It is disgusting.
  For 11 days last month, we saw rockets rain down on Israel. As we 
watched Hamas terrorists target innocent Israeli citizens, I thought 
about the families impacted by this evil. Think about a 5-year-old you 
know. They like to play games. They love their brothers and sisters, 
and they love their mom and dad. Well, a 5-year-old, just like the one 
you are thinking of, named Ido Avigal was killed as Hamas rockets 
indiscriminately just pounded Israel. His life was taken by Hamas 
terrorists. I have a 5-year-old grandson. I can't imagine life without 
him. I can't imagine what either of those families is going through 
right now.
  Instead of coming together against this violence, we saw the 
Democrats turn their backs on Israel. I was proud to lead more than 30 
of my colleagues in a resolution to support Israel in its right to 
defend itself against terrorist attacks. Unfortunately, it was blocked 
by Senate Democrats.
  It was not so long ago that the Senate stood with Israel on a 
bipartisan basis. In 2014, when Israel was again subject to a barrage 
of rockets targeting innocent Israelis, then-Majority Leader Reid 
offered a resolution supporting Israel's right to defend itself against 
Hamas. Every single Senator voted to support Israel's right to defend 
itself against Hamas--not anymore. It is despicable that something as 
simple as reaffirming America's support for Israel no longer aligns 
with the priorities of the Democrat Party.
  I have also joined in a resolution with Senator Cruz to approve the 
arm sales to Israel and the resolution with Senator Hawley to condemn 
the disturbing wave of anti-Semitic and anti-Israel actions in 
Congress, in the United States, and around the world. These 
reprehensible and disturbing acts must be swiftly condemned at every 
level and those responsible prosecuted to the fullest extent of the 
law.
  President Biden's State Department recently said:

       We're going to be working in partnership with the United 
     Nations and the Palestinian Authority to `kind of' channel 
     aid there in a manner that does its best to go to the people 
     of Gaza.

  The official went on to say:

       As we've seen in life, as we all know in life, there are no 
     guarantees, but we're going to do everything that we can to 
     ensure that this assistance reaches the people who need it 
     the most.

  So the Biden administration can't guarantee that American taxpayer 
dollars aren't going to fund terrorists in Hamas? The Biden 
administration thinks it is OK to fund Hamas terrorists because ``in 
life there are no guarantees''? The Biden administration seems 
unbothered if some funding goes to the terrorists that killed Ido.
  President Biden must do better. His administration must control where 
this money is going. Yes, we can make sure American tax dollars aren't 
funding terrorists. What we are hearing from the Biden administration 
is they simply won't take the time to do what it takes to guarantee 
that. This lack of accountability or concern is absolutely disgusting, 
and we should not allow it.

[[Page S4575]]

  That is why I, along with Senators Joni Ernst, Cindy Hyde-Smith, and 
Mike Braun, introduced the Stop Taxpayer Funding of Hamas Act, which 
says that no funds will be authorized for the territory of Gaza until 
the President certifies to Congress that these funds can be spent 
without benefitting terrorist organizations.
  The Stop Taxpayer Funding of Hamas Act also ensures U.S. funds are 
not authorized for expenditure in the territory of Gaza to any United 
Nations entity or office that the President cannot certify is not 
encouraging or teaching anti-Israel and anti-Semitic ideas and 
propaganda.
  Recently, a European Union report was released showing Palestinian 
Authority textbooks in U.N.-supported schools encourage violence 
against Israelis, including anti-Semitic messages. And just last week, 
a tunnel reportedly dug by Hamas was found underneath a Gaza school run 
by the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees.
  We can't allow this to continue. I am proud to lead my colleagues in 
saying the United States will not fund this destruction.
  I yield to my colleague from Iowa, Senator Joni Ernst.
  Ms. ERNST. Madam President, I thank Senator Scott, and I appreciate 
the time to speak today on this topic. Certainly, I am rising to also 
support the Stop Taxpayer Funding of Hamas Act.
  The United States should no longer provide any recognition or 
resources to Hamas, a terrorist organization supplied by Iran disguised 
as a Palestinian political party. Hamas is a longstanding terrorist 
organization whose attacks and efforts against peace threaten the lives 
of civilians and innocents.

  Using the population of Gaza as a human shield, Hamas fired more than 
1,500 rockets into Israeli civilian areas in an unprovoked attack last 
month. The attack was not the action of a responsible political party 
but the violent outburst of an Iranian proxy bent on the destruction of 
Israel and peace.
  Hamas's roots and rationale have very little to do with a broader 
struggle for freedom of worship or narrow land use disagreements. It is 
far simpler than that. Iran supplies rockets, and Hamas launches 
rockets on innocent Israelis because they share a common goal: 
eradication of the Jewish people in Israel. It is that simple.
  Hamas couldn't be more clear in their goals. Their charter states:

       There is no solution for the Palestinian question except 
     through Jihad. There is no way out except by concentrating 
     all powers and energies to face this Nazi, vicious Tatar 
     invasion.

  No mention of peace or advancement for people--Israel's defensive 
actions against a terror group that compares their people to Nazis and 
is dedicated to their destruction are to be expected. Self-defense and 
protection of citizens is a core responsibility of every country. Hamas 
attacked innocent civilians, fully expecting them to be attacked in 
return. Their plan was to purposely create civilian casualties.
  We must be unequivocal in support for our ally. The President and 
Secretary of State must remain strong in American support to Israel and 
not lose sight of the true threat Hamas's backer, Iran, poses to 
Israel.
  The administration must abandon its attempts to return to the deeply 
flawed nuclear agreement with Iran. Their attempt to return to the 
failed nuclear deal only emboldens Iran's nuclear ambitions.
  Iran provides Hamas and other genocidal terrorist organizations with 
rocket systems, rocket parts, assembly training, and cash support every 
year. And Iran's goal mirrors that of Hamas: to wipe Israel off the 
map, bottom line.
  Just as no country--Israel or otherwise--would tolerate such 
terrorism and aggression against its citizens, no true ally would turn 
their backs on a friend in their moment of need. They certainly would 
not continue funding the organization responsible for the attack. So 
now, more than ever, the United States must stand with its ally, 
condemn the attacks against Israel by Hamas, and affirm our commitment 
to support Israel's peace and security.
  The Stop American Taxpayer Funding of Hamas Act ensures no funding 
will be authorized to the territory of Gaza, the site of Hamas's 
headquarters, until the President certifies to Congress that these 
funds can be spent without benefiting terrorist organizations.
  The United States must be clear in our unwavering commitment to our 
ally and ensure no American taxpayer dollar goes to Hamas ever again.
  I would like to thank my friend and colleague from the great State of 
Florida for moving on this piece of legislation I am proud to support.
  Again, thank you for your leadership on this.
  I yield the floor back to the Senator from Florida.
  Mr. SCOTT of Florida. And I yield to my colleague from Mississippi, 
Senator Hyde-Smith
  Mrs. HYDE-SMITH. Madam President, I join my colleagues today in 
defense of our longtime friend and trusted ally, Israel, and to argue 
that absolutely no American taxpayer dollars should be spent to benefit 
terrorist organizations.
  Israel has no greater friend than the United States, and the Israeli 
people have long relied on assistance from the American people and 
other allies. It is an unshakeable bond based on mutual respect, shared 
democratic values, and common interests that existed long before the 
modern State of Israel was founded. We must continue to support and 
foster that relationship with everything we have as Israel faces 
growing threats from Hamas and other terrorist groups in the region.
  As the annual appropriations process moves along, I am concerned, as 
are many of my colleagues, that foreign aid--U.S. taxpayer dollars--
could end up in the hands of those who have boldly proclaimed that 
their intent is to do harm to Israel and our interests in the region.
  The most recent wave of violence in the Middle East makes it clear 
that our resources must be responsibly spent and kept out of the 
coffers of terrorist organizations and bad actors whose violence can be 
bankrolled by commandeering U.S. foreign aid.
  The Biden administration admitted recently ``there are no 
guarantees'' our humanitarian assistance will reach the intended 
recipients. I believe it is our duty to guarantee this. It is 
imperative that we are certain that not a single cent of taxpayer money 
is spent to fund Hamas and its military arsenal.
  In this effort, my colleagues and I have teamed up to ensure that 
safeguards are in place to make sure anti-American and anti-Israel 
groups do not continue down this dangerous path of radicalization and 
indoctrination at the expense of hard-working Americans.
  The Stop Taxpayer Funding of Hamas Act, introduced by my friend 
Senator Scott of Florida, is commonsense legislation. It protects 
American assets and allies, while ensuring that not a penny of foreign 
aid is spent indoctrinating students abroad and bankrolling terrorist 
activities.
  This is a nonpartisan issue. Americans do not support terrorism, so 
they certainly should not have to subsidize terrorism. We must take a 
stand against this barbarism and the harm it poses to most innocent 
civilians.
  I simply cannot imagine why any of my colleagues--Republican, 
Democrat, or Independent--would oppose legislation that is fiscally 
responsible, morally sound, and in the best interest of our allies, 
servicemembers, and our future generations.
  Finally, I believe we should recognize that American citizens feel 
the painful effects from the recent flareup of violence toward Israel. 
In tandem with the global unrest, we have witnessed the significant 
rise in anti-Semitic attacks largely fueled by old prejudices and 
accelerated by harmful political rhetoric. It is my fervent hope that 
we would dedicate ourselves to stopping anti-Semitic violence, to 
fortifying our determination to protect the State of Israel, and to 
promoting peaceful relations in the Middle East.
  Thank you.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Florida
  Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Madam President, I want to thank my colleagues 
from Iowa and Mississippi for supporting me today in our effort to make 
sure that we do not ever fund Hamas.
  I hope every single Member in this body can agree that the United 
States shouldn't fund terrorists with American taxpayer dollars--
funding that could be used to kill Israelis--like I do.

[[Page S4576]]

I look forward to my colleagues joining me today to stand with Israel 
and against terrorism.
  Madam President, as if in legislative session, I ask unanimous 
consent that the Foreign Relations Committee be discharged from further 
consideration of S. 1899 and the Senate proceed to its immediate 
consideration. I further ask that the bill be considered read a third 
time and passed and that the motion to reconsider be considered made 
and laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  Mr. MENENDEZ. Madam President.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from New Jersey.
  Mr. MENENDEZ. Madam President, reserving the right to object, I have 
real concerns my colleagues' efforts to subvert the legislative process 
and push through a bill without due consideration from the Senate 
Foreign Relations Committee. I know my distinguished colleague from 
Florida is very interested in these issues. I hope he would ask his 
leadership to put him on the committee because he consistently comes to 
the floor and wants to circumvent the committee. This is not the first 
time.
  Let me be very clear: Hamas is a terrorist organization, and the 
terrorists who lead Hamas have no regard for human life, whether they 
be the life of innocent Israelis targeted by their rocket attacks or 
the Palestinian families they constantly put in harm's way.
  Israel has every right and responsibility to defend herself from 
attacks against their civilians, and the United States does not, and 
will not, ever provide funding to Hamas. Neither of those statements 
are up for debate. In fact, I would argue that every single Member of 
this body agrees with those assertions.
  Indeed, the Senate has a long history of carefully crafting foreign 
aid programs with robust oversight, as well as sanctions that target 
Hamas and its supporters. With that in mind, there is simply no reason 
this bill can't go through regular order and sustain a markup in the 
Foreign Relations Committee. I looked at the dates of introduction and 
then its subsequent referrals--less than 3 weeks. We have done it 
before, and we can do it again.
  As the chair of the Foreign Relations Committee, I have shown that I 
prioritize moving serious, bipartisan legislation. This bill in 
question is not a serious attempt at legislating; it is a partisan 
talking point.
  Had the Senator from Florida, who is the chair of the Republican 
Senatorial Campaign Committee, or any of the bill's sponsors had a 
genuine interest in asserting Congress's role in foreign policy and the 
hard work that goes into legislating, they would have gone through the 
regular order of the committee process. They did not.

  Instead, I imagine they would rather relish in a tweet proclaiming 
that Democrats support taxpayer funding of Hamas or oppose defending 
Israel. And all I can say to this is, enough abusing the United States-
Israel relationship for partisan political purposes. It does damage to 
the United States. It does damage to the State of Israel.
  I am proud of my legislative efforts to defend Israel for over three 
decades, and I would argue that the facts that these efforts have been 
bipartisan speak to the strength of the United States-Israel 
relationship. Both Republicans and Democrats share a long track record 
of working together to defend Israel's right to exist and legislating 
accountability for U.S. taxpayer dollars spent overseas. But we have to 
do the work, and I do believe there are Senators who are genuinely 
interested in working toward that goal.
  The truth is, we already have a number of laws and regulations in 
place regarding the delivery of lifesaving humanitarian relief. As 
written, this bill, by way of example why we have bills go through the 
committee so they can be worked on, seems intended to ensure that 
nobody in Gaza could ever receive any of this support. The language is 
written so broadly that, for example, before delivering clean water or 
water infrastructure, the President would effectively have to certify 
that anyone related to Hamas would never drink that water or drink from 
a water fountain that carried that water. That is simply absurd.
  I would welcome a robust discussion on the ways we can continue to 
ensure that taxpayer dollars intended for lifesaving humanitarian 
relief in Gaza and elsewhere can get to those who need it the most and 
certainly evade and avoid the hands of Hamas.
  Let's remember why we invest in foreign aid programs in the first 
place. We do so in pursuit of our common humanity, of our values, and 
our own security interests. So let's recognize the political games 
being played on the floor today for what they are and reject them.
  Because of all of those reasons, Madam President, I object.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard.
  Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Madam President.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Florida.
  Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Madam President, I am glad my colleague has 
acknowledged his interest in helping Israel. Unfortunately, I am 
surprised that the--if my colleague had an interest, why didn't the 
Foreign Relations Committee take up the same resolution that the 
majority leader retook up in support of Israel basically saying that 
Israel had the right to defend itself and saying that Hamas was a 
terrorist organization? My colleague didn't.
  This is a pretty simple bill. It basically just says, look, any 
foreign aid we are going to give to the Palestinian Authority, we are 
going to make sure it doesn't go to Hamas. It is pretty simple.
  Let's remember why we are doing this. President Biden's State 
Department said:

       We're going to be working in partnership with the United 
     Nations and the Palestinian Authority to kind of channel aid 
     there in a manner that does its best to go to the people of 
     Gaza.

  That should scare us.
  It went on to say:

       As we have seen in life, as we all know in life, there are 
     no guarantees, but we're going to do everything that we can 
     to ensure that this assistance reaches the people who need it 
     the most.

  That is not much of a guarantee. That is a ``maybe we will try.'' We 
can do better. The Senate should do better. Republicans and Democrats 
should all say that not a dime will ever go to Hamas, a terrorist 
organization that kills little boys like Ido. We should all be 
disgusted with this.
  So I am very disappointed that my colleague uses a procedural matter 
to say he objects, but basically what he is saying is he will not agree 
that this money will not go to Hamas. This was really simple. You could 
read this in just 2 minutes.
  I am disappointed that my Democratic colleague has made this 
political. It is not political. It is about, do we support Israel? Are 
we going to make sure that never a dime goes to Hamas and another 
little boy like Ido dies?
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Wyoming.