[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 47 (Wednesday, March 16, 2022)]
[House]
[Page H3748]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                           PLANES FOR UKRAINE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Green) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, and still I rise. And I rise today 
with a very simple message: Those who believe that if we leave the 
world alone, the world will leave us alone are entirely wrong.
  Madam Speaker, the world would find its way to our door as it has 
done so now with Ukraine.
  I had the honor of hearing the President of Ukraine speak this 
morning, and if there is something I came away with without question it 
is this: It is that this war is about more than Ukraine. It is about 
freedom-loving people wherever they may be. It is about people who will 
not tolerate seeing women and babies being killed live on television. 
It is about a belief that if you can do something to end an injustice, 
you have to do it.
  This is why I rise today to say, Madam Speaker, that if there is a 
vote for planes for Ukraine, I will vote to support planes for Ukraine. 
And I will do so because I believe that this is needed for their 
defense.
  While some would say: But the defense currently would not be planes 
because they don't have to fight planes--that they are using long-range 
projectiles to bomb Ukraine--my point is this: Let's not wait until the 
skies over Ukraine have been darkened with Russian planes before we 
send the help that they need.

  I don't mind the world knowing that we are part of this. I don't 
think we can allow a standard to be set such that in the future the 
precedent is if you send in planes you are escalating. I think if we 
send in planes, we are meeting the challenge that is necessary to 
defend Ukraine.
  Again, those who believe that if we leave the world alone it will 
leave us alone are entirely wrong. This is about liberty and justice 
for all; government of the people, by the people, and for the people of 
Ukraine and the rest of us as well. This is about freedom-loving people 
wherever they may be.
  If there is a vote for planes, then I will vote for planes for 
Ukraine.

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