[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 169 (Monday, October 16, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4969-S4974]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                   Recognition of the Minority Leader

  The Republican leader is recognized.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, since the Senate last convened, 
terrorists have sent shock waves through the civilized world with 
savage, cold-blooded violence.
  On October 7, Hamas and Palestinian Islamic jihad desecrated Israel's 
soil and tore apart Israeli families with utterly medieval brutality. 
Like ISIS, terrorists from Gaza turned peaceful homes and neighborhoods 
in Israel into blood-soaked war zones. It was the deadliest attack on 
the Israelis and on American citizens overseas in decades.
  But now, reports and images of these horrific scenes have spread 
widely. Accounts of Israeli women tortured and raped, of elders 
kidnapped, of charred corpses, beheadings, of children shot dead in 
their homes have shaken peaceful people to their cores. In one kibbutz, 
a paramedic named Amit was working to save the lives of victims pouring 
into a local clinic when she documented what would be the last moments 
of her own life in messages to her sister. Here is what she said: 
``They are here. I don't think I will get out of here alive. Be strong 
if something happens to me.''
  A few minutes later, in a call from Amit's phone, all her sister 
could hear were gunshots and screams. One in 10 residents of the 
community were slaughtered by the terrorists.
  Here is how one retired senior IDF commander put it after he ran to 
rejoin Israel's defense efforts: ``I've heard during my childhood about 
pogroms in Europe, the Holocaust, of course. All my family came from 
Europe. They are survivors, but I never thought I would see things like 
this.''

  Madam President, the people of Israel are grieving unimaginable 
horrors, and we have a responsibility not to look away--not least 
because the same news that has shaken the civilized world to its core 
has emboldened anti-Semites and terrorist sympathizers across the 
globe. We have seen thousands of demonstrators cheer on terrorist 
violence from the streets of Western cities.
  In London, many Jewish children were kept home from school on Friday 
out of fears for their safety. In Chicago, a bomb threat forced a local 
synagogue to evacuate. In Sydney, Australia, a supposedly pro-
Palestinian gathering devolved into a sickening flashback to the worst 
stain on the last century of human history as demonstrators chanted: 
``Gas the Jews.'' And on college campuses across America, leftist 
student groups cloaked vile anti-Semitism in a thin veneer of 
performative, woke jargon.
  So, Madam President, friends of Israel simply cannot afford to be 
silent. And as Israel's closest ally, the United States must lead by 
our example in supporting its efforts to defend itself for as long as 
it takes. As I outlined over the State work period, this means loudly 
and clearly distinguishing between the aggressor and the victim in this 
war. No matter how many voices in the media attempt to ``both-sides'' a 
terrorist attack, there is simply no moral equivalence here.
  Responsibility for the murder of Israelis lies with the terrorists 
who pulled the trigger and the regime that arms and trains them, and 
responsibility for the suffering of the Palestinian people lies with 
the Hamas terrorists who consolidated power by flinging rival civilian 
officials off of rooftops, who use scarce building supplies to dig 
terror tunnels, to turn drinking water pipes into rocket launchers, and 
who use residents of Gaza as human shields.
  Make no mistake, the surest way to stop violence against Israelis and 
oppression of Palestinians is to wipe the terrorists like Hamas from 
the face of the Earth. To that end, the United States must continue to 
provide maximum support to Israel's counterterrorist operation as long 
as it takes. And just as importantly, we have to reestablish deterrence 
against the Iranian regime that not only directly threatens American's 
interest in a peaceful and stable Middle East, but also bears the blood 
of hundreds of Americans and plots to kill even more.
  America's disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan, the desperate 
pursuit of a new nuclear deal, and the failure to respond decisively to 
attacks on U.S. forces in Syria have weakened our deterrence against 
the world's largest state sponsor of terror. America's weakness left 
our allies and partners with serious questions about the credibility of 
our commitments. And if we fail to present clear and devastating 
consequences of further violence against America, as well as our 
friends in Israel, we will make deterring an even bigger strategic 
adversary in Asia even more difficult.
  Reestablishing effective deterrence means investing in American 
military strength. It means investing in an industrial base that is 
capable of equipping both U.S. forces and our allies and partners to 
meet authoritarian oppression in Europe, in Asia, and in the Middle 
East, and it means responding to challenges with credible and 
unflinching resolve. This is a fundamental responsibility of governing. 
Full stop.
  I will have more to say in the coming days, but for right now, this 
is not merely a terrorist war against Israel. It is part of a clear and 
present danger to the United States and the entire civilized world.
  This, Madam President, is a time for choosing. As Israel works to 
eliminate the terrorists who threaten its existence, the United States 
must reaffirm our commitment to Israel's security, and we must continue 
to demonstrate by our leadership that no country should offer safe 
haven to those who aid and abet terror.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mrs. BLACKBURN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
order for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.
  Mrs. BLACKBURN. Madam President, well, we all know what has happened 
since October 7. Hamas has launched more than 6,000 rockets into 
Israel. They have sent more than 1,000 terrorists across the border to 
murder civilians. This is the most devastating slaughter of Jews since 
the Holocaust. They have killed more than 1,400 Israelis; 291 of them 
have been soldiers. They have taken 199 hostages, including an unknown 
number of Americans. This was also one of the deadliest terrorist 
attacks in our history. They killed 30 U.S. citizens, and 13 are still 
missing or are unaccounted for.
  Israel is the victim. Even the Biden White House has acknowledged 
that. This hasn't stopped several of my Democratic colleagues from 
calling for a cease-fire. All of this, also, has not stopped Black 
Lives Matter and other pro-Palestinian groups from glorifying the mass 
slaughter of Jews.
  Students for Justice, in Palestine, called it a ``historic win.''
  Jews in New York, Atlanta, Washington, DC, London, Berlin, and so 
many other cities around the globe are once again living in fear.
  Just this weekend, protesters in Nashville, TN, refused to condemn 
the horrific violence against the Israelis. Instead, they insisted that 
these innocent people had it coming because their government's politics 
don't line up with the radical left's talking points.
  This is, indeed, insanity. If we allow these positions to define our 
foreign policy, we put the lives of Israelis and Americans and our 
allies in danger.
  The United States designated Hamas as a foreign terrorist 
organization in

[[Page S4970]]

1997. Their stated goal is to destroy the State of Israel through 
jihad. Over the years, we have seen them commit acts of violence so 
depraved that allies to the so-called Palestinian cause deny them 
entirely rather than attempt to rationalize them. We know, right now, 
that 600,000 Gazans have been evacuated but that they have trapped more 
than enough women and children to use as human shields. Absolutely 
despicable.
  We also know that they use international aid money not for 
humanitarian aid but to fund their efforts, their war efforts--their 
jihad. Iran is the world's largest state sponsor of terrorism and sends 
$100 million annually to Hamas. That is in addition to supplying them 
with technology, logistical support, and weapons.
  When the Biden administration announced their plan to give the 
Iranians access to $6 billion in frozen assets, we knew exactly what 
that meant for Israel. The constant refrain from the Biden 
administration is that there is ``no direct link to Iran regarding this 
attack.'' It is time for whomever wrote that talking point to turn on 
the news, to look at the pictures that are on the screen, to listen to 
what you are hearing from the Ayatollah and some of the Iranian 
officials who are, by the way, meeting with Hamas leadership in Qatar.
  In the first hours of the attack, the Biden administration projected 
nothing but weakness. They deleted multiple tweets calling for a cease-
fire. It took the President almost 12 hours to make a statement. This 
sent a very clear message to our enemies. It also sends a message to 
our allies.
  We can start by giving Israel what they need to eradicate these 
terrorists. Last week, I sent a letter urging President Biden to 
support Israel in all possible ways. Under President Trump, we cut aid 
to the Palestinians because the Palestinian Authority used that money 
to reward terrorism. In 2021, President Biden reversed that policy, and 
since then, he has sent more than $730 million to the Palestinians, 
even though he knows there is a high risk. We know money is fungible, 
and we know what Iran does with their money--they fund terrorism; they 
fund their proxies.
  And, while we are at it, let's start treating Iran like the dangerous 
state sponsor of terror it is. Last week, I led 19 Senate Republicans, 
in a letter, calling on President Biden to permanently freeze Iran's 
access to that $6 billion. We should send those dollars to Israel to 
pay for the damage that Hamas has done. There should be no more 
backdoor deals with Qatar, no more silent agreements, no more quiet 
agreements. Let's have a formal agreement that will stop the 
backpedaling and will stop the intentions to release that money, which 
is what they will do when the media attention on this issue dissipates.
  None of this will matter if we don't root out the incompetence and 
malicious influence in our own government. Last week, I sent a letter 
to President Biden demanding the immediate removal of Jake Sullivan as 
his National Security Advisor. He was wrong about Afghanistan, the 
Middle East, and that nuclear deal with Iran in 2015. He has got to go, 
as do the Iranian assets that President Biden has given top secret 
security clearances to.
  Last month, I stood right here and described how President Biden sent 
Robert Malley, Ariane Tabatabai, and other operatives to negotiate the 
failed Iran nuclear deal. Now, Mr. Malley and Ms. Tabatabai have been 
involved with the Iran Experts Initiative, and then the President gave 
them top secret security clearances and sent them to negotiate on the 
Iran deal. This has to stop.
  Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that these letters be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                                Congress of the United States,

                                  Washington, DC, October 8, 2023.
     President Joseph R. Biden,
     The White House,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. President: We write today to express our 
     unwavering support for Israel, our greatest ally in the 
     Middle East, and our outrage at your administration's failed 
     leadership on the international stage.
       Israel is at war. Yesterday, Hamas, the Iran-backed 
     Palestinian terrorist group, launched an unprecedented and 
     coordinated land, air, and sea attack against Israel. This 
     occurred during the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah, the day 
     after the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War, and on 
     Shabbat--a day of rest and peace for Jews around the world. 
     Terrorists have infiltrated Israel, taking innocent Israeli 
     civilians and servicemembers hostage. Hundreds of Israelis 
     have died, and the fighting has not ceased.
       This violent attack deserves a strong, unequivocal 
     condemnation by the United States. Instead, while the attacks 
     persisted and Israel was threatened, your administration 
     initially issued a statement calling on Israel to ``refrain 
     from violence.'' So far, the administration's response has 
     been far weaker than Israel--a shining beacon of democracy 
     and our most important ally in the Middle East--deserves.
       While this is not the first act of aggression by the Hamas 
     terrorists against one of our greatest allies, it is 
     certainly the boldest. The failures of this administration on 
     the world stage have no doubt emboldened those who would wish 
     America and our allies harm. Reports indicate that U.S. arms 
     abandoned during the disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal ended 
     up in Hamas' hands. This terrorist organization is also 
     funded by the Iranian regime, the world's largest state 
     sponsor of terrorism, whose coffers this administration has 
     filled with over $6 billion in sanctions relief. Indeed, 
     recent reports have revealed the existence of the Iran 
     Experts Initiative (IEI), an Iranian regime-backed foreign 
     influence network. Included among the network's membership is 
     Ariane Tabatabai, now chief of staff to the Assistant 
     Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low Intensity 
     Conflict, along with other close contacts of your Special 
     Envoy for Iran, Robert Malley--whose security clearance the 
     State Department suspended earlier this year and who is now 
     subject to an FBI investigation for his alleged mishandling 
     of classified information. The world needs American 
     leadership, and this administration has left a void that the 
     New Axis of Evil and terrorist groups like Hamas have already 
     begun exploiting.
       Over 75 years ago, the United States was the first nation 
     to recognize the Jewish state of Israel and affirm its right 
     to exist. Now, in the face of senseless attacks by Iran-
     backed Hamas terrorists, we must again stand with Israel and 
     reaffirm its right to defend itself. The United States of 
     America does not abandon its friends. We urge this 
     administration to support Israel however possible, including 
     by providing any and all weapons and munitions necessary, and 
     to punish the terrorists who did this, along with those who 
     aid them. We must act swiftly and strongly.
           Sincerely,
     Marsha Blackburn.
     Bill Hagerty.
       United States Senators.
     Tim Burchett.
     Chuck Fleischmann.
     Diana Harshbarger.
     John Rose.
     Scott DesJarlais, M.D.
     Mark E. Green, M.D.
     Andy Ogles,
       Members of Congress.
                                  ____



                                         United States Senate,

                                  Washington, DC, October 9, 2023.
     President Joseph R. Biden,
     The White House,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. President: We write today to affirm our unwavering 
     support for Israel, our greatest ally in the Middle East, and 
     call on the U.S. Department of State to freeze the accounts 
     in Qatar containing $6 billion in Iranian funds that were 
     released from South Korean accounts in September.
       Since Hamas began its attack on Israel on Saturday, more 
     than 4,000 rockets have been fired from Gaza, countless 
     Israelis have been injured, and more than 130 individuals 
     have been kidnapped by Hamas terrorists. Hundreds of 
     civilians have been brutally murdered in Israel, and recent 
     reports confirm that several Americans were killed in the 
     attacks.
       Iran is the world's largest state sponsor of terrorism, and 
     Wall Street Journal reported that the Islamic Revolutionary 
     Guard Corps worked with Hamas to plan the ongoing attacks on 
     Israel. These horrific attacks come on the heels of the State 
     Department issuing sanctions waivers for Iranian funds held 
     in South Korean accounts to be converted from won to euros 
     and then transferred to bank accounts in Qatar.
       To stand by and allow Iran access to these funds as Hamas 
     infiltrates Israel and murders, rapes, and mutilates 
     countless Israelis is unconscionable. Your administration 
     claims these funds are only available for humanitarian use, 
     but money is fungible, and there is a significant risk they 
     could be used to further efforts by Iran or Hamas against 
     Israel. Moreover, allowing $6 billion to flow into Iran's 
     economy, even if the purpose is for humanitarian aid, allows 
     the Iranian regime to reallocate even more funds to 
     supporting terrorism. Oversight over the use of this $6 
     billion is not enough, and the oversight mechanism is 
     crippled by your reported decision to pull the longstanding 
     Treasury attache from Qatar. The State Department should 
     immediately rescind the waivers that allowed Iranian funds to 
     be converted and moved to more accessible bank accounts, as 
     well as work with U.S. ally Qatar to immediately freeze the 
     accounts containing these funds.

[[Page S4971]]

       We must stand with Israel and restrict access to these 
     Iranian funds. Iran should be placed under the most stringent 
     sanctions admissible. Anything short of this is unacceptable 
     and only aids in the ability of Iran and Hamas to fund these 
     heinous acts.
           Sincerely,
       Marsha Blackburn, United States Senator; Steve Daines, 
     United States Senator; Kevin Cramer, United States Senator; 
     James Lankford, United States Senator; John Cornyn, United 
     States Senator; Lindsey Graham, United States Senator; Tom 
     Cotton, United States Senator; Mike Braun, United States 
     Senator; Thom Tillis, United States Senator; Rick Scott, 
     United States Senator.
       John Thune, United States Senator; Mike Lee, United States 
     Senator; Bill Cassidy, M.D., United States Senator; Katie 
     Boyd Britt, United States Senator; Pete Ricketts, United 
     States Senator; Markwayne Mullin, United States Senator; Eric 
     Schmitt, United States Senator; Marco Rubio, United States 
     Senator; Ted Budd, United States Senator; Roger Marshall, 
     M.D., United States Senator.
                                  ____



                                                  U.S. Senate,

                                                 October 13, 2023.
     President Joseph R. Biden,
     The White House,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. President: I write to you today to demand the 
     immediate removal of Jake Sullivan as your National Security 
     Advisor. Mr. Sullivan has routinely misled the entire 
     government about the status of security threats around the 
     world. Just eight days before Hamas launched their barbaric 
     surprise attack against Israel, he stated, ``the Middle East 
     is quieter today than it has been in two decades.'' Yet, to 
     date, over 1,200 Israelis have been killed, over 150 hostages 
     have been taken from the safety of their homes, and at least 
     27 Americans lives have been lost, with at least 14 Americans 
     still missing. This is Jake Sullivan's perception of a quiet 
     Middle East. This is unacceptable.
       Sullivan has been dead wrong on how to engage with Iran 
     since his first day as National Security Advisor. His 
     policies of appeasement toward Iran have only emboldened the 
     world's largest state sponsor of terrorism. Sullivan had 
     direct influence in establishing the remarkably flawed 2015 
     Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), commonly referred 
     to as the Iran nuclear deal. Thankfully, this decision was 
     later reversed, sparing the world from an expanded Iranian 
     influence under this misguided policy that allowed Iran to 
     continue to fund its terrorist proxies and build up its 
     ballistic missile program. As your National Security Advisor, 
     we have since seen Mr. Sullivan reinstitute many of the 
     mistakes from the failed JCPOA. Easing sanctions against Iran 
     and refusing to enforce others is not an effective solution, 
     and this attack is clear evidence of that fact.
       You simply cannot negotiate with the savages of the Iranian 
     regime. The Iranian regime has no qualms with funding 
     extremist terrorists, including Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and 
     Hezbollah, all of which seek to destroy Israel. We have seen 
     Iran-backed Hamas murder innocent civilians, we have evidence 
     that Hamas has beheaded babies and burned Israelis alive, and 
     we are all aware that they are taking hostages for rape, 
     mutilation, and murder. Their actions directly mock every 
     freedom-loving American. To stop their spread of influence 
     throughout the region, we must immediately reverse course and 
     reinforce our commitment on the sanctions levied against 
     Iran. Anyone who thinks the appeasement of Tehran is an 
     effective national security strategy must be removed for the 
     sake of all Americans.
       Sullivan's deleterious mistakes with respect to Iran and 
     Iran-backed Hamas only build on his earlier involvement in 
     the administration's disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan. 
     There, we stood by and watched the Taliban take over the 
     country in less than two weeks. We cannot have someone with 
     his notable history of poor decision-making, and lack of 
     critical insights, as the most senior advisor to the 
     President on our nation's security matters. Continuing to do 
     so is misguided. You said it yourself, Mr. President--the 
     United States must stand with Israel. Leaving Jake Sullivan 
     in his current position hinders both Israel's, as well as the 
     United States', national security posture.
           Sincerely,
                                                 Marsha Blackburn,
                                            United States Senator.

  Mrs. BLACKBURN. Madam President, we all have a choice here: Will the 
United States act with courage or are we going to sit quiet and allow 
this barbarism to continue?
  Israeli forces report that Hamas bound boys and girls before shooting 
them in the head--children who were bound and then shot in the head. 
They found families who had been burned alive. There are reports that 
young women had been raped and then mutilated. Hamas turned a music 
festival into a killing field. The beheadings of babies--we have heard 
those reports. These will live in infamy.
  The historians have a phrase to describe massacres like this. It is 
``Holocaust by bullets.'' It is inconceivable that any of my colleagues 
could tolerate the demands that Israel surrender to terrorists.
  It is time for this President, his advisers, and all of our 
colleagues--all of our colleagues--who told the Israelis to stand down 
to take a good, hard look at where complacency and appeasement gets us. 
Look at Gaza. Look at Iran. Look at Afghanistan. Look at China. Look at 
our own southern border. Since October 1, Border Patrol has apprehended 
30 Iranians. That is since the 1st of this month, this year. This is 
who the Border Patrol has apprehended: 30 Iranians, 60 Syrians, 35 
Pakistanis, more than 100 Russians, 285 Afghans, and 2,000 Chinese--
trying to cross our southern border undetected.
  Now, do they all mean us harm? Probably not, but we cannot know that 
for sure because this administration refuses to acknowledge the 
possibility that terrorists are coming across this southern border--246 
apprehended since Joe Biden became President. What are we doing? What 
are we doing? How do we know the intentions of those 30 Iranians? 2,000 
Chinese? 100 Russians? Is there a guarantee they are not here to kill 
us?
  The job of Hamas: kill people. You have watched them do it with glee. 
Terrorists, what do they do? They set up terror cells. They wait to 
strike to kill you--to kill you.
  I have got to tell you: This administration needs to grow a spine. 
They need to grow a spine, and they need to be solid and resolute that 
they are going to protect this country and our citizens and our allies. 
And our enemies are going to know that they are an enemy, because we 
will treat them like that. We have got a choice: We can show courage; 
we can surrender; we can practice appeasement. But that is the choice.
  This country needs to show courage and leadership. I hope that this 
body and this administration will choose courage and leadership.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. CORNYN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.
  Mr. CORNYN. Madam President, 9 days have passed since Hamas launched 
its unprovoked attack on the State of Israel. Hamas fighters have 
entered Israel by land, air, and sea. They brutally murdered, abused, 
and kidnapped innocent civilians. They paraded hostages through the 
streets of Gaza like trophies.
  Hamas terrorists--and that is exactly what they are--killed at least 
1,400 Israelis, making it the deadliest days for Jews since the 
Holocaust. Nearly 200 additional people were kidnapped by Hamas, 
including at least 13 Americans who are currently unaccounted for, on 
top of the 30 Americans who we know have been killed in the attack.
  Since this war began--and that is what it is, a war on the State of 
Israel--we have witnessed evil in its purest form. There is no 
excusing, no equivocating, no explaining the actions of Hamas. It is 
not trying to protect the Palestinian people or promote freedom; 
Hamas's singular goal is to annihilate the Jewish people and wipe 
Israel off the map. Any attempt to explain or justify or provide some 
argument of moral equivalence is completely wrong, and it is dangerous. 
It plays directly into these terrorists' hands.
  First of all, Israel has a right to defend itself. It has a right to 
exist--something Hamas wishes was not the case. If Hamas or any other 
terrorist group launches an attack on Israel, its government has both 
the right and the responsibility to protect its citizens.
  Second, the number of civilian casualties on both sides, particularly 
those children and babies, is absolutely appalling and heartbreaking. 
But then again, the innocent always bear the ultimate cost of war.
  Over the last several days, we have seen videos and heard firsthand 
accounts of the terror Hamas has unleashed against Israel and the 
Israeli people. These images and stories are extremely difficult to 
watch, but they are also very important to share. People need to know 
what is happening. They need to know the truth, not some

[[Page S4972]]

candy-coated version of the truth. The people of the United States and 
the rest of the world need to understand the magnitude and the threat 
of what is unfolding in the Middle East.
  Texas, I am happy to say, is home to a sizable Jewish community. For 
these individuals, the war in Israel is far more than just a sad clip 
or the most recent news; it is a deeply personal attack on their faith 
and their family, because many Texans--many Americans--have relatives 
living in Israel as I speak.
  Last week, I visited the Temple Emanu-El in Dallas to hear from 
several members of the Jewish community in my State whose families and 
friends were directly impacted by this war against Israel. I heard from 
one incredible mom, Kim, whose sons--26-year-old Benji and 24-year-old 
Sammy--both serve in the Israel Defense Forces. They were born and 
raised in Dallas and moved to Israel after high school and joined the 
IDF. Benji's wife Leah is a New York native and also a soldier in the 
Israel Defense Forces. Kim says she struggles to sleep at night. She is 
constantly checking her phone to see if she is getting messages and to 
make sure her two sons are safe.
  I also heard from another brave woman, Aya, whose family moved from 
Israel to Dallas just 2 months ago. Aya and her husband and her three 
children came to the United States from a small kibbutz near the Gaza 
Strip, where she was a teacher. She said she and her husband were 
awakened last Saturday by a string of messages on her phone from 
friends, neighbors, and former students describing the terror that was 
unfolding in their former home. Aya told me about conversations with 
former students who were terrified that they might be next. She shared 
stories of people fleeing and showed me photos of four people who were 
believed to have been kidnapped and two others who had been killed.
  As hard as it is to hear these tragic stories--and I know there were 
even more difficult ones to share--they help us all understand the 
depravity and the evil of what Hamas has unleashed on innocent men, 
women, and children--civilians--in Israel. Although this is thousands 
of miles away from where we are, it affects all of us deeply.
  Of course, these pictures show the brutality of Hamas and underscore 
the need to continue our support for the nation of Israel as it tries 
to eradicate this terrorist threat. Over the last several days, the 
support for Israel has been overwhelming. It transcends party lines, 
religion, race, and ethnicity. This is not an issue of opinion; this is 
a battle between right and wrong, good and evil.
  Of course, the United States has a long and proud history of 
supporting Israel since its inception in 1948, and it is important for 
Hamas and its allies--and they, of course, are a proxy force for Iran, 
the No. 1 state sponsor of terrorism, as is Hezbollah in Lebanon--it is 
important for the terrorists and their sponsors to understand that 
America's support for Israel is not limited to rhetoric. If Israel 
needs weapons, the United States will provide them. If Israel needs 
support gathering or analyzing intelligence, the United States will 
provide it. If Israel needs help with humanitarian assistance, medical 
supplies--whatever they need--the United States and the people of this 
great country will answer the call.

  The United States will not toe the line between good and evil. We 
will stand with our allies as they defend their home against a 
terrorist invasion, just as we did when cowardly terrorists took 3,000 
lives here in Washington, DC, and Pennsylvania about 20 years ago.
  As the fighting continues, I am reminded of the saying that has been 
around for years. It goes: If Hamas laid down its weapons today, there 
would be no more violence. If Israel laid down its weapons today, there 
would be no more Israel.
  Hamas is not fighting for peace. It is not fighting to defend their 
way of life or their territory. It is trying to wipe out an entire 
people. It is trying to wipe Israel off the map--with the help, 
support, and training, the aiding and abetting by Iran, the No. 1 state 
sponsor of terrorism, as I said. That is what is at stake here.
  Israel has been the lone beacon of democracy in the Middle East. It 
is a sacred home for the Jewish people. Christians travel to Israel 
each year to look at the place where their faith and their religion 
were born.
  Of course, Israel is also a longtime friend and ally of the United 
States and has always had America's full and unwavering support. 
Whether there is a Democrat or a Republican in the White House, whether 
Democrats have the majority or are in the minority or vice versa, the 
United States has always supported Israel and will continue to do so 
during these very difficult and tragic days.
  This week, the Senate is expected to pass a bipartisan resolution 
condemning Hamas's attack on Israel and expressing our support for 
Israel's response. I am proud to be a cosponsor of that legislation--or 
that resolution, and I hope it will pass the Senate with a unanimous 
vote.
  America must remain steadfast in its commitment to support Israel and 
continue to counter threats posed by terrorist organizations around the 
world. As I have said, we have been the victim of some of these 
terrorist organizations, and Americans have lost their lives as a 
result of our failure of imagination to dream of the possibility that 
they might not just attack over there but would actually attack us 
here.
  Of course, we all hope and pray for a day in the future when the 
Middle East can be a place of peace, stability, and democracy. We 
simply will not reach that point without a strong and secure Israel.
  I stand in full support of Israel and will continue to advocate for 
any form of assistance she needs, whether it is military, humanitarian, 
or otherwise.
  We must stand with Israel. The United States does not bow down to 
terrorist organizations, and we will not allow our allies to be bullied 
and beaten by Hamas or any other terrorist organization.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. CARDIN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Ms. Hirono). Without objection, it is so 
ordered.
  Mr. CARDIN. Madam President, I come to the floor today to express my 
shock and horror at what Hamas has done in its terrorist attack on 
Israel. It is difficult to comprehend the evil we witnessed last week.
  Before Saturday, October 7, 2023, there were over 1,000 innocent 
Jewish people going about their lives in southern Israel. They were 
young people at a music festival, grandparents outside of their homes, 
children celebrating birthdays, mothers with little babies in their 
arms. Hamas massacred them all. We have not seen this kind of atrocity 
since the early days of the ISIS caliphate.
  Tragically, we must not only mourn the death that Hamas left behind; 
we must try to rescue the hostages--some of them American citizens--
that Hamas dragged back to Gaza.
  For the Jewish community around the world and for all Israelis, this 
was the most horrific week in generations--some of the toughest in 
Israel's entire history. So I want to make one point crystal clear: The 
United States stands shoulder to shoulder with the State of Israel.
  Seventy-five years ago, Harry Truman was the first world leader to 
officially recognize Israel, only 11 minutes after its creation. He did 
that because the United States and Israel share common values. And for 
over seven decades, the relationship between our two nations has only 
gotten stronger and deeper.
  So despite the pain that many of us feel from these barbaric 
attacks--and we will continue to feel--now is the time for us to show 
our total support for Israel, not just in words but by our deeds. This 
is exactly what we are doing.
  From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank the U.S. Embassy team in 
Israel and our Embassies across the region for their tireless efforts. 
Even as they themselves have taken cover from rocket fire, American 
diplomats have stepped up to work hand in hand with Israel to serve 
over a half a million Americans who are there. In fact, across the 
Biden administration, public

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servants have been working around the clock to help Israel make sure it 
has everything it needs to defend its people.
  President Biden has had several calls with Prime Minister Netanyahu, 
offering America's full support. He has also ordered the USS Ford's 
carrier strike group to the eastern Mediterranean.
  A warning that Hezbollah in Lebanon and the regime in Iran need to 
hear loud and clear: Do not join this conflict. Don't even think about 
it. The United States and our allies and partners will not tolerate 
such actions.
  Our Secretaries of State and of Defense are working nonstop to 
coordinate the flow of security assistance to Israel, and planeloads of 
U.S. defense items have already landed. And they have both been in the 
region working with our partners to shore up support for Israel.
  Congress also has to make sure we do everything we can to help come 
together to help Israel. Bipartisan congressional support has always 
been the bedrock of the U.S.-Israel relationship.
  In the days since this attack, I have been talking with my colleagues 
throughout the Senate and the House. I have had several conversations 
with the Republican ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations 
Committee, Senator Risch. I have let the administration know our 
committee is prepared to work quietly and quickly in a bipartisan 
manner to support Israel. That is why, earlier today, I introduced, 
along with Senator Risch and more than 91 cosponsors, a bipartisan 
resolution that sends a clear message that America stands with Israel--
always has, always will.
  And over the course of the next days and weeks and months, I will be 
leading my colleagues to make sure Israel gets everything it needs to 
defend itself and its people. That means replenishing Israel's air 
defenses so that they have what they need to repel the rocket attacks. 
That means authorizing supplemental money for Israel's defense as it 
navigates the aftermath of this attack. And, as the chair of the Senate 
Foreign Relations Committee, that means getting the President's nominee 
for Ambassador to Israel, Jacob Lew, confirmed and in his post as soon 
as possible. We need a confirmed Ambassador in Israel to assist in 
these efforts.
  We also need to be pushing back against the narrative that Hamas is 
trying to spread across the global community, the idea that there is 
some equivalency between Israel's security operations and Hamas's 
terror attacks. There is no equivalency here. This is about Israel's 
right to defend itself against a designated terrorist organization. It 
is about freeing abducted citizens--women, children, old people--who 
have been held hostage.
  Now, I am concerned about the safety and welfare of the Palestinians, 
because Hamas does not care one bit about the safety and welfare of 
millions of Palestinians, their lives, and their humanity. During their 
terror attack on Israel, Hamas also killed Arabs, including a heroic 
ambulance driver who went to help the wounded people at the music 
festival, because that is what decent human beings do. They help in 
times of need. Hamas has made them pay with their lives. So most 
Palestinians want no part of what Hamas is doing, and I believe we must 
find a way to support safe passage for those residents of Gaza who are 
trying to get out.

  We also need to make sure that innocent people stuck there get the 
food and water and medical care that they so desperately desire. The 
best thing we can do for Palestinians in Gaza is to make sure Hamas can 
never do this again.
  Finally, as we look to the future, we must not allow this conflict to 
derail the normalization process that has been in the works between 
Israel and Saudi Arabia. This would be an absolute game changer, and 
Hamas knows that.
  Agreeing to normal relations is the stepping stone to peace and 
prosperity for Israel and for the entire region, including for the 
Palestinian people. A stable and prosperous Middle East that includes a 
stable and prosperous Palestinian state is one of the best ways to 
undercut Iran's resistance ideology and Hamas's goal of destroying 
Israel.
  They don't want a Palestinian state at peace with Israel and 
accountable to the Palestinian people. We cannot let terrorists win. We 
cannot let them win, and I know that we will not, thanks to the 
resilience of the Israeli people.
  Early on the morning of October 7, an Israeli journalist who lives 
near the border of Gaza heard mortar rockets flying overhead. He rushed 
with his wife into a safe room in his home with his 3-year-old and 1-
year-old daughters. When he knew Hamas had infiltrated their kibbutz, 
he thought:

       We're going to die here.

  He called his father, who lived in Tel Aviv. His father told him:

       You have to be quiet. You have to be locked.

  His father, a retired general in his sixties, was going to get in his 
car and come rescue them. He told his son:

       Nobody, nobody can stop me.

  Over the next 10 hours, the grandfather fought his way south. He got 
to the door of his son's house and then found the dead bodies of 
terrorists outside. He called out to his son to open the safe room 
door. From inside, one of the girls recognized his voice and shouted:

       Grandfather is here. Grandfather is here.

  That is when they knew they were safe.
  That is the kind of courage Israelis have. That is the kind of 
bravery that they see in Israel through this terrible tragedy. And we 
must not rest until our committee, our Congress, and our Nation has 
done everything we can to support Israel in this time of need.
  So to my colleagues on both sides of the aisle here in the Senate, 
let's work together to support Israel.
  And to those who committed these atrocities, we will hold you 
accountable for these crimes against humanity, no matter how long it 
takes.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mrs. GILLIBRAND. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
order for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Cardin). Without objection, it is so 
ordered.
  Mrs. GILLIBRAND. Mr. President, it has been more than a week since 
Hamas terrorists attacked Israel, killing more than 1,400 people and 
wounding thousands more. But every day, still more horrifying stories 
and images emerge, depicting unspeakable atrocities.
  Just the other day, there was an interview with an Israeli father on 
CNN. The father said his 8-year-old daughter went missing during the 
attack. After 2 agonizing days, the father learned his little girl was 
dead. But it was his reaction that really hit me. When he heard the 
horrific news, the father said that he felt relieved because ``if you 
know anything about what they do to people in Gaza, that is worse than 
death.''
  Can you imagine what it must be like to fear your loved ones--your 
sons, your daughters--could be suffering; that they could be enduring a 
fate that is worse than death? As a mother, I cannot even imagine what 
it must be like to lose a child, let alone in this way, to see loved 
ones slaughtered, mutilated, and burned. But to see them taken hostage 
or paraded through the streets, to worry that at any moment they could 
be enduring unspeakable horrors, it is a pain that is unconceivable and 
seems impossible to bear.
  On Long Island, we have a family whose son was taken hostage. His 
name is Omer Neutra. He is just 22 years old--not much older than my 
eldest. Omer was an honors student in high school, and he loves the New 
York Knicks. He deferred his acceptance to Binghamton University to 
spend a gap year in Israel and join the IDF.
  On the day of the attack, he was defending the Gaza border. But he 
was last seen being forcibly removed by the terrorists and has not been 
heard from since.
  Omer is just 1 of nearly 200 people who were abducted by Hamas: 
toddlers, babies, teenagers, moms, grandmothers, grandfathers, people 
who cannot go without their medicine or are even too young to walk. 
Entire families were captured and used as human shields.
  One 85-year-old grandmother, Yaffa Adar, was carried off in a golf 
cart as

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she held her head high. But her family says without her medication, it 
is likely going to be a lot of pain for her. A mother was on the phone 
with her son when he was abducted, and she heard him say to the 
terrorists: ``Don't take me. I'm too young.'' Another mother, Shiri 
Silberman-Bibas, can be seen in her captor's video clutching her two 
young children, sheer terror in her eyes. And 23-year-old Hersh 
Goldberg-Polin had his arm blown off from the elbow down before he 
disappeared near Gaza. A young woman was thrust brutally into the back 
of a truck, her hands cable-tied behind her back, blood streaming down 
her arms, legs, and her back. A Holocaust survivor in a wheelchair--
imagine surviving the Holocaust only to be taken hostage by terrorists. 
This is the kind of anti-Semitic violence Jewish people have faced for 
millennia.
  Until last week, many of these people were ordinary, peaceful people 
just going about their daily lives: working, going to school, dancing 
at a music festival. Now we don't know what has become of them, and 
many of their families fear the worst.
  As the days wear on and the situation in Gaza becomes more desperate, 
the danger to those hostages only grows. Already, Hamas terrorists have 
threatened to execute hostages. As a U.S. Senator, my top priority is 
the safety of the American people, and I am going to be working closely 
with the State Department to secure the return of 13 Americans who are 
still unaccounted for, like Omer and Hersh.
  But as we continue in this mission, I want the hostages and their 
families to know, we will not stop fighting for you. We will do 
whatever it takes to bring you home, and we will never give in to 
terrorists.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Reed). Without objection, it is so 
ordered.