[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 171 (Wednesday, October 18, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5065-S5066]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                 ISRAEL

  Mrs. CAPITO. Madam President, I join my colleague from Kansas and 
many others who are going to be on the floor today in full and total 
support of one of our most steadfast allies, the State of Israel. I 
also stand here today to strongly condemn--condemn in the strongest 
terms--the terrorist attacks perpetrated on Israel by Hamas.
  Since the initial attack on October 7, we have lost 31 American 
citizens. Other Americans remain unaccounted for and are being held 
hostage. More than 1,400 Israelis have been killed, and countless 
families have been left without a home and without their loved ones.
  This is an unacceptable tragedy and recalls far too familiar memories 
of terrorist attacks in our own Nation's history. We remember vividly 
the devastating and hostile attacks that ISIS deployed and can clearly 
see the parallels between their terroristic actions and the wrath that 
Hamas is now perpetrating. Now is the time to unabashedly and 
unapologetically support Israel, and I do.
  It is also time to support Israel's right to defend themselves and 
their people. The United States and Israel has a long, long history of 
demonstrating mutual respect and allegiance to one another.
  It dates back to 1948, when President Truman became the first world 
leader to recognize the Jewish State. Since then, Israel has displayed 
unmatched loyalty and provided critical support to our country in the 
Middle East. Israel has stood beside us in some of our darkest hours, 
and now, as friends do, we will do the same for them.
  It is imperative that Congress take action now and provide the 
support that Israel needs in the face of these terrorist attacks, both 
to properly defend themselves but also to provide the humanitarian 
resources needed for those whose lives have been decimated by a group 
that shows no mercy toward civilians, many of whom are women and 
children.
  Our country must do all that it can within our power to rescue 
American hostages and return them to safety. This has to be met with 
increased urgency because time is of the essence. I am afraid the 
longer we wait, the sadder the stories, especially for those hostages 
who are in severe need of medical attention.
  We must also make certain that the $6 billion in frozen assets that 
the Biden administration planned to send to Iran in September remains 
frozen.
  It is incomprehensible to me that the Biden administration made the 
announcement that they were going to unfreeze $6 billion to Iran and 
that they would do that on September 11 of this year. Additionally, it 
is imperative that the Biden administration finally strengthens and 
enforces U.S. sanctions on the Iranian regime, which is raking in 
billions of dollars--the Iranian regime is raking in billions of 
dollars--in illicit oil sales.
  It is past time to get tough on Iranian oil and to stop the regime 
from skirting our U.S. sanctions. Iran is selling 1.4 billion barrels 
of oil per day this year and using these proceeds to fund what we just 
saw over the last several weeks--these murderous actions of terrorist 
groups throughout the region--and they fund their own military at the 
same time.
  It should surprise no one that Iran, the world leader in state-
sponsored terrorism, was heavily involved in this attack and that they 
continue to support the unjustifiable actions of Hamas.
  The leaders of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee have put forth 
a resolution, of which I am an original cosponsor and support strongly, 
as do many of us. This resolution declares that Congress will stand 
with Israel. It

[[Page S5066]]

reaffirms Israel's right to self-defense. It condemns Hamas and Iran 
and calls on the Biden administration to further impose sanctions on 
Iran.
  With the support of 99 Senators, once passed, this will send an 
almost unanimous message to the world that acts of terrorism and 
violence will not be tolerated or go unpunished.
  I have been encouraged by President Biden's response following the 
attacks on Israel. However, President Biden's time in office has been 
defined by a level of, in my view, passiveness and ambiguity that has 
emboldened our adversaries, and it has lacked the strength that is 
required of a superpower. That being said, this is not the time to 
fight amongst ourselves.
  One of our strongest allies is under attack, and a nation as strong 
as ours must display a united front as well as call these attacks on 
Israel exactly what they are, an act of terrorism.
  There is no doubt that the continued assault on Israel creates a 
seismic shift in our foreign policy. Just a few weeks ago, on this very 
floor, I warned about the uneasy closeness that was cultivating between 
our adversaries. Nations that shun our values and reject democracy are 
finding refuge with each other and stand in direct opposition to our 
ideals and our way of life. The connection between these countries--
Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea--cannot be ignored and only 
further underscores the importance of strengthening our own military 
capabilities. We need to be providing military aid for Israel that will 
serve to not only reinforce our allies but also invest directly back in 
our own defense. We will serve to reenergize our defense industrial 
base by restoring the arsenal of democracy that defines our leadership 
as the United States of America.
  Moving forward, we must act decisively and lead in the way that 
America has done before in times of emergency and adversity. This is 
the United States of America, the greatest country on Earth. We have 
the capacity and the obligation to defend our allies as they face 
unjustified aggression from adversaries.
  These attacks on Israel are brutal beyond comprehension and have led 
to the slaying, as I said before, of innocent families, women, and 
children. It is incumbent upon us to show steadfast support for Israel 
and to reiterate how military aid from the United States is in the best 
interests of both of our nations.
  The world is watching and expecting the United States to lead. I 
encourage my colleagues to recognize the magnitude of this moment, 
which many of us have been expressing here on the floor today, and join 
together in our unwavering support of Israel.
  With that, I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Iowa.

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