[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 204 (Tuesday, December 12, 2023)]
[House]
[Page H6819]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HUMANITARIAN AID FOR GAZA

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Bera) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BERA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the safe, timely, 
and sufficient delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians in the Gaza 
Strip.
  The actions that Hamas took on October 7 were horrific and led to the 
tragic loss of life and displacement of millions.
  When I talk to the families of victims of the October 7 tragedy who 
were killed or taken hostage, you can hear the agony and despair in 
their voices. I also hear that same agony and despair when I talk to my 
constituents who are Palestinian Americans who have lost relatives in 
this war.
  Now, I can't change the prosecution of this war. Israel has a right 
to defend itself. Israel has a right to make sure Hamas no longer 
presents a security threat to its civilians. It also has the right to 
degrade Hamas' ability to be a viable governing and political entity if 
we ever want to find a lasting peace.
  That is the horror of war. I can't prevent that. What we can do is 
prevent what we are watching unfold in front of our eyes right now.
  I am a doctor, and I am hearing horrific reports of the humanitarian 
and public health crisis that is taking place--the lack of clean water, 
the lack of food, and the starvation that is unfolding in front of us. 
Winter is coming.
  We must do everything we can to prevent the humanitarian crisis if we 
ever want to find eventual peace in the region. That is something that 
we can do. That is not about war. That is about relieving the suffering 
of individuals and civilians. The folks who are most vulnerable are 
infants and the elderly. Let's get them that clean water.
  Mr. Speaker, that is why I am introducing my resolution calling for 
the safe, timely, and sufficient delivery of humanitarian aid to 
civilians in the Gaza Strip.
  This resolution urges the Biden administration to facilitate a scale-
up of the safe and continuous flow of aid to civilians that includes 
medications, food, and clean water. It asks for the ability of 
humanitarian organizations to deliver this aid in Gaza without 
impediment or interference. It encourages the distribution of fuel to 
humanitarian organizations working in Gaza and for the proper oversight 
to ensure the aid is appropriately delivered and not commandeered by 
Hamas.
  Mr. Speaker, I also recognize the urgency of passing President 
Biden's supplemental funding because it does contain funding for 
humanitarian aid.
  We have to get this done. We must do everything we can to pass this 
funding request to support our allies and prevent this humanitarian 
catastrophe in Gaza.
  Mr. Speaker, in this time when many religions and faiths are 
reflective, let's do everything we can. We are all God's children here.
  We can do this. This is not about war. This is about saving lives. 
This is about allowing humanitarian aid to flow into Gaza on a 
continuous basis to provide food, clean water, medications, fuel to 
keep hospitals operating, and energy to make sure we save these lives.

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