[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 18 (Wednesday, January 31, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S297-S298]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                  Iran

  Ms. ERNST. Madam President, this weekend, three brave Americans gave 
their lives in service to our country. My heart goes out to the 
families of SGT William Jerome Rivers, SPC Kennedy Sanders, and SPC 
Breonna Moffett, who were serving in the Army Reserves 718th Engineer 
Company--the same company I served in nearly 30 years ago as a platoon 
leader. I know the bravery of men and women who put themselves in 
harm's way, and my prayers are with their colleagues who are suffering 
from their injuries.
  Our servicemembers continue to be on the frontlines of Iran-backed 
attacks. Earlier this month, two Navy SEALs went missing in action 
while interdicting lethal aid that Iran was resupplying to the Houthis. 
Navy Special Warfare Operator 1st Class Christopher Chambers and Navy 
Special Warfare Operator 2nd Class Nathan Ingram made the ultimate 
sacrifice working to prevent more Iranian-backed terror.
  Iran's proxies who continue to attack our troops must know how 
seriously the United States takes American lives. Every American life 
is precious. Our adversaries need to understand that a single American 
loss is one too many and that they will pay dearly for spilling the 
blood of those who wear the uniform.
  I have said it before, and I will say it again: American weakness on 
the world stage emboldens our adversaries and puts U.S. citizens at 
risk.
  Right now, today, six Americans continue to be held hostage by Iran-
backed Hamas. This terrorist organization thinks it can barter with 
American lives. Instead of fearing us, they seek to manipulate us. 
Instead of hiding in the shadows, they hold press conferences and 
entertain foreign officials openly in Doha.
  For over 100 days, Hamas has held six of our citizens and has not 
paid a price. Instead, the opposite has occurred. What is President 
Biden doing to bring them home? Doubling down on the appeasement 
strategy.
  By refusing to enforce existing sanctions on Iran's illicit oil 
sales, President Biden has fueled and funded Tehran's terrorist proxies 
and green-lit terrorism. For years, President Biden lined the coffers 
of the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism through his 
appeasement strategy, culminating in the October 7 assault on Israel.
  Every day since these Iranian-backed attacks on Israel, we have seen 
the world erupt into chaos, and American lives have been in constant 
danger. Still, the Biden administration fears escalation more than 
anything else. What is the result? They are letting Tehran's terrorists 
off the hook for their illicit actions and attacks on American lives.
  October 7 was not only a physical attack on Israel but also one of 
the largest losses of American lives from terrorism since 9/11. There 
were 32 unforgettable deaths.
  Make no mistake, this chaos is exactly what Iran wants. It pays for 
it, and it plans for it.
  When I was in the region during the attacks, many leaders shared 
their concerns with me that Iran would capitalize on the chaos by using 
proxies to escalate the conflict. I knew that it was essential to stand 
with Israel not only to protect our partnership with our greatest ally 
in the region but also to protect American lives.
  Unfortunately, we are seeing those fears come to fruition. Since 
October 7, Iran-backed proxies have ramped up their aggression, with 
over 160 attacks on our servicemembers. The Houthis are unleashing 
drone attacks on our troops in the Red Sea, disrupting commerce, and 
wreaking havoc on innocent civilians.
  We struggle to defend our ships from incoming rockets and drones and 
hesitate to find, fix, and finish the very source of these attacks. We 
know it is Iranian proxies. Folks, we know that. There is no doubt 
about it. We know they are trained by the IRGC. It is time to strike 
the source of the problem. Why? Because American lives continue to be 
on the line every single day. Self-defense is not escalation; it is the 
most basic and moral action we can take as a nation. We owe it to our 
troops. We owe it to our citizens.
  For nearly 4 months--4 months, folks--Hamas has held U.S. citizens 
hostage as political prisoners. Our fellow Americans are being used as 
human shields, without consistent access to food, to water, to medical 
treatment, or to sleep. Right now, American hostage families live in 
agony, uncertain if their loved ones are alive or dead. No parent 
should ever have to endure this, and terrorists should not be able to 
hold this power over Americans. We must do everything in our power to 
stop Hamas from torturing our families.
  To end Hamas's reign of terror, we must cut off their IRGC funding. 
These terrorist groups have one thing in common: As long as they are 
sponsored by Tehran, they are committed to chaos in the world, and they 
pose a threat to Americans at home and abroad.
  Now is the time for strong U.S. leadership. I have been calling for 
President Biden to hit Iran where it hurts--the pocketbooks funneling 
illicit oil funds to its terrorist proxies.
  The choice, folks, is clear: To stand with Israel, we must target 
Iran's terrorist arm and end its ability to target Americans so we can 
bring American hostages home safely and quickly. Folks, every second 
counts.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Nebraska.
  Mrs. FISCHER. Madam President, I want to talk today about deterrence 
and escalation.
  In 1988, the American frigate USS Samuel B. Roberts struck an Iranian 
mine in international waters. Thankfully, no Americans were killed. 
But, wisely, President Reagan didn't wait for tragedy to occur before 
acting. Just 4 days later, the United States destroyed two Iranian oil 
platforms, three warships, two fighter jets, and multiple other 
vessels.

[[Page S298]]

  The message was clear: If you put American lives in danger, you will 
be destroyed. There was no escalation. The conflict did not spiral into 
an uncontained war. Deterrence was restored.
  Compare that powerful and effective example of deterrence to where we 
are today. Another Iran-backed group, Hamas, attacked our ally Israel 
on October 7. The President said that the United States would stand 
with Israel and that he would not tell Israel how to conduct its war 
against this terror. Since then, his administration has all but folded 
to the demands of those in his party who want to condition aid and 
support to our ally.
  Since October 7, Iran-backed militias have attacked U.S. troops not 
once, not twice, but more than 150 times. President Biden has allowed 
not days, not weeks, but months of unanswered attacks by Iran-backed 
Houthis on U.S. ships and civilian cargo vessels in the Red Sea. What 
was the inevitable result of the President's hesitation? The tragic 
deaths of three American troops at the hands of an Iran-backed militia, 
with dozens more seriously injured in that attack. And let's not forget 
that two Navy SEALS gave their lives just days before. They died trying 
to stop Iran from supplying weapons to similar militia groups across 
the region.

  This administration likes to say that it doesn't want to escalate the 
situation. President Biden doesn't want Israel to escalate its 
justifiable war, and he doesn't want the United States to escalate our 
defense of Americans. His administration has said it wants to avoid 
escalation so much that it is beginning to seem like he is more afraid 
of being blamed for escalation than he is afraid of Americans being 
killed. But we should be clear: The only attacks President Biden is 
deterring are our own.
  It is time to realize that our enemies have already escalated. Our 
response must be strong enough so that we can restore deterrence. 
Militants, they have attacked Israel, targeted civilian ships, and now 
they have killed Americans--all funded and supported by Iran. To stand 
up for our country, to stand against the murder of Americans and to 
stand with Israel, we must clearly demonstrate to Iran that they will 
pay a price for their continued support of terrorism.
  Public reports say that President Biden is considering options for a 
retaliatory strike against Iranian forces. Whatever he decides to do, 
it must not follow his now well-established pattern of too little, too 
late. President Biden must finally restore credible deterrence, which 
is the only way that we will prevent escalation.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from North Carolina.
  Mr. BUDD. Madam President, over the weekend, our Nation lost three 
servicemembers in a drone attack in Jordan. Responsibility for this 
attack rests with the Islamic Republic of Iran. Sadly, what happened 
over the weekend, it is not a surprise. It has been happening for 
months.
  Iran and their proxies have launched more than 165 attacks against 
U.S. troops across the Middle East and countless more against 
commercial and military vessels in the Red Sea.
  There has been a consistent drumbeat of Iranian-backed proxy attacks 
since the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel.
  A few things are clear about this situation. First, Iran and its 
proxies, they do not currently fear the United States.
  Second, Iran is intent on harming the United States, our 
servicemembers, and our interests.
  Third, Iran is aiming to push the United States out of the Middle 
East in a bid for complete regional power. We can't let this takeover 
happen.
  Iranian dominance in the Middle East would jeopardize the free flow 
of international trade; it would endanger important energy resources as 
well as damage America's counterterrorism efforts. And in the shadow of 
October 7, if we were to abandon our Middle East allies, it would be 
open season on Israel and the Jewish people.
  I have heard the views of many in this Chamber, ranging from those 
who favor an immediate military offensive inside Iran to those who want 
the United States to leave the region altogether. Instead of beginning 
another ``forever war'' or succumbing to isolationism, I would submit 
that there is a better way. And we don't have to go back very far in 
history to find it.
  After a single American contractor was killed at the hands of Iran in 
2019, President Trump ordered a strike that eliminated the head of 
Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force, Qasem Soleimani. We didn't 
start a war, and we didn't withdraw. We simply sent Iran's leaders a 
very clear message; that is, if you kill Americans, you will forfeit 
your life. And Iran pulled back.
  That is deterrence, when all nations know for certain that we are 
willing to act in defense of our people. It is that clear understanding 
that actually prevents a wider conflict, and it is a breakdown in 
clarity that is provoking the Iranians to continue taking more 
dangerous--and ultimately deadly--shots at U.S. forces abroad.
  We must end the failed Biden policy of appeasement toward Iran. We 
must also stop telegraphing U.S. responses so Iran and its proxies can 
move personnel, weapons, and equipment out of the target area. Weakness 
only invites further aggression.
  We must reestablish deterrence, and we must respond with the strength 
that this moment requires. No more half measures, hesitation, or 
muddled messages. Iran and their proxies must know that when the United 
States of America tells them to stop, we mean it, and we are willing to 
do something about it. Without a strong response, the risk of 
escalation only increases and, with it, the danger to America.
  One other note before I yield the floor, all of my colleagues and I 
are here today to stand shoulder to shoulder with the nation of Israel. 
They are one of our closest friends and allies. That is why it is 
highly disturbing to read reports that the Biden administration is 
reviewing options to reward the extremism and barbarism of Hamas by 
unilaterally recognizing a Palestinian state. This would represent a 
major reversal of longstanding U.S. policy and would be a betrayal of 
our friend and ally Israel. The Biden administration must abandon any 
consideration of such a dangerous and foolish proposal.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from West Virginia.