[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 64 (Monday, April 15, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2732-S2733]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                  Unanimous Consent Request--H.R. 6126

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Kansas.
  Mr. MARSHALL. Madam President:

       As Israel is under attack from Iran, we stand with Israel 
     and its people, and the United States will do everything we 
     can to support Israel's defense against Iran.

  Now, I have said similar things to that, but that is actually a quote 
from the Democratic Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer:

       As Israel is under attack from Iran, we stand with Israel 
     and its people and the United States will do everything we 
     can to support Israel's defense against Iran.

  The majority leader said basically the same thing several months ago 
on the Nation's Mall when he said he wouldn't sleep until we help the 
people of Israel.
  It has been almost 200 days since Iran-backed Hamas terrorists 
invaded Israel and brutally killed innocent civilians--women, senior 
citizens, and children--since that horrific day on October 7. I called 
for aid to our ally Israel, with no strings attached, on this floor 
four times.
  Sadly, Democrats have blocked our efforts every single time. Every 
time we come to the floor to have this debate, my colleagues on the 
other side of the aisle have stood on this floor and lectured us on why 
the bipartisan House-passed, stand-alone Israel legislation that 
maintains the spending levels requested by President Biden is somehow 
unreasonable.
  Well, what is unreasonable to me and to most Americans across this 
country is this body's reluctance to help our ally Israel in their time 
of need following not just one but now two unprecedented attacks on 
Israel's sovereign soil. Unreasonable is the Biden administration 
coming out today admitting that they are yet again holding Israel funds 
hostage. And why? That is a question I get back home: Why? I will tell 
you why.
  Because they are, again, using this crisis as a lever to secure more 
money for Ukraine. And they object to protect their members who are 
pro-Iran, who are pro-Hamas, from a tough vote, as they call it.

[[Page S2733]]

  Over the weekend, everybody has now seen that Israel was attacked--
this time by the head of the snake, Iran; not its proxies, but the head 
of the snake, Iran. Iran, the nation that harbors terrorists who scream 
and shout out: Death to America. Iran, who time and time again has 
shown us they hate Americans, they hate Israel. Iran, a terrorist, 
authoritarian, evil regime that cannot be trusted launched more than 
120 ballistic missiles, 30 cruise missiles, and 170 one-way suicide 
drones at Israel on Saturday night.
  Thankfully, through the strength and resolve of the Israeli people 
and with military help from the United States, British forces, Jordan, 
and many others who successfully neutralized these attacks, Israel was 
hardly scathed, let alone defeated.
  I want to just take a moment and pause, though, and also say thanks 
to all those American soldiers who put their lives on the line to 
protect one of our long-term, most valued allies in the Middle East--
the people of Israel. And, of course, not just our soldiers but the 
soldiers of our many other allies there. These unprecedented attacks on 
Israel and ever-increasing aggression by Iran cannot be ignored by weak 
pacifist U.S. policies with no redlines any longer.
  Instead, we must stand with our decades-long friend with whom we 
share a strategic alliance based upon shared democratic values, 
security interests, and cultural and religious values.
  We must help Israel in its time of need. A friend in need is a friend 
indeed.
  Today, we are here once again offering an olive branch to pass the 
bipartisan House-passed Israel aid bill that could be signed by the 
President tonight. The House has passed it. We could pass it and the 
President could sign it tonight and get that aid to Israel.
  It is time to show where America stands. Is it with Iran and Hamas, 
or is it with Israel? It has to be one or the other; you can't choose 
both. As for me and my family and my colleagues, we choose Israel. Time 
and time again, I see Members, even the Democratic majority leader this 
weekend, say they stand with Israel. My message today to my colleagues 
is that actions speak louder than words. We are tired of hearing the 
pro-Israeli lip service while simultaneously blocking every effort to 
help Israel in its time of need. History will not forget this. Let's do 
the right thing.
  As in legislative session, notwithstanding rule XXII, I ask unanimous 
consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of 
Calendar No. 241, H.R. 6126; I further ask the bill be considered read 
a third time and passed and that the motion to reconsider be considered 
made and laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  Mrs. MURRAY. I object.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The majority leader.