[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 66 (Tuesday, April 16, 2024)]
[House]
[Page H2403]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       AMERICA STANDS WITH ISRAEL

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Kansas (Mr. Mann) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. MANN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to make it crystal clear: 
America stands with Israel.
  On October 7, 2023, Iranian-backed Hamas terrorists invaded Israel, 
killing and kidnapping both Israelis and Americans, resulting in the 
deadliest day for the Jewish people since World War II.
  In the aftermath of the October 7 attacks, House Republicans made it 
clear that we always have been and always will be staunch supporters of 
Israel. Unfortunately, the Biden administration and some radical 
Washington Democrats have taken a different approach.
  Since day one, President Biden's mission has been to appease the 
Iranian regime in Tehran as if it would be effective in discouraging 
bad behavior. President Biden took a sledgehammer to President Trump's 
policies, which actually worked and deterred terrorism, by reversing 
permanent sanctions on Iranian drones and missiles, allowing them to 
expire in October 2023.
  In September of last year, President Biden unfroze $6 billion in 
Iranian funds for the release of five American hostages. While we are 
grateful that those Americans are free, exchanging $6 billion in assets 
sets an alarming precedent that only further incentivizes hostage-
taking by Iran and other bad actors. America does not negotiate with 
terrorists.
  The President's appeasement in dealing with the terrorist regime in 
Tehran backfired and put American and Israeli lives at risk. After 4 
years of peace in the Middle East under President Trump, President 
Biden has empowered Iranian proxies and put the entire region at risk.
  If it isn't clear enough to the Biden administration, here is a wake-
up call: The President's policies aren't working. They are failing. In 
fact, President Biden's policies are so disastrous that for the first 
time in history, Iran has launched a direct military assault on Israel.
  Some people are claiming that Israel should not respond to Iran's 
attack based on the punches thrown but rather on the punches that 
landed. Of the more than 300 drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic 
missiles that Iran launched at Israel, fortunately, the Iron Dome and 
other defense mechanisms protected Israel from much of the damage that 
Iran intended to cause.
  In no other country would we spew such a nuanced foreign affairs 
strategy. America would not tolerate this behavior from any neighboring 
country, and neither should Israel.
  Since October 7, House Republicans have passed legislation to support 
our ally. We supported Israel's right to self-defense, condemned Hamas 
terrorism, rejected anti-Semitism, reaffirmed America's commitment to 
Israel's security, pushed the Biden administration to reinstate and 
refreeze the Iranian assets and further prevent Iran from funding 
terrorism. We have fully funded U.S.-Israel cooperative missile defense 
programs and supported the expansion of the Abraham Accords to 
encourage peace in the Middle East.
  This week, Congress will again vote on legislation to condemn the 
behavior of the Iranian regime and show our unequivocal support for our 
ally, Israel. For House Republicans and for me, there is no question: 
America stands with Israel.
  Now, Mr. President, the choice is yours. Abandon our strongest ally 
in the Middle East or join House Republicans in standing with our ally 
and sole democratic partner in the Middle East, Israel.

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