[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 67 (Wednesday, April 17, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H2454-H2455]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               HOUSE MUST PASS NATIONAL SECURITY PACKAGE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Costa) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, as a member of the House Foreign Relations 
Committee, I rise to address the House on the challenges we face in 
Ukraine, in the Middle East with Israel and Iran, and in Taiwan and 
Asia.
  The world is watching and looking for American leadership. Iran has 
launched a telegraphed attack on Israel, sending over 350 drones and 
missiles last weekend. Seeing these missiles being intercepted above 
the Temple Mount emphasizes Iran's disregard for Muslim, Jewish, and 
Christian holy sites and its desire to take innocent lives.
  Iran's actions continue to disrupt opportunities for peace in the 
Middle East. I was in Israel 2 weeks ago, one of over a dozen trips I 
have made to the Middle East in the last 30 years.
  Before the attack on October 7, Saudi Arabia was on the brink of 
signing a peace agreement and joining the Abraham Accords. Formalizing 
Saudi-Israeli relations for both countries would achieve strategic and 
military goals, ranging from defense to food security and innovation, 
thus bringing hope for more peaceful opportunities with moderate Arab 
nations.

  When the Ayatollah saw this, I believe he pulled the strings on proxy 
forces to stop these negotiations that resulted in Hamas' horrific 
attack on innocent Israeli citizens on October 7 that took over 1,200 
lives and 200 hostages.
  Iran is the number one state sponsor of terrorism in the world. For 
years, the Iranian regime has been funding Hamas, Hezbollah, and the 
Houthis to spread international chaos. Iran has directly or through its 
proxies killed hundreds of Americans who have been in the region.
  China is also threatening Taiwan and watching how the United States 
responds to other conflicts around the world. They are watching.
  The new axis of evil--Iran, Russia, China, North Korea--presents an 
ever-growing threat to the United States and our allies. This is a 
seminal moment in American and world history, I believe. Therefore, we 
cannot abandon our allies in their darkest time of need. Ukraine needs 
our support.
  For months, the Senate-passed supplemental aid package has been held 
hostage by many of my Republican colleagues, some of whom appear to be 
on the side of Russia. I don't get it. President Reagan and Senator 
McCain must be turning over in their graves.
  It has been over 6 months since the attack on October 7, and what has 
the House done? Nothing, wasting time on baseless impeachments, 
threatening a motion to vacate, and close to shutting down government.
  Yet again, House Democrats have stepped in to save the day. We have 
always been clear since day one. We are here to govern, putting people 
before politics. We have extended the hand of bipartisanship to work on 
behalf of the American people and the security of our country. We have 
demonstrated our words with actions: passing and extending the debt 
ceiling, avoiding government shutdowns three times, and, finally, 
passing our budget 6 months late.
  Mr. Speaker, 193 Democrats have signed the discharge petition to 
bring the Senate-passed supplemental package to a vote.
  The House must pass the national security package this week. It will 
provide additional equipment for Ukraine,

[[Page H2455]]

Israel, and Taiwan, with critical security and military needs to defend 
their freedom and, therefore, our freedom. It will provide humanitarian 
aid for the Palestinians, who have been horrifically punished and 
suffered in Gaza, and Armenians refugees removed from their historical 
home in Nagorno-Karabakh, along with investments in border security to 
help alleviate the challenges we have here.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues, would you stand with freedom-loving 
democracies and help bring this bill to the floor and support Ukraine, 
Israel, and Taiwan, or will you stand with Putin and embolden his mafia 
of dictators to further attack our allies? That is the question.
  Your actions will show not only the American people but history where 
you stood in protecting the future of democracies. The world is 
watching.
  This is our Churchill-Chamberlain moment. Will we be like Churchill 
and continue to be the beacon of light for freedom around the world, or 
will we try to appease, as Chamberlain did with the Nazi dictator 
Hitler that resulted in the cause of over 100 million deaths during 
World War II? That is the question. This is the moment.
  We must stand for freedom. We must pass this security package this 
week for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, and freedom-loving people around the 
world.
  Mr. Speaker, that is the challenge we face this week. I hope we are 
successful.

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