[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 89 (Wednesday, May 22, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S3822]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                  Unanimous Consent Request--H.R. 8369

  Mr. COTTON. Mr. President, the State of Israel is facing the 
deadliest threat to its existence in a generation.
  To its south, Israel is waging a war of survival against Hamas 
terrorists, who slaughtered 1,200 Israelis and abducted more than 250 
men, women, and children. To its north, Hezbollah--the most armed 
terrorist organization in the world--is menacing Israeli towns and 
forcing tens of thousands to flee their homes. Just last month, Iran 
launched more than 300 ballistic missiles and attack drones at Israel--
for the first time attacking the Jewish State from Iranian territory. 
Outlaw rebels and brigands in Yemen are also firing missiles and drones 
at Israeli and allied shipping, to include U.S. naval vessels.
  As Israel is under siege at home, it is also under diplomatic assault 
abroad from Hamas's proxies at the United Nations, the International 
Criminal Court, and even American college campuses.
  Joe Biden's allies on Capitol Hill have grown increasingly hostile as 
well. The majority leader and the former Speaker of the House, Nancy 
Pelosi, called for the removal of Binyamin Netanyahu from power. The 
majority leader said that Israel needs new elections. I think New York 
may need new elections.
  Senator Bernie Sanders said we should not send ``another nickel for 
Netanyahu,'' while Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez supports a 
bill that would strip the tax-exempt status of pro-Israel charities.
  That is bad enough, but, unfortunately, instead of backing our 
Israeli friends to the hilt in this moment of maximum danger, the Biden 
administration has sanctioned Israelis, condemned its military, and 
second-guessed it, while trying to undermine its democratically elected 
leader.
  Two weeks ago, Joe Biden went a step further, halting the shipment of 
bombs and precision-guided bomb kits that Israel needs to limit 
civilian casualties and destroy Hamas strongholds inside of Rafah and, 
for that matter, to free hostages, including American citizens.
  The President also announced that he will withhold additional 
offensive weapons to Israel if Israel targets Hamas in Rafah, as if 
there were much difference between offensive and defensive weapons when 
Israel is surrounded on all sides by mortal enemies.
  Joe Biden is instituting a de facto arms embargo on Israel that will 
save Hamas. The reason appears be to simple: He wants to appease a 
small minority of pro-Hamas voters in his own party in critical swing 
States he believes are necessary for his reelection.
  That is why I have partnered with Congressman   Ken Calvert to pass 
the Israel Security Assistance Support Act, which would reverse Joe 
Biden's arms embargo on our ally. This legislation simply requires the 
prompt delivery of all weapons shipments approved by Congress. It also 
withholds pay from any Department of State or Defense bureaucrat who 
withholds vital military aid from Israel.
  Earlier last week, the House did its part and passed the Israel 
Security Assistance Support Act with a bipartisan majority that 
included over a dozen Democrats. Now it is the Senate's turn.
  Therefore, Mr. President, as if in legislative session, I ask 
unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate 
consideration of Calendar No. 398, H.R. 8369. I further ask that 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 ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. In my capacity as Senator from 
Vermont, I object.
  Mr. COTTON. I regret that the Democrats will not allow this bill to 
come up for a vote, which, again, would simply ensure that aid that 
Congress has approved is delivered promptly to Israel in the middle of 
a shooting war of survival--a bill that, I would remind everyone, 
passed the House of Representatives with a bipartisan majority.
  The time is now to reverse Joe Biden's de facto arms embargo on 
Israel.
  I yield the floor.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Republican whip.