[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 119 (Tuesday, July 23, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5164-S5165]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                            Democratic Party

  Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, it has been a remarkable couple of weeks 
in our country: the attempted assassination of President Trump; the 
decision made by President Biden to--notwithstanding having won all the 
primaries and being, essentially, the chosen leader of the Democratic 
party on the presidential ticket come November--his decision to step 
down in what can only be described as a political coup to install the 
Vice President as the Democratic nominee, even after months upon months 
of elections where the votes of people who participated in the 
Democratic primary have now simply been disregarded in favor of a 
handful of leaders in the smoky, smoke-filled rooms here in Washington, 
DC, deciding who should be their standard bearer.
  But tomorrow we have another very significant event occurring: Prime 
Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is in Washington this week and will address 
Congress tomorrow. More than 9 months have passed since that terrible 
day on October 7 when Israel was attacked by Hamas terrorists. These 
attacks were against innocent civilians, not the Israeli defense 
forces, and these terrorists brutally murdered more than 1,200 Israelis 
without any warning and violently assaulted countless others. They took 
251 hostages--many, unfortunately, have died, while 120 of them still 
remain in Hamas custody, including 8 Americans.
  Over the last several months, Israeli forces have faced attacks not 
just from Hamas but from another terrorist proxy--or I should say two 
of them--Hezbollah from Lebanon in the northern part of the region and 
its proxy, the Houthis, in Yemen.
  Sadly, many on the far left in our country have chosen to take sides 
not with our friend and ally Israel but with the terrorists--with 
Hamas, with Hezbollah and the Houthis against our friend and ally 
Israel. They have repeatedly called for a cease-fire, notwithstanding 
the fact that Israel is still under threat from Iranian proxies; and 
they have attempted to frame Prime Minister Netanyahu as the villain 
here for a war begun on October 7 when terrorists attacked innocent 
Israeli civilians.
  At a time when many Americans and, sadly, many Members of Congress do 
not seem to understand why America's support for Israel is so critical, 
I hope Prime Minister Netanyahu's remarks tomorrow will provide some 
clarity and some context. There is a saying that has been going around 
for years: If Hamas laid down its weapons today, there would be no more 
violence. If Israel laid down its weapons, there would be no more 
Israel. Hamas is not fighting for peace; it is trying to wipe Israel 
off the map.
  This is an existential threat to the State of Israel and the people 
of Israel. The United States cannot tiptoe down the line between good 
and evil. We must make a choice, and we must make a stand. And that 
stand should be with Israel.
  Prime Minister Netanyahu's joint address to Congress is an 
opportunity to reaffirm our shared values and highlight the pivotal 
role that Israel plays in promoting stability and democracy in an 
admittedly volatile region. I look forward to hearing his remarks 
tomorrow, but I am concerned about one critical absence. There have 
been news reports that Vice President Harris, who is now on track to 
become the Democrats' Presidential nominee, will not be in attendance. 
Reports are she is scheduled to speak at a sorority convention in 
Indianapolis. But this isn't a last-minute or unavoidable scheduling 
conflict. The date of Prime Minister Netanyahu's speech was announced 
in early June. And in any event, I am sure the sorority convention 
would forgive the Vice President for attending to this important event 
here in Washington, DC, and perhaps reschedule for another time. But to 
openly boycott the leader of Israel at a time like this is 
irresponsible. The Vice President's decision to skip this joint address 
is clearly a snub, and it foreshadows a continuing trend in U.S. 
foreign policy that started under the current President. And, 
obviously, it is designed to send a message to Prime Minister Netanyahu 
and Israel.
  We have already heard some Members of this body call for Prime 
Minister Netanyahu--basically, for there to be an election to replace 
him, an unprecedented intrusion into the affairs of a sovereign nation, 
another democracy. It is disgraceful and embarrassing to see the 
pandering to extremist elements in the Democratic party.
  Sadly, the Vice President isn't the only one shying away from showing 
support for one of our critical allies. Media reports say that this 
Chamber's President Pro Tempore, Senator Murray, is boycotting the 
speech as well.
  I am not surprised that some of the more radical Members of the 
Democratic conference may boycott, but it is shameful when their top 
leadership is so willing to abandon a key ally.
  In light of these dynamics, I hope the majority leader, Senator 
Schumer, will make it clear where he stands and that he doesn't condone 
skipping one of the most important sessions of Congress in recent 
memory just to get more air time on cable TV.
  Given the partisan antics at play, I am relieved to hear that the 
Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman, Senator Ben Cardin, will 
sit behind Prime Minister Netanyahu tomorrow.
  I don't recall when the Vice President and the President pro tempore 
declined to sit and the chairman of a standing committee, like the 
Foreign Relations Committee, was called upon to fill in. But good for 
him. He understands the important message that this address sends and 
has stepped in to do what others have refused to do.
  Still, the world is watching the Vice President more closely than 
ever before, now that she is on a path to become the Democratic nominee 
for President. They, of course, are analyzing every word, every move, 
every signal, every decision. If the Vice President keeps up with her 
current plans to boycott this address, it will send a chilling message 
about her foreign policy priorities and the future of U.S.-Israel 
relations under a potential Harris administration.
  It also demonstrates a disregard of the commitments we have made as a 
nation to our allies. At a time when the tyrants and dictators of the 
world are drawing closer together, America cannot abandon our allies.
  As Israel faces ongoing threats in a hostile neighborhood, it is 
imperative that the United States stand steady beside Israel. Israel 
must have confidence that, regardless of who is elected in November, 
the relationship between the United States and Israel will remain 
strong.
  You know, it is not just the message we send to Israel; it is the 
message we send to Iran, the No. 1 state sponsor of international 
terrorism, and its proxies--Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis in Yemen. 
The Vice President, whether she appreciates it or not, is sending a 
message to America's enemies as well. As Joseph Stalin reportedly said, 
``you probe with bayonets. If you find mush, you push on. But if you 
find steel, you withdraw.'' Unfortunately, the message that the Vice 
President is sending by not attending this address and respecting our 
friend and ally Israel sends a message of mush, not steel.
  As we face growing challenges around the globe, including the threat 
of Iran's nuclear ambitions and the spread of terrorism, we need 
leaders who will unequivocally support our allies and uphold our 
commitments. I can only hope that the Vice President will change her 
mind and make that commitment this week. I would congratulate her if 
she did.
  But as we look into the future, America needs leaders who understand 
the

[[Page S5165]]

importance of our alliances and who are willing to stand shoulder to 
shoulder with our friends.
  As I said earlier, this is not just a message to our friends and 
allies. This is a message to Israel's enemies and adversaries, because, 
if they sense a lack of commitment and resolve on the part of the 
United States to stand with our allies, they are going to continue to 
do what they started on October 7.
  As I said, we need leaders who understand the importance of our 
alliances and who are willing to stand shoulder to shoulder with our 
friends. Any leader or would-be leader who fails to meet that bar does 
not deserve a seat in the Senate, much less in the Oval Office.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.