[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 116 (Thursday, July 16, 2026)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E699]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     NATIONAL SECURITY, DEPARTMENT OF STATE, AND RELATED PROGRAMS 
                        APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2027

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 15, 2026

  Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 8595, the 
Fiscal Year 2027 State and Foreign Operations appropriations bill. I 
opposed the bill when it was reported out of the House Appropriations 
Committee and urge my colleagues to join me in opposing the bill on the 
House Floor. Before I address underlying issues with the base bill, I 
would like to address one amendment offered by Mr. Massie.
  I have long been a vocal opponent of the way the United States 
provides a blank check to Israel. For the last nine years, I have 
carried a bill, the Defending the Human Rights of Palestinian Children 
and Families Living Under Israeli Military Occupation, which would put 
limits on how all US assistance to Israel may be used. My bill would 
ensure that not one penny of taxpayer dollars is used to violate the 
human rights of Palestinian children. Further, I am a proud cosponsor 
of other legislation, like the Block the Bombs Act, that would place 
additional limits on U.S. assistance to Israel. These are the 
legislative proposals that the House should be taking up to condition 
assistance to Israel.
  Instead, the House is considering Mr. Massie's Amendment which would 
strike all $3.3 billion in Foreign Military Financing to Israel. I 
support the goal of Mr. Massie's Amendment to cut the same funding that 
has helped Israel commit human rights violations in Gaza, the West 
Bank, and Lebanon. However, this amendment does nothing to limit the 
assistance we provide to Israel under the defense appropriations bill, 
nor does it condition future assistance that the U.S. is due to provide 
Israel under the existing Memorandum of Understanding between our two 
countries that is not set to expire until FY2028. I will vote present 
on Mr. Massie's Amendment as I have serious concerns with the way it is 
so broadly written. As drafted, other foreign assistance--including 
vital assistance to Palestinians--could be cut off as well. For Mr. 
Massie, this amendment is just another way to carry out President 
Trump's isolationist agenda to limit and, in some cases completely 
cease, U.S. foreign assistance.
  With that, I would like to express my concerns with the underlying 
bill. It is deeply unfortunate that this legislation continues 
President Trump's retreat from strong American diplomacy in the world 
and supporting development assistance. We know what happens when 
America withdraws from the developing world: poverty, malnutrition, and 
disease take hold, transnational terrorism spreads, and our adversaries 
like Russia and China move in to fill the void. This bill is $2.7 
billion dollars below last year. It is a staggering $12 billion below 
where the bill was two years ago. 20 percent. Gone. In two years.
  I am particularly heartbroken by what has happened to funding for 
global health initiatives, which used to be a source of bipartisan 
pride. Democrats and Republicans used to stand together and say: 
America saves lives, and we do it because it reflects our values. But 
this bill cuts $532 million from global health programs.
  Here is what will happen: fewer mothers will survive childbirth in 
sub-Saharan Africa. Fewer children will be vaccinated against highly 
contagious, dangerous diseases like tuberculosis--and we know that 
disease does not stop at any border. It means HIV clinics in Zambia, in 
Uganda, and in the Philippines shut their doors. Make no mistake--even 
if America disengages from the world, global problems will still land 
on our doorstep--they will just be harder to manage.
  These programs save lives, and they improve our national security in 
the process. We can and must do better.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in opposing this bill.

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