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Floor Speech

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Mrs. BLACKBURN. Madam President, well, we all know what has happened since October 7. Hamas has launched more than 6,000 rockets into Israel. They have sent more than 1,000 terrorists across the border to murder civilians. This is the most devastating slaughter of Jews since the Holocaust. They have killed more than 1,400 Israelis; 291 of them have been soldiers. They have taken 199 hostages, including an unknown number of Americans. This was also one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in our history. They killed 30 U.S. citizens, and 13 are still missing or are unaccounted for.

Israel is the victim. Even the Biden White House has acknowledged that. This hasn't stopped several of my Democratic colleagues from calling for a cease-fire. All of this, also, has not stopped Black Lives Matter and other pro-Palestinian groups from glorifying the mass slaughter of Jews.

Students for Justice, in Palestine, called it a ``historic win.''

Jews in New York, Atlanta, Washington, DC, London, Berlin, and so many other cities around the globe are once again living in fear.

Just this weekend, protesters in Nashville, TN, refused to condemn the horrific violence against the Israelis. Instead, they insisted that these innocent people had it coming because their government's politics don't line up with the radical left's talking points.

This is, indeed, insanity. If we allow these positions to define our foreign policy, we put the lives of Israelis and Americans and our allies in danger.

The United States designated Hamas as a foreign terrorist organization in 1997. Their stated goal is to destroy the State of Israel through jihad. Over the years, we have seen them commit acts of violence so depraved that allies to the so-called Palestinian cause deny them entirely rather than attempt to rationalize them. We know, right now, that 600,000 Gazans have been evacuated but that they have trapped more than enough women and children to use as human shields. Absolutely despicable.

We also know that they use international aid money not for humanitarian aid but to fund their efforts, their war efforts--their jihad. Iran is the world's largest state sponsor of terrorism and sends $100 million annually to Hamas. That is in addition to supplying them with technology, logistical support, and weapons.

When the Biden administration announced their plan to give the Iranians access to $6 billion in frozen assets, we knew exactly what that meant for Israel. The constant refrain from the Biden administration is that there is ``no direct link to Iran regarding this attack.'' It is time for whomever wrote that talking point to turn on the news, to look at the pictures that are on the screen, to listen to what you are hearing from the Ayatollah and some of the Iranian officials who are, by the way, meeting with Hamas leadership in Qatar.

In the first hours of the attack, the Biden administration projected nothing but weakness. They deleted multiple tweets calling for a cease- fire. It took the President almost 12 hours to make a statement. This sent a very clear message to our enemies. It also sends a message to our allies.

We can start by giving Israel what they need to eradicate these terrorists. Last week, I sent a letter urging President Biden to support Israel in all possible ways. Under President Trump, we cut aid to the Palestinians because the Palestinian Authority used that money to reward terrorism. In 2021, President Biden reversed that policy, and since then, he has sent more than $730 million to the Palestinians, even though he knows there is a high risk. We know money is fungible, and we know what Iran does with their money--they fund terrorism; they fund their proxies.

And, while we are at it, let's start treating Iran like the dangerous state sponsor of terror it is. Last week, I led 19 Senate Republicans, in a letter, calling on President Biden to permanently freeze Iran's access to that $6 billion. We should send those dollars to Israel to pay for the damage that Hamas has done. There should be no more backdoor deals with Qatar, no more silent agreements, no more quiet agreements. Let's have a formal agreement that will stop the backpedaling and will stop the intentions to release that money, which is what they will do when the media attention on this issue dissipates.

None of this will matter if we don't root out the incompetence and malicious influence in our own government. Last week, I sent a letter to President Biden demanding the immediate removal of Jake Sullivan as his National Security Advisor. He was wrong about Afghanistan, the Middle East, and that nuclear deal with Iran in 2015. He has got to go, as do the Iranian assets that President Biden has given top secret security clearances to.

Last month, I stood right here and described how President Biden sent Robert Malley, Ariane Tabatabai, and other operatives to negotiate the failed Iran nuclear deal. Now, Mr. Malley and Ms. Tabatabai have been involved with the Iran Experts Initiative, and then the President gave them top secret security clearances and sent them to negotiate on the Iran deal. This has to stop.

President Joseph R. Biden, The White House, Washington, DC.

Dear Mr. President: We write today to express our unwavering support for Israel, our greatest ally in the Middle East, and our outrage at your administration's failed leadership on the international stage.

Israel is at war. Yesterday, Hamas, the Iran-backed Palestinian terrorist group, launched an unprecedented and coordinated land, air, and sea attack against Israel. This occurred during the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah, the day after the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War, and on Shabbat--a day of rest and peace for Jews around the world. Terrorists have infiltrated Israel, taking innocent Israeli civilians and servicemembers hostage. Hundreds of Israelis have died, and the fighting has not ceased.

This violent attack deserves a strong, unequivocal condemnation by the United States. Instead, while the attacks persisted and Israel was threatened, your administration initially issued a statement calling on Israel to ``refrain from violence.'' So far, the administration's response has been far weaker than Israel--a shining beacon of democracy and our most important ally in the Middle East--deserves.

While this is not the first act of aggression by the Hamas terrorists against one of our greatest allies, it is certainly the boldest. The failures of this administration on the world stage have no doubt emboldened those who would wish America and our allies harm. Reports indicate that U.S. arms abandoned during the disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal ended up in Hamas' hands. This terrorist organization is also funded by the Iranian regime, the world's largest state sponsor of terrorism, whose coffers this administration has filled with over $6 billion in sanctions relief. Indeed, recent reports have revealed the existence of the Iran Experts Initiative (IEI), an Iranian regime-backed foreign influence network. Included among the network's membership is Ariane Tabatabai, now chief of staff to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict, along with other close contacts of your Special Envoy for Iran, Robert Malley--whose security clearance the State Department suspended earlier this year and who is now subject to an FBI investigation for his alleged mishandling of classified information. The world needs American leadership, and this administration has left a void that the New Axis of Evil and terrorist groups like Hamas have already begun exploiting.

Over 75 years ago, the United States was the first nation to recognize the Jewish state of Israel and affirm its right to exist. Now, in the face of senseless attacks by Iran- backed Hamas terrorists, we must again stand with Israel and reaffirm its right to defend itself. The United States of America does not abandon its friends. We urge this administration to support Israel however possible, including by providing any and all weapons and munitions necessary, and to punish the terrorists who did this, along with those who aid them. We must act swiftly and strongly. Sincerely, Marsha Blackburn. Bill Hagerty.

United States Senators. Tim Burchett. Chuck Fleischmann. Diana Harshbarger. John Rose. Scott DesJarlais, M.D. Mark E. Green, M.D. Andy Ogles,

Members of Congress. ____ United States Senate, Washington, DC, October 9, 2023. President Joseph R. Biden, The White House, Washington, DC.

Dear Mr. President: We write today to affirm our unwavering support for Israel, our greatest ally in the Middle East, and call on the U.S. Department of State to freeze the accounts in Qatar containing $6 billion in Iranian funds that were released from South Korean accounts in September.

Since Hamas began its attack on Israel on Saturday, more than 4,000 rockets have been fired from Gaza, countless Israelis have been injured, and more than 130 individuals have been kidnapped by Hamas terrorists. Hundreds of civilians have been brutally murdered in Israel, and recent reports confirm that several Americans were killed in the attacks.

Iran is the world's largest state sponsor of terrorism, and Wall Street Journal reported that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps worked with Hamas to plan the ongoing attacks on Israel. These horrific attacks come on the heels of the State Department issuing sanctions waivers for Iranian funds held in South Korean accounts to be converted from won to euros and then transferred to bank accounts in Qatar.

To stand by and allow Iran access to these funds as Hamas infiltrates Israel and murders, rapes, and mutilates countless Israelis is unconscionable. Your administration claims these funds are only available for humanitarian use, but money is fungible, and there is a significant risk they could be used to further efforts by Iran or Hamas against Israel. Moreover, allowing $6 billion to flow into Iran's economy, even if the purpose is for humanitarian aid, allows the Iranian regime to reallocate even more funds to supporting terrorism. Oversight over the use of this $6 billion is not enough, and the oversight mechanism is crippled by your reported decision to pull the longstanding Treasury attache from Qatar. The State Department should immediately rescind the waivers that allowed Iranian funds to be converted and moved to more accessible bank accounts, as well as work with U.S. ally Qatar to immediately freeze the accounts containing these funds.

We must stand with Israel and restrict access to these Iranian funds. Iran should be placed under the most stringent sanctions admissible. Anything short of this is unacceptable and only aids in the ability of Iran and Hamas to fund these heinous acts. Sincerely,

Marsha Blackburn, United States Senator; Steve Daines, United States Senator; Kevin Cramer, United States Senator; James Lankford, United States Senator; John Cornyn, United States Senator; Lindsey Graham, United States Senator; Tom Cotton, United States Senator; Mike Braun, United States Senator; Thom Tillis, United States Senator; Rick Scott, United States Senator.

John Thune, United States Senator; Mike Lee, United States Senator; Bill Cassidy, M.D., United States Senator; Katie Boyd Britt, United States Senator; Pete Ricketts, United States Senator; Markwayne Mullin, United States Senator; Eric Schmitt, United States Senator; Marco Rubio, United States Senator; Ted Budd, United States Senator; Roger Marshall, M.D., United States Senator. ____ U.S. Senate, October 13, 2023. President Joseph R. Biden, The White House, Washington, DC.

Dear Mr. President: I write to you today to demand the immediate removal of Jake Sullivan as your National Security Advisor. Mr. Sullivan has routinely misled the entire government about the status of security threats around the world. Just eight days before Hamas launched their barbaric surprise attack against Israel, he stated, ``the Middle East is quieter today than it has been in two decades.'' Yet, to date, over 1,200 Israelis have been killed, over 150 hostages have been taken from the safety of their homes, and at least 27 Americans lives have been lost, with at least 14 Americans still missing. This is Jake Sullivan's perception of a quiet Middle East. This is unacceptable.

Sullivan has been dead wrong on how to engage with Iran since his first day as National Security Advisor. His policies of appeasement toward Iran have only emboldened the world's largest state sponsor of terrorism. Sullivan had direct influence in establishing the remarkably flawed 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), commonly referred to as the Iran nuclear deal. Thankfully, this decision was later reversed, sparing the world from an expanded Iranian influence under this misguided policy that allowed Iran to continue to fund its terrorist proxies and build up its ballistic missile program. As your National Security Advisor, we have since seen Mr. Sullivan reinstitute many of the mistakes from the failed JCPOA. Easing sanctions against Iran and refusing to enforce others is not an effective solution, and this attack is clear evidence of that fact.

You simply cannot negotiate with the savages of the Iranian regime. The Iranian regime has no qualms with funding extremist terrorists, including Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and Hezbollah, all of which seek to destroy Israel. We have seen Iran-backed Hamas murder innocent civilians, we have evidence that Hamas has beheaded babies and burned Israelis alive, and we are all aware that they are taking hostages for rape, mutilation, and murder. Their actions directly mock every freedom-loving American. To stop their spread of influence throughout the region, we must immediately reverse course and reinforce our commitment on the sanctions levied against Iran. Anyone who thinks the appeasement of Tehran is an effective national security strategy must be removed for the sake of all Americans.

Sullivan's deleterious mistakes with respect to Iran and Iran-backed Hamas only build on his earlier involvement in the administration's disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan. There, we stood by and watched the Taliban take over the country in less than two weeks. We cannot have someone with his notable history of poor decision-making, and lack of critical insights, as the most senior advisor to the President on our nation's security matters. Continuing to do so is misguided. You said it yourself, Mr. President--the United States must stand with Israel. Leaving Jake Sullivan in his current position hinders both Israel's, as well as the United States', national security posture. Sincerely, Marsha Blackburn, United States Senator.

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Mrs. BLACKBURN. Madam President, we all have a choice here: Will the United States act with courage or are we going to sit quiet and allow this barbarism to continue?

Israeli forces report that Hamas bound boys and girls before shooting them in the head--children who were bound and then shot in the head. They found families who had been burned alive. There are reports that young women had been raped and then mutilated. Hamas turned a music festival into a killing field. The beheadings of babies--we have heard those reports. These will live in infamy.

The historians have a phrase to describe massacres like this. It is ``Holocaust by bullets.'' It is inconceivable that any of my colleagues could tolerate the demands that Israel surrender to terrorists.

It is time for this President, his advisers, and all of our colleagues--all of our colleagues--who told the Israelis to stand down to take a good, hard look at where complacency and appeasement gets us. Look at Gaza. Look at Iran. Look at Afghanistan. Look at China. Look at our own southern border. Since October 1, Border Patrol has apprehended 30 Iranians. That is since the 1st of this month, this year. This is who the Border Patrol has apprehended: 30 Iranians, 60 Syrians, 35 Pakistanis, more than 100 Russians, 285 Afghans, and 2,000 Chinese-- trying to cross our southern border undetected.

Now, do they all mean us harm? Probably not, but we cannot know that for sure because this administration refuses to acknowledge the possibility that terrorists are coming across this southern border--246 apprehended since Joe Biden became President. What are we doing? What are we doing? How do we know the intentions of those 30 Iranians? 2,000 Chinese? 100 Russians? Is there a guarantee they are not here to kill us?

The job of Hamas: kill people. You have watched them do it with glee. Terrorists, what do they do? They set up terror cells. They wait to strike to kill you--to kill you.

I have got to tell you: This administration needs to grow a spine. They need to grow a spine, and they need to be solid and resolute that they are going to protect this country and our citizens and our allies. And our enemies are going to know that they are an enemy, because we will treat them like that. We have got a choice: We can show courage; we can surrender; we can practice appeasement. But that is the choice.

This country needs to show courage and leadership. I hope that this body and this administration will choose courage and leadership.

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