Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024
Floor Speech
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Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7217) making emergency supplemental appropriations to respond to the attacks in Israel for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 7217
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the following sums are appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, and for other purposes, namely: TITLE I DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE MILITARY PERSONNEL Military Personnel, Army
For an additional amount for ``Military Personnel, Army'', $15,221,000, to remain available until September 30, 2024, to respond to the attacks in Israel: Provided, That such amount is designated by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985. Military Personnel, Air Force
For an additional amount for ``Military Personnel, Air Force'', $31,934,000, to remain available until September 30, 2024, to respond to the attacks in Israel: Provided, That such amount is designated by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985. OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE Operation and Maintenance, Army
For an additional amount for ``Operation and Maintenance, Army'', $203,683,000, to remain available until December 31, 2024, to respond to the attacks in Israel: Provided, That such amount is designated by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985. Operation and Maintenance, Navy
For an additional amount for ``Operation and Maintenance, Navy'', $507,994,000, to remain available until December 31, 2024, to respond to the attacks in Israel: Provided, That such amount is designated by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985. Operation and Maintenance, Marine Corps
For an additional amount for ``Operation and Maintenance, Marine Corps'', $11,094,000, to remain available until December 31, 2024, to respond to the attacks in Israel: Provided, That such amount is designated by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985. Operation and Maintenance, Air Force
For an additional amount for ``Operation and Maintenance, Air Force'', $81,030,000, to remain available until December 31, 2024, to respond to the attacks in Israel: Provided, That such amount is designated by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985. Operation and Maintenance, Defense-Wide (including transfer of funds)
For an additional amount for ``Operation and Maintenance, Defense-Wide'', $5,035,750,000, to remain available until September 30, 2024, to respond to the attacks in Israel: Provided, That of the total amount provided under this heading in this Act, $4,400,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2025, may be transferred to accounts under the headings ``Operation and Maintenance'' and ``Procurement'' for replacement of defense articles from the stocks of the Department of Defense, and for reimbursement for defense services of the Department of Defense and military education and training, provided to Israel or identified and notified to Congress for provision to Israel: Provided further, That funds transferred pursuant to the previous proviso shall be merged with and available for the same purposes and for the same time period as the appropriations to which the funds are transferred: Provided further, That the Secretary of Defense shall notify the congressional defense committees of the details of such transfers not less than 15 days before any such transfer: Provided further, That upon a determination that all or part of the funds transferred from this appropriation are not necessary for the purposes provided under this heading, such amounts may be transferred back and merged with this appropriation: Provided further, That any transfer authority provided under this heading is in addition to any other transfer authority provided by law: Provided further, That such amount is designated by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985. PROCUREMENT Missile Procurement, Army
For an additional amount for ``Missile Procurement, Army'', $191,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2026, to respond to the attacks in Israel: Provided, That such amount is designated by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985. Procurement of Ammunition, Army
For an additional amount for ``Procurement of Ammunition, Army'', $901,400,000, to remain available until September 30, 2026, to respond to the attacks in Israel: Provided, That such amount is designated by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985. Other Procurement, Army
For an additional amount for ``Other Procurement, Army'', $283,800,000, to remain available until September 30, 2026, to respond to the attacks in Israel: Provided, That such amount is designated by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985. Weapons Procurement, Navy
For an additional amount for ``Weapons Procurement, Navy'', $10,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2026, to respond to the attacks in Israel: Provided, That such amount is designated by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985. Other Procurement, Navy
For an additional amount for ``Other Procurement, Navy'', $163,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2026, to respond to the attacks in Israel: Provided, That such amount is designated by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985. Procurement, Marine Corps
For an additional amount for ``Procurement, Marine Corps'', $31,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2026, to respond to the attacks in Israel: Provided, That such amount is designated by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985. Missile Procurement, Air Force
For an additional amount for ``Missile Procurement, Air Force'', $39,524,000, to remain available until September 30, 2026, to respond to the attacks in Israel: Provided, That such amount is designated by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985. Procurement of Ammunition, Air Force
For an additional amount for ``Procurement of Ammunition, Air Force'', $655,000, to remain available until September 30, 2026, to respond to the attacks in Israel: Provided, That such amount is designated by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985. Other Procurement, Air Force
For an additional amount for ``Other Procurement, Air Force'', $4,500,000, to remain available until September 30, 2026, to respond to the attacks in Israel: Provided, That such amount is designated by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985. Procurement, Defense-Wide
For an additional amount for ``Procurement, Defense-Wide'', $5,341,516,000, to remain available until September 30, 2026, to respond to the attacks in Israel: Provided, That of the total amount provided under this heading in this Act, $5,200,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2026, shall be for the Secretary of Defense to provide to the Government of Israel for the procurement of the Iron Dome, David's Sling, and Iron Beam defense systems to counter short-range rocket threats: Provided further, That such funds shall be transferred pursuant to an exchange of letters and are in addition to funds provided pursuant to the U.S.- Israel Iron Dome Procurement Agreement, as amended: Provided further, That nothing under this heading shall be construed to apply to amounts made available in prior appropriations Acts for the procurement of the Iron Dome, David's Sling, and Iron Beam defense systems: Provided further, That such amount is designated by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985. RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, TEST AND EVALUATION Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Army
For an additional amount for ``Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Army'', $31,263,000, to remain available until September 30, 2025, to respond to the attacks in Israel: Provided, That such amount is designated by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985. Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Navy
For an additional amount for ``Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Navy'', $105,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2025, to respond to the attacks in Israel: Provided, That such amount is designated by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985. Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Air Force
For an additional amount for ``Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Air Force'', $61,660,000, to remain available until September 30, 2025, to respond to the attacks in Israel: Provided, That such amount is designated by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985. Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Defense-Wide
For an additional amount for ``Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Defense-Wide'', $304,756,000, to remain available until September 30, 2025, to respond to the attacks in Israel, including for battle management software and cooperation on defensive programs through emerging technologies: Provided, That such amount is designated by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985. REVOLVING AND MANAGEMENT FUNDS Defense Working Capital Funds
For an additional amount for ``Defense Working Capital Funds'', $549,800,000, to remain available until September 30, 2024, to respond to the attacks in Israel: Provided, That such amount is designated by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985. OTHER DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE PROGRAMS Defense Health Program
For an additional amount for ``Defense Health Program'', $1,150,000, to remain available until September 30, 2024, which shall be for operation and maintenance to respond to the attacks in Israel: Provided, That such amount is designated by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985. GENERAL PROVISIONS--THIS TITLE (including transfer of funds)
Sec. 101. Section 12001 of the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2005 (Public Law 108-287), as amended by Public Law 115-141, is further amended as follows:
(1) In paragraph (2) of subsection (a), by striking ``armor'' and all that follows through the end of the paragraph and inserting ``defense articles that are in the inventory of the Department of Defense as of the date of transfer, are intended for use as reserve stocks for Israel, and are located in a stockpile for Israel as of the date of transfer.''.
(2) In subsection (b), by striking ``at least equal to the fair market value of the items transferred'' and inserting ``in an amount to be determined by the Secretary of Defense''.
(3) In subsection (c), by striking ``30 days'' and inserting ``15 days'', and by inserting ``Appropriations,'' after ``Committees on'' in each place it appears.
Sec. 102. During fiscal year 2024, section 514(b) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2321h(b)) shall not apply to defense articles to be set aside, earmarked, reserved, or intended for use as reserve stocks in stockpiles in the State of Israel.
Sec. 103. Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, and every 30 days thereafter through fiscal year 2025, the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretary of State, shall provide a written report to the Committees on Appropriations, Armed Services, and Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committees on Appropriations, Armed Services, and Foreign Relations of the Senate describing United States security assistance provided to Israel since the October 7, 2023, terrorist attack on Israel, including a comprehensive list of the defense articles and services provided to Israel and the associated authority and funding used to provide such articles and services: Provided, That such report shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may be accompanied by a classified annex.
Sec. 104. Concurrent with any notification of assistance made pursuant to section 506(b)(1) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2318(b)(1)), the Secretary of Defense shall submit a written notification to the congressional defense committees that contains a description of the defense articles and defense services to be furnished, including the quantity, approximate value, and an estimate of the cost to replace such article or an equivalent capability, and a timeline for the delivery of such defense articles and defense services. TITLE II DEPARTMENT OF STATE AND RELATED AGENCY DEPARTMENT OF STATE Administration of Foreign Affairs diplomatic programs
For an additional amount for ``Diplomatic Programs'', $150,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2025, for responding to the attacks in Israel and areas impacted by the attacks in Israel, including for crisis response and relocation support for Mission Israel, of which $100,000,000 shall be available until expended for Worldwide Security Protection to sustain requirements for Mission Israel and other United States missions affected by the attacks in Israel: Provided, That such amount is designated by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985. emergencies in the diplomatic and consular service
For an additional amount for ``Emergencies in the Diplomatic and Consular Service'', $50,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2025, for emergency evacuation of United States Government personnel and citizens in Israel and in countries in the region impacted by the attacks in Israel: Provided, That such amount is designated by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985. INTERNATIONAL SECURITY ASSISTANCE Funds Appropriated to the President foreign military financing program
For an additional amount for ``Foreign Military Financing Program'', $3,500,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2025, to respond to the attacks in Israel: Provided, That funds made available under this heading in this Act and prior Acts making appropriations for the Department of State, foreign operations, and related programs for fiscal year 2024, in addition to funds otherwise available for such purposes, may be used by the Department of State for necessary expenses for the general costs of administering military assistance and sales, including management and oversight of such programs and activities: Provided further, That, to the extent that the Government of Israel requests that funds be used for such purposes, grants made available for Israel under this heading shall, as agreed by the United States and Israel, be available for advanced weapons systems, of which up to $3,500,000,000 may be available for the procurement in Israel of defense articles and defense services: Provided further, That any congressional notification requirement applicable to funds made available under this heading for Israel may be waived if a determination is made that extraordinary circumstances exist that impact the national security of the United States:
Provided further, That such amount is designated by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985. GENERAL PROVISIONS--THIS TITLE
Sec. 201. (a) During fiscal year 2024, and subject to subsection (b), section 506(a)(1) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2318(a)(1)) shall be applied by substituting ``$2,500,000,000'' for ``$100,000,000''.
(b) Subsection (a) shall not take effect unless the Secretary of State determines and reports to the appropriate congressional committees that the exercise of the authority of such subsection is necessary to respond to the situation in Israel.
Sec. 202. Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit to the Committees on Appropriations a report on the proposed uses of funds appropriated by this title to respond to the situation in Israel: Provided, That such report shall be updated and submitted to such Committees every 60 days thereafter until September 30, 2025, and every 180 days thereafter until all funds have been expended, and shall include information detailing how estimates and assumptions contained in previous reports have changed, including obligations and expenditures. TITLE III GENERAL PROVISIONS--THIS ACT
Sec. 301. Each amount appropriated or made available by this Act is in addition to amounts otherwise appropriated for the fiscal year involved.
Sec. 302. No part of any appropriation contained in this Act shall remain available for obligation beyond the current fiscal year unless expressly so provided herein.
Sec. 303. Unless otherwise provided for by this Act, the additional amounts appropriated by this Act to appropriations accounts shall be available under the authorities and conditions applicable to such appropriations accounts for fiscal year 2024.
Sec. 304. Each amount designated in this Act by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 shall be available (or rescinded or transferred, if applicable) only if the President subsequently so designates all such amounts and transmits such designations to the Congress.
Sec. 305. Any amount appropriated by this Act, designated by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 and subsequently so designated by the President, and transferred pursuant to transfer authorities provided by this Act shall retain such designation. This Act may be cited as the ``Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024''.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer H. Res. 7217, the Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2024. This bill provides $17.6 billion in emergency supplemental appropriations, which will provide needed military assistance to America's great ally, Israel, and support U.S. military forces operating in the region.
On October 7, 2023, Hamas carried out a brutal, unprovoked terrorist attack on the people of Israel. The horrific acts committed on this day resulted in 1,200 deaths, thousands injured, and 240 hostages, 136 of whom remain in captivity, and over 30 are believed to be dead.
The Israeli people are still reeling from the horrors of October 7, but they have bravely pushed their sorrow aside to root out and fight Hamas and ensure that their people are never threatened again.
Last November, the House passed a $14.3 billion supplemental to shore up our ally. The bill included:
$5.2 billion in missile defense systems such as Iron Dome, David's Sling, and Iron Beam;
$4.4 billion to backfill U.S. stocks;
$1 billion for U.S. munitions production, such as 155 rounds and small diameter bombs;
$3.5 billion for foreign military financing of U.S. systems and munitions; and
$200 million for the protection of U.S. personnel and emergency evacuations of American citizens in the region as a result of this conflict.
These requirements remain unchanged and are aligned with the Biden administration's supplemental request. They are included, again, in the bill we are considering today.
Unfortunately, the situation in the Middle East has continued to deteriorate since November. The Houthis have launched dozens of missile, drone, and boat attacks on military and civil ships in the Red Sea.
On January 28, three U.S. soldiers were killed and 40 were injured by a drone attack at a military base in Jordan caused by an Iranian-backed militia. Just this morning, the Houthis fired missiles at two civilian ships in Yemen, one British and one American. We are putting our military in an untenable situation, and attacks continue to escalate.
Now, we must act to shore up our ally, Israel, and provide our military with the resources they need to protect our troops in the region.
The new funding in this bill addresses that changing reality by providing $3.3 billion for U.S. military operations in the region funded through December 2024. This includes $1 billion for low-cost defensive capabilities to thwart future attacks on U.S. forces in the region.
In many instances, we have been intercepting low-cost Iranian-backed drones with multimillion-dollar missiles. This funding will protect our forces and put us on the right side of the cost curve.
This funding bill resupplies Israel's defensive capabilities, restores America's defense industry to replenish our stocks, funds necessary operations for our forces in the region, and sends a strong signal that the United States will not back down.
I am grateful for the support of Chairwoman Granger, Chairman Diaz- Balart, Republican leadership, and the dozens of Members who have cosponsored this bill. I am also grateful for the support expressed by many of my friends across the aisle. We have an opportunity today to come together and send a strong message that the United States stands with Israel.
I want to address the position of the Democratic leadership, including President Biden's veto threat. Assertions that this bill plays politics are patently false. Last November, Democrats said they wanted a clean bill. That is exactly what this is. This bill simply provides necessary resources to our closest ally in the region and our own military. I introduced this bill because it is the right thing to do. The only people making it political are those who oppose it.
Tomorrow is the 4-month anniversary of the horrific October 7 terrorist attack, which is an act of war. Israel knows that we stand with them, and today we can send a clear message that we support their efforts to eradicate Hamas, the only way to truly bring peace to the region.
Likewise, our American military men and women should know their government stands fully behind them as they respond to these numerous attacks. Terrorists and those supporting them should have no question of American resolve.
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Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, this is a bipartisan effort. This is a bipartisan bill.
Granger), who is the chairwoman of the Appropriations Committee.
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Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, the bill before us today is regarding Israel. We have time to debate Ukraine at a later date, but today, this is regarding aid to Israel, which we need to do immediately.
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Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, the House was excluded from all negotiations regarding the Senate supplemental, and today we are talking about assistance to Israel that is needed immediately.
Mr. VAN ORDEN. Mr. Speaker, I remind my colleague that, in fact, I agree with him this one time. These events are connected, and the connection is the incredibly weak strategy the Biden administration has shown. That is why Putin invaded Ukraine and that is why Hamas has gone crazy in Israel.
Immediately following the attacks of October 7, I went to Israel and I witnessed what Hamas did to the Jewish people, and as a retired Navy SEAL combat medic, it put me on my heels.
I will remind my colleagues on the other side of the aisle that there was a cease-fire on October 6; that there was a de facto two-state solution on October 6, and that was broken by Hamas. Unlike the vast majority of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, I spent my entire adult life either training for, training others for, or at war myself.
There is a difference between the conflict in Ukraine and what is taking place in Israel right now. Vladimir Putin is a war criminal, and he is after territorial gains. Hamas is a group of savages that are after the utter destruction of the Jews as a people. They want to eradicate them.
There is a Member of the other party that has been censured on this floor for grossly anti-Semitic remarks, and that is what is taking place.
Do not be fooled by this political rhetoric. I stand with the Jewish people now. I will stand with them from the beginning to the end, so the river to the sea never takes place.
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Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, the folks that believe in genocide is Hamas.
The gentlewoman is correct. This bill is not about Ukraine or INDOPACOM or some other things that I would love to have some discussions about in the future. This is about Israel.
I think my friends on the other side of the aisle know I am not a cynical person. I have been in favor of moving an Israel bill for some time, and now is the time. I think it is just simply the right thing to do.
Let's pass this bill. Let's support Israel.
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