DEAR COLLEAGUE IN CONNECTION WITH AMERICA’S NATIONAL SECURITY

Letter

Dear Colleague:

I write with respect to recent events in the Middle East and the need to pass the bipartisan and comprehensive national security legislation that has been pending in the House for two months.

Yesterday, President Joe Biden convened the four corners of congressional leadership to discuss the unprecedented attack against Israel, our democratic ally, and the successful response to Iranian aggression. America’s commitment to Israel’s security is ironclad. Consistent with this principle, as the President observed, the IDF and our military played a pivotal role in ensuring that Iranian missiles and drones were overwhelmingly intercepted and the effort by Iran was a spectacular failure.

President Biden made certain that we helped Israel prepare for a possible attack and coordinated a comprehensive multinational response, led by the deployment of American fighter jets and naval warships. The critical air defense systems like Iron Dome, David’s Sling and Arrow that were an important part of Israel’s successful defense are heavily funded by the United States, pursuant to the security Memorandum of Understanding executed by President Barack Obama in 2016. Our close partnership saved lives in the Middle East and the special relationship between the United States and Israel endures.

Moving forward, it is imperative that Hamas, a brutal terrorist organization funded by Iran, be decisively defeated. At the same time, we must find a way to permanently resolve the conflict in Gaza, secure the safe return home of all the hostages and surge humanitarian assistance to innocent Palestinian civilians who are in harm’s way through no fault of their own. Ultimately, the just and lasting peace that all people of goodwill seek can only be achieved through a two-state solution brought about by a safe and secure Israel, living side by side with a demilitarized Palestinian state that provides dignity and self-determination for her people.

The world is an increasingly dangerous place and we must continue to stand with our democratic allies in Ukraine and across the globe. For the past two years, the Ukrainians have bravely pushed back against brutal Russian aggression. The United States cannot abandon them in their hour of greatest need.

Putin’s Russia, aided by Iranian weapons systems, has made deeply troubling gains in recent weeks. Russian aerial assaults have shut down a significant power plant just outside of Kyiv. Ukrainian forces are running out of anti-aircraft artillery. Air strikes, like those Israel endured on Saturday night, have been threatening the Ukrainian people for more than 780 consecutive days. Shockingly, pro-Putin extreme MAGA Republicans in the House have delayed passage of comprehensive national security legislation for more than two months.

First, the country was told by the GOP that America’s national security interests would have to wait until conservative border policy changes were enacted. Republicans then rejected a bipartisan and comprehensive border policy bill because the extremists do not want to solve the problem - they want to weaponize the issue politically.

Second, the country was told that consideration of national security legislation had to wait until the federal government was fully funded. That happened in March, when House Democrats provided the vast majority of votes to keep the government open for the American people. It didn’t matter. Pro-Putin Republicans moved the legislative goalpost again.

Third, the country was told that it was not possible to take up national security legislation until the House reauthorized the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, even though consideration of Ukraine funding was promised upon our immediate return in April. The House passed a bill reauthorizing FISA last Friday. Yet, the Republican majority was planning to spend this week defending the freedom and liberty of kitchen appliances.

Extreme MAGA Republicans are out of excuses. The Ukrainian people are out of time.

The gravely serious events of this past weekend in the Middle East and Eastern Europe underscore the need for Congress to act immediately. We must take up the bipartisan and comprehensive national security bill passed by the Senate forthwith. This is a Churchill or Chamberlain moment. House Democrats will defend democracy and do everything in our legislative power to confront aggression. Will factions within the Republican majority continue to appease it?

Thank you for your leadership and I look forward to our discussion in the House Democratic Caucus meeting tomorrow morning about the path forward.

Sincerely

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