Termination of Tax-Exempt Status of Terrorist Supporting Organizations

Floor Speech

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Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I first and foremost want to commend Brad and David for their incredible work and also point out that it is not often when you bring out a piece of legislation that you author that you get an opportunity to have your mother in the audience and observe. That legislation is about to be voted on as it was in the committee, and I commend Chairman Smith for his efforts.

This is an important piece of legislation. As David was just saying, no one should ever receive a tax benefit for aiding and abetting terrorists. It is just absurd. Sometimes it takes common sense and practical individuals to stand up and make sure that we get this right, and I commend both of these gentlemen for their outstanding work.

I also thank Mr. Schneider for bringing this up. What we experienced on Saturday was incredible, but it demonstrated that when nations stick together in common bond as allies against terrorism and terrorist attacks, good things can transpire and happen.

The world was taking notice of the way in which the attack on Israel on Saturday was thwarted by Israel, the United States, and our allies.

Nonetheless, as Mr. Schneider pointed out, the world also took notice this weekend on what was transpiring in Ukraine.

Mr. Speaker, imagine, during this same time, 130 drones, 80 missiles, and 700 bombs, just in the last week alone were directed at the people of Ukraine.

The President asked for the supplemental back in October. The Senate passed the supplemental bill more than 2 months ago. That bill is sitting in this Chamber waiting for Congress, the House of Representatives, to stand up on behalf of the Ukrainian people, on behalf of our allies. The world is watching while the House of Representatives dithers.

People's lives are at stake. This is nothing short of a catastrophic tragedy for the people of Ukraine as they must watch aghast as the House of Representatives sits and does not take action to come to their aid and relief.

It is long overdue--as this legislation does--for us to act in a bipartisan basis. There is no question, Mr. Speaker, that if this bill that has been passed by the Senate, the supplemental bill that sits here waiting for our approval, is brought to the floor, it will pass overwhelmingly and with bipartisan support.

Stop holding the supplemental back. Bring it forward. Provide the people of Ukraine the relief they need. Provide the humanitarian relief for the Palestinians, and make sure that Israel and Taiwan get the fortification and support that they need from the American Government. That is our responsibility.

I don't know how people can go home and look in the mirror knowing that a valued ally of ours has put so much on the line and is standing up to Putin. They are standing up to a dictator, and they are standing up to a tyrant who is using the same formula as Adolph Hitler.

Mr. Speaker, Congress needs to rise up and do our job.

Mr. Speaker, I thank David and Brad for the bill.

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