KMAland - David Young Says Speech was Historic

Press Release

- Iowa 3rd District Congressman David Young was extremely excited about being a witness to yesterday's speech by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the United States Congress.

Young, who was an early morning guest on KMA says it was a special moment.

"Well you know you felt like you were part of history being in that chamber. And people were on the edge of their seat and there was kind of an electrified body in there. And we were a part of history."

Young says only one other foreign leader has addressed Congress three different times.

"So this is the third time Netanyahu has addressed the joint session of Congress. One other world leader has addressed a joint session of Congress before three times. It's Winston Churchill. Think of the situations that Churchill was in with the enemy out there in Hitler and Nazi Germany and think of the situation that Netanyahu is facing. He's facing an extreme enemy, not just ISIS but Iran. So there's a parallel there. It was a message that needed to be heard, not just by the United States of America, but by the world."

Young says he's disappointed by the reaction to yesterday's speech by the White House.

"You know the White House and said and the President has said there's no new news here. And the President disagreed with Netanyahu, so that is not encouraging. But I am encouraged by what I am hearing on both sides of the aisle up here in the U.S. House of Representatives after the speech. Congress does have a role here and we do have some bi-partisan efforts here both in the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee and in the House as well to keep the current sanctions against Iran going. There's a bill out there to do that and also if there's any agreement between Iran and the USA regarding what's going on, the White House has to get that agreement to Congress for review within 5 days, so Congress does have a role here."

Young says some naysayers have criticized Netanyahu because they feel yesterday's speech was a political ploy just two weeks ahead of Israel's national election.

"I think he did this speech, not for the priority of his political survival and I don't know how this would affect his election, but I believe he gave the speech for the priority of Israel and the love of his country. He wants to make sure it survives and is there and we would put ourselves in the same light and not put ourselves in a political situation as a candidate or a leader, but because of what the right thing is to do."

On another topic, Young says he voted against the Department of Homeland Security bill that eventually passed in Washington yesterday.

"I voted against it and I didn't like that. But at the same time I had to stand with the Constitution. So Steve King, Rod Blum of the 1st District and myself and even Joni Ernst and Senator Grassley, we all voted the same way. Unfortunately against this bill because we thought we needed some leverage against this President on his executive amnesty. But we are still winning this folks because the courts have ruled in our favor right now. And when I say our favor, I don't mean Republicans, I mean the Constitution's favor."

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