Washington, April 20, 2024

After a dangerous, needless delay, I’m proud that a large, bipartisan majority of House Members passed a strong supplemental security package for our allies in Ukraine, Israel, and the Indo-Pacific. It was long overdue, as the Senate passed a similar package months ago. Yet I welcome Speaker Johnson’s decision to end this horribly harmful holdup.

“After a dangerous, needless delay, I’m proud that a large, bipartisan majority of House Members passed a strong supplemental security package for our allies in Ukraine, Israel, and the Indo-Pacific. It was long overdue, as the Senate passed a similar package months ago. Yet I welcome Speaker Johnson’s decision to end this horribly harmful holdup.

“With this critical aid, Ukraine can better meet the Putin’s merciless aggression. Israel can defend its people against relentless assaults from Hamas and Iran’s other proxies. And Taiwan can stand up to an antagonistic China, all while ushering humanitarian aid to vulnerable, desperate people in Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, Haiti, and other global hotspots.

“I have traveled to Israel three times since 10/7, and as Ranking Member of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee, I traveled to the Indo-Pacific region multiple times. I know first-hand how vital this funding is to our national security posture and allies.

“I welcome the news that the Senate will consider this package Tuesday and I urge them to get it to President Biden’s desk as soon as possible. The United States’ support of our democratic allies and millions of vulnerable people around the globe is urgently needed for global stability, our national security and the defense of democracy.”