REP LIEU STATEMENT ON VOTE OPPOSING H.R. 6126

WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D-Los Angeles County) issued the following statement on his vote opposing H.R. 6126, the Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act.

“On Oct 7, Hamas terrorists invaded Israel and butchered children, raped women and burned entire families alive. What do House Republicans do in response? Condition aid to Israel. Never before has Congress required an offset for foreign aid. And now, when Israel is facing an existential crisis, House Republicans for the first time impose a new requirement for an 'offset' before allowing that aid to proceed. This horrible precedent of singling out Israel to condition aid must not stand or be repeated. Israel may need additional aid again in the future and we should be prepared to provide it – without having to play political games. What’s next on House Republican’s future agenda, no aid to Israel unless we cut Social Security? I will not vote for this bill that imposes the unacceptable precedent of conditioning aid to Israel.

"I am also deeply dismayed at the Republican majority’s decision to politicize this much-needed bill to aid Israel. A clean bill would have broad bipartisan support, including my support. We didn’t get that. Instead, Republicans decided to make the aid to Israel conditional, requiring arbitrary cuts to the IRS’ tax evasion enforcement efforts. Republicans want to impose conditions for foreign aid on Israel that they don’t impose for any other country. They have demonstrated that they are unwilling to support our ally in her time of need without trying to shove through unrelated and extreme policies that only benefit billionaire tax cheats. Republicans are pretending their bill is fiscally responsible when it will actually increase the deficit by $12.5 billion. This hyper partisan Republican bill is not serious, is dead on arrival in the Senate, and sets a terrible precedent that would jeopardize future aid to Israel.”

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