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Biden’s Cabinet secretaries will push a divided Congress to send aid to Israel and Ukraine
Updated: 10:18 AM EDT Oct 31, 2023
Good evening, my fellow Americans, we’re facing an inflection point in history. One of those moments where the decisions we make today are going to determine the future for decades to come. That’s what I’d like to talk with you about tonight and early this morning, I returned from Israel. They tell me I’m the first American president to travel there during the war. I met with the Prime Minister and members of his cabinet and most movingly I met with Israelis who had personally lived through horrific horror of the attack by Hamas on the seventh of October. More than 1300 people slaughtered in Israel including at least 32 American citizens, scores of innocents from infants to the elderly grandparents, Israelis Americans taken hostage. As I told the families of Americans being held captive by Hamas. We’re pursuing every avenue to bring their loved ones home. As president, there is no higher priority for me than the safety of Americans held hostage. The terrorist group Hamas unleashed pure unadulterated evil in the world. But sadly, the Jewish people know perhaps better than anyone that there is no limit to the depravity of people when they want to inflict pain on others. In Israel, I saw people who are strong, determined, resilient and also angry in shock and in deep, deep pain. I also spoke with President Abbas, the Palestinian authority and reiterated the United States remains committed to the Palestinian people’s right to dignity and to self determination. The actions of *** mosque terrorists don’t take that right away like so many other, I’m heartbroken by the tragic loss of Palestinian life including the explosion at the hospital in Gaza which was not done by the Israelis. We mourn every innocent life lost. We can’t ignore the humanity of innocent Palestinians who only want to live in peace and have an opportunity. You know, the assault on Israel echoes nearly 20 months of war tragedy and brutality inflicted on the people of Ukraine people that were very badly hurt since Putin launched his all out invasion. We have not forgotten the mass graves. The bodies found bearing signs of torture, rape used as *** weapon by the Russians and thousands and thousands of Ukrainian Children forcibly taken into Russia, stolen from their parents. It’s sick, Hamas and Putin represent different threats, but they share this in common. They both want to completely annihilate *** neighboring democracy, completely annihilated. Hamas stated purpose for existing is the destruction of the state of Israel and the murder of Jewish people. Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people. Hamas uses Palestinian civilians as human shields and innocent Palestinian families are suffering greatly because of them. Meanwhile, Putin denies Ukraine has or ever had real statehood. He claims the Soviet Union created Ukraine. And just two weeks ago, he told the world that if the United States and our allies withdraw and if the United States withdraw, our allies will as well, military support for Ukraine would have quote *** week left to live, but we’re not withdrawing. I know these conflicts can seem far away and it’s natural to ask, why does this matter to America? So let me share with you why making sure Israel and Ukraine succeed is vital for America’s national security. You know, history has taught us that when terrorists don’t pay *** price for their terror, when dictators don’t pay *** price for their aggression, they cause more chaos and death and more destruction, they keep going and the cost and the threats to America and the world keep rising. So if we don’t stop Putin’s appetite for power and control in Ukraine, he won’t limit himself just to Ukraine. Putin has already threatened to remind, remind Poland that their western land was *** gift from Russia. One of his top advisers, *** former president of Russia has called Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, Russia’s Baltic provinces. These are all NATO allies for 75 years. NATO has kept peace in Europe and has been the cornerstone of American security. And if Putin attacks *** NATO ally, we will defend every inch of NATO which the treaty requires and calls for, we’ll have something that we do not seek, make it clear. We do not seek, we do not seek to have American troops fighting in Russia or fighting against Russia beyond Europe. We know that our allies and maybe most important adversaries and competitors are watching, they’re watching our response in Ukraine as well. And if we walk away and let Putin erase Ukraine’s independence would be aggressors around the world be emboldened to try the same. The risk of conflict and chaos could spread in other parts of the world. In the Indo Pacific in the Middle East, especially in the Middle East. Iran is supporting Russia’s in Ukraine and its supporting Hamas and other terrorist groups in the region and we will continue to hold them accountable. I might add the United States and our partners across the region are working to build *** better future for the Middle East. One where the Middle East is more stable, better connected to its neighbors and through innovative projects like the Indian Middle East Europe rail Corridor that I announced this year at the summit of the world’s biggest economies, more predictable markets, more employment, less rage, less grievances, less war when connected, it benefits the people who would benefit the people in the Middle East and would benefit us. American leadership is what holds the world together. American alliance is what keeps us America safe. American values are what make us *** partner that other nations want to work with to put all that at risk. If we walk away from Ukraine, we turn our backs on Israel. It’s just not worth it. That’s why tomorrow I’m going to send to Congress an urgent budget request to fund America’s national security needs to support our critical partners, including Israel. And Ukraine is *** smart investment that’s going to pay dividends for American security for generations. Help us keep American troops out of harm’s way, help us build *** world that is safer, more peaceful and more prosperous for our Children and grandchildren in Israel. We must make sure that they have what they need to protect their people today and always the security package I’m sending to Congress and asking Congress to do is an unprecedented commitment to Israel’s security that will sharpen Israel’s qualitative military edge which we’ve committed to the qualitative military edge. We’re gonna make sure iron Dome continues to guard the skies over Israel. We’re gonna make sure other hostile actors in the region know that Israel is stronger than ever and prevent this conflict from spreading. Look at the same time, President Netanyahu and I discussed again yesterday, the critical need for Israel to operate by the laws of war that means protecting civilians in combat as best as they can. The people of Gaza urgently need food, water and medicine. Yesterday, in discussions with the leaders of Israel and Egypt, I secured an agreement for the first shipment of humanitarian assistance from the United Nations to Palestinian civilians in Gaza, Hamas does not divert or steal this shipment. These shipments, we’re going to provide an opening for sustained delivery of life saving humanitarian assistance for the Palestinians. As I said in Israel, as hard as this, we cannot give up on peace, we cannot give up on *** two state solution. Israel and Palestinians equally deserve to live in safety, dignity and peace. You know, and here at home, we have to be honest with ourselves. In recent years, too much hate is given too much oxygen fueling racism. The rise of anti Semitism, Islamophobia right here in America. It is also intensified in the wake of recent events that led to the horrific threats and attacks that both shock us and break our hearts. On October 7th, terror attacks have triggered deep scars and terrible memories in the Jewish community. Today, Jewish families worried about being targeted in school, wearing symbols of their face, walking down the street or going out about their daily lives. And I know many of you in the Muslim American community, the Arab American community, the Palestinian American community and so many others are outraged and hearty saying to yourselves. Here we go again with Islamophobia and distrust we saw after 9 11 just last week, my mother was brutally stabbed *** little boy here in the United States. *** little boy who just turned six years old was murdered in their home outside of Chicago. His name was Wadi. Wadi, *** proud American, *** proud Palestinian American family. We can’t stand by and stand silent when this happens. We must without equivocation, denounce, anti-semitism. We must also without equivocation, denounce Islamophobia. And to all you heard it, those of you heard it. I want you to know, I see you, you belong and I want to say this to you. You’re all America, you’re all American. This is in *** moment where you know, in moments like these, when fear and suspicion, anger and rage run hard that we have to work harder than ever to hold on to the values that make us who we are. We’re *** nation of religious freedom, freedom of expression. We all have *** right to debate and disagree without fear of being targeted in schools or workplaces or in our communities. I must renounce violence and vitriol. See each other. Not as any but as fellow Americans. When I was in Israel yesterday. I said that when America experienced the hell of 9 11, we felt enraged as well while we sought and got justice, we made mistakes. So I caution the government of Israel not to be blinded by rage. And here in America let us not forget who we are. We reject all forms, all forms of hate, whether against Muslim Jews or anyone. That’s what great nations do. And we are *** great nation on Ukraine. I’m asking Congress to make sure we can continue to send Ukraine the weapons they need to defend themselves and their country without interruption. So Ukraine can stop Putin’s brutality in Ukraine. They are succeeding. When Putin invaded Ukraine, he thought he would take Kiev and all of Ukraine in *** matter of days. Well, over *** year later, Putin has failed and he continues to fail. Kev still stands because of the brave they were Ukrainian people. Ukraine has regained more than 50% of the territory. Russian troops once occupied, backed by us, led coalition of more than 50 countries around the world all doing his part to support Kiev. What would happen if we walked away? We are the essential nation. Meanwhile, Putin has turned to Iran and North Korea to buy attack drones and ammunition to terrorize Ukrainian cities and people from the outset. I’ve said I will not send American troops to fight in Ukraine. All Ukraine is asking for is help for the weapons. I mean, this is the capacity the capability to push invading Russian forces off their land and the air defense system to shoot down Russian missiles before they destroy Ukrainian cities. Let me be clear about something. We send Ukrainian equipment sitting in our stockpiles and when we use the money allocated by Congress, we use it to replenish our own stores, our own stockpiles with new equipment, equipment that def that defends America and is made in America. Patron missiles for air defense batteries made in Arizona, artillery shells manufactured in 12 states across the country in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas. And so much more, you know, just as in World War two today, patriotic American workers are building the arsenal of democracy and serving the cause of freedom. Let me close with this. Earlier this year, I boarded Air Force one for *** secret flight to Poland there. I boarded *** train with blacked out windows for *** 10 hour ride each way to Kev to stand with the people of Ukraine ahead of the one year anniversary of the brave fight against Putin. I’m told I was the first American to enter *** war zone not controlled by the United States military since President Lincoln with me was just *** small group of security personnel and *** few advisors. But when I exited that train and met Jinsy, President Zelinski, I didn’t feel alone. I was bringing with me the idea of America, the promise of America to the people who are today fighting for the same things we fought for 250 years ago. Freedom, independence, self determination. As I walked through key with President Solinski with air raid sirens sounding in the distance. I felt something I’ve always believed more strongly than ever before America is *** beacon to the world still still. Whereas my friend Madeleine Albright said the indispensable nation tonight, there are innocent people all over the world who hope because of us who believe in *** better life because of us who are desperate not to be forgotten by us and are waiting for us. But time is of the essence, I know we have our divisions at home. We have to get past them. We can’t let petty partisan, angry politics get in the way of our responsibilities as *** great nation. We cannot and will not let terrorists like Hamas and tyrants like Putin win. I refuse to let that happen. And moments like these, we have to remind, we have to remember who we are. We are the United States of America, the United States of America. And there is nothing, nothing beyond our capacity. If we do it together, my fellow Americans, thank you for your time.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken will make the case Tuesday that the United States should immediately send aid to Israel and Ukraine, testifying at a Senate hearing as the administration’s massive $105 billion emergency aid request for conflicts in those countries and others has already hit roadblocks in the divided Congress.President Joe Biden’s Cabinet secretaries will be advocating for the foreign aid to a mostly friendly audience in the Senate, where majority Democrats and many Republicans support tying aid for the two countries together. But it faces much deeper problems in the Republican-led House, where new Speaker Mike Johnson has proposed cutting out the Ukraine aid and focusing on Israel alone, and cutting money for the Internal Revenue Service to pay for it.The drastically narrowed House proposal, which would cost more than $14 billion, faced immediate resistance among Senate Democrats — and put pressure on Senate Republicans who support the Ukraine aid but are conscious of growing concerns about it within their party. The differing approaches signal problems ahead for the aid as both countries engage in long-simmering, defining conflicts that Biden and many U.S. lawmakers say could have fundamental ramifications for the rest of the world.“Right now, America faces an unavoidable moment of truth: democracy and freedom are under attack around the globe in ways we have not seen since the end of the Cold War,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., shortly after House Republicans made their proposal public on Monday. He said Republicans should resist “the false allures of isolationism” as Russian President Vladimir Putin has worked to re-assert Russia as a global power and as Hamas has sought the total annihilation of Israel.In prepared remarks for Tuesday’s hearing, Senate Appropriations Chairwoman Patty Murray, D-Wash., will say that she and the panel’s top Republican, Maine Sen. Susan Collins, are writing a bill that would include aid for both countries, as Biden has requested. The White House request also includes money for Taiwan as it faces threats from China and added dollars to manage the influx of migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border.“Make no mistake, we need to address all of these priorities as part of one package — because the reality is these issues are all connected, and they are all urgent,” Murray will say.Despite growing questions about the Ukraine aid within the Republican conference, Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell has forcefully advocated tying the aid for Ukraine and Israel together. He hosted Oksana Markarova, the Ukrainian ambassador to the United States, at an event in Kentucky on Monday and told the audience, “this is a moment for swift and decisive action.”Markarova said at the event that “this is the time to double down” and that failing to aid Ukraine’s war would embolden Putin and endanger the world.“If we will not fight for democracy, then who will fight for democracy?” Markarova asked.As they returned to Washington on Monday night, Senate Republicans who support the Ukraine aid were uncertain of the path forward. Further complicating the package, several of them have been negotiating a package of border security measures that would go beyond Biden’s request, an attempt to help control the influx of migrants, include more money for the United States in the spending bill and perhaps convince more Republicans to vote for it.Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, the No. 2 Senate Republican, said it could complicate Democrats’ efforts to pass the two together if there were a bipartisan vote for the Israel aid alone in the House.Thune reiterated his support for tying aid for the two countries together but said he is “open to suggestions.”Republican Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa said she wants to see Ukraine aid passed, and “I don’t care how it happens.” She said she is open to the spending cuts that Republicans proposed for the Israel funding in the House.In recent weeks, though, a growing group of Senate Republicans have joined the majority of House Republicans who are advocating to slow down or stop U.S. aid to Ukraine. Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance has been one of the most forceful opponents of the assistance, calling Ukraine’s war against Putin and Russia “an endless conflict with no plan from the Biden administration.”The House could pass the Israel aid by the end of the week. In an interview on Fox News on Monday, Johnson said he would call Schumer to talk about the House bill. He said the legislation would be offset by the IRS funding because “we’re not just going to print money and send it overseas, because the other concern we have that is overriding is our own strength as a nation, which is tied to our fiscal stability.”The top Democrat on the House Ways and Means Committee, New York Rep. Richard Neal, and Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden, D-Ore., both immediately rebuked the cuts for the IRS.“Hamas depends on sham charities and other illicit finance schemes to fund its operations, but this proposal would cut resources to IRS criminal investigators who are actively helping American allies stop terrorist financing and sanctions evaders,” Wyden said.In a statement, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre called the House proposal a “nonstarter.”“Playing political games that threaten the source of funding for Israel’s self-defense — now and into the future — would set an unacceptable precedent that calls our commitment to one of our closest allies into question,” she said.___Associated Press writers Seung Min Kim, Fatima Hussein and Tara Copp contributed to this report.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken will make the case Tuesday that the United States should immediately send aid to Israel and Ukraine, testifying at a Senate hearing as the administration’s massive $105 billion emergency aid request for conflicts in those countries and others has already hit roadblocks in the divided Congress.
President Joe Biden’s Cabinet secretaries will be advocating for the foreign aid to a mostly friendly audience in the Senate, where majority Democrats and many Republicans support tying aid for the two countries together. But it faces much deeper problems in the Republican-led House, where new Speaker Mike Johnson has proposed cutting out the Ukraine aid and focusing on Israel alone, and cutting money for the Internal Revenue Service to pay for it.
The drastically narrowed House proposal, which would cost more than $14 billion, faced immediate resistance among Senate Democrats — and put pressure on Senate Republicans who support the Ukraine aid but are conscious of growing concerns about it within their party. The differing approaches signal problems ahead for the aid as both countries engage in long-simmering, defining conflicts that Biden and many U.S. lawmakers say could have fundamental ramifications for the rest of the world.
“Right now, America faces an unavoidable moment of truth: democracy and freedom are under attack around the globe in ways we have not seen since the end of the Cold War,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., shortly after House Republicans made their proposal public on Monday. He said Republicans should resist “the false allures of isolationism” as Russian President Vladimir Putin has worked to re-assert Russia as a global power and as Hamas has sought the total annihilation of Israel.
In prepared remarks for Tuesday’s hearing, Senate Appropriations Chairwoman Patty Murray, D-Wash., will say that she and the panel’s top Republican, Maine Sen. Susan Collins, are writing a bill that would include aid for both countries, as Biden has requested. The White House request also includes money for Taiwan as it faces threats from China and added dollars to manage the influx of migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border.
“Make no mistake, we need to address all of these priorities as part of one package — because the reality is these issues are all connected, and they are all urgent,” Murray will say.
Despite growing questions about the Ukraine aid within the Republican conference, Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell has forcefully advocated tying the aid for Ukraine and Israel together. He hosted Oksana Markarova, the Ukrainian ambassador to the United States, at an event in Kentucky on Monday and told the audience, “this is a moment for swift and decisive action.”
Markarova said at the event that “this is the time to double down” and that failing to aid Ukraine’s war would embolden Putin and endanger the world.
“If we will not fight for democracy, then who will fight for democracy?” Markarova asked.
As they returned to Washington on Monday night, Senate Republicans who support the Ukraine aid were uncertain of the path forward. Further complicating the package, several of them have been negotiating a package of border security measures that would go beyond Biden’s request, an attempt to help control the influx of migrants, include more money for the United States in the spending bill and perhaps convince more Republicans to vote for it.
Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, the No. 2 Senate Republican, said it could complicate Democrats’ efforts to pass the two together if there were a bipartisan vote for the Israel aid alone in the House.
Thune reiterated his support for tying aid for the two countries together but said he is “open to suggestions.”
Republican Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa said she wants to see Ukraine aid passed, and “I don’t care how it happens.” She said she is open to the spending cuts that Republicans proposed for the Israel funding in the House.
In recent weeks, though, a growing group of Senate Republicans have joined the majority of House Republicans who are advocating to slow down or stop U.S. aid to Ukraine. Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance has been one of the most forceful opponents of the assistance, calling Ukraine’s war against Putin and Russia “an endless conflict with no plan from the Biden administration.”
The House could pass the Israel aid by the end of the week. In an interview on Fox News on Monday, Johnson said he would call Schumer to talk about the House bill. He said the legislation would be offset by the IRS funding because “we’re not just going to print money and send it overseas, because the other concern we have that is overriding is our own strength as a nation, which is tied to our fiscal stability.”
The top Democrat on the House Ways and Means Committee, New York Rep. Richard Neal, and Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden, D-Ore., both immediately rebuked the cuts for the IRS.
“Hamas depends on sham charities and other illicit finance schemes to fund its operations, but this proposal would cut resources to IRS criminal investigators who are actively helping American allies stop terrorist financing and sanctions evaders,” Wyden said.
In a statement, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre called the House proposal a “nonstarter.”
“Playing political games that threaten the source of funding for Israel’s self-defense — now and into the future — would set an unacceptable precedent that calls our commitment to one of our closest allies into question,” she said.
___
Associated Press writers Seung Min Kim, Fatima Hussein and Tara Copp contributed to this report.
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