Congresswoman Madeleine Dean, a Glenside native, Abington High School graduate, and member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, released the following statement on her vote against H.R.7217: Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024.
The bill, introduced on Monday, “provides FY2024 supplemental appropriations to the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Department of State for activities to respond to the attacks in Israel.” An extended summary of the bill is as follows:
The bill designates the funding as emergency spending, which is exempt from discretionary spending limits. Specifically, the bill provides appropriations to DOD for
- Military Personnel;
- Operation and Maintenance;
- Procurement;
- Research, Development, Test and Evaluation;
- Defense Working Capital Funds; and
- the Defense Health Program.
The funding is provided for purposes such as
- supporting current U.S. military operations in the region;
- replacing defense articles that were provided to Israel;
- reimbursing DOD for defense services and training provided to Israel; and
- procuring Israel’s Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and Iron Beam defense systems to counter short-range rocket threats.
The bill also provides appropriations to the State Department for
- Diplomatic Programs,
- Emergencies in the Diplomatic and Consular Service, and
- the Foreign Military Financing Program.
The funding is provided to the State Department for purposes such as (1) increasing security at U.S. embassies impacted by the attacks on Israel, and (2) conducting emergency evacuations of U.S. government personnel and citizens in the region.
Finally, the bill includes provisions that expand the authorities of the President to transfer defense articles and services from DOD to Israel.
Dean’s statement is below:
“On October 7th, 2023, Hamas launched a brutal attack on Israeli civilians that killed more than 1,400 men, women, and children. In the wake of that horrifying attack, I have been unwavering in my belief that Israel has a right to exist, every hostage must be returned, and Hamas must be dislodged — without destroying innocent life.
I have also repeatedly expressed my deep concern — for the men, women, and children in harm’s way, through no fault of their own, without adequate food, water, shelter, or medical supplies. This legislation contains no humanitarian aid for Gazans or Israelis.
These grave circumstances demand serious action — but this bill, hastily introduced by House Republican leadership, is, unfortunately, not that.
Instead of considering a bipartisan package addressing our border and immigration systems — in addition to our commitments to long term peace in the Middle East — House Republicans are once again using Israel as a political cudgel.
This legislation ignores our obligations around the world and omits desperately needed humanitarian aid.
For that reason, I voted ‘no’ on H.R. 7217.”
In November, Dean released a statement on “From the River to the Sea“.
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