Ken Calvert

Mr. CALVERT

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Chairman, the Secretary of Defense serves at the pleasure of the President of the United States. He implements the President's policies. We have, in many ways, been addressing our serious differences with the Department and this administration. We have done so on multiple occasions, and we have done so within this bill. Mr. Chair, I oppose this amendment, and I yield to the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. McCollum).

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Chair, unfunded priority lists are an important tool to provide Congress with unfiltered information on what our military services and combatant commanders need. This has been the law of the land since FY 2017. Unfunded priority lists give military services and the combatant commanders a direct channel to Congress, which allows Congress to make more informed decisions. Mr. Chair, I urge a ``no'' vote, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Chair, I move that the Committee do now rise.

Mr. CALVERT

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the gentleman from California, the Honorable Vince Fong, be permitted to take the oath of office today. His certificate of election has not arrived, but there is no contest and no question has been raised with regard to his election.

Mr. CALVERT

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I congratulate our newest member of the California delegation, Vince Fong. While he may have just arrived, Vince is joining our delegation after serving in the California State Assembly since 2016. He is also armed with the knowledge and invaluable insights learned from his time serving as a staff member in Kern County with legends like Bill Thomas and Kevin McCarthy. We have no doubt he will be just as successful as his mentors. On behalf of the entire delegation, let me again congratulate Vince, his wife, Amanda, and the entire Fong family. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the newly minted Congressman, the gentleman from California (Mr. Fong).

Mr. CALVERT

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Israel Security Assistance Support Act. This bill reverses President Biden's misguided attempts to withhold vital security assistance to Israel as they fight to defend their citizens from terrorists. Just last week, we observed Holocaust Remembrance Day, commemorating the 6 million Jews who were murdered by Nazi Germany. The memory of those lives horrifically taken endures 80 years since the end of the Holocaust. A plaque at Auschwitz states: ``Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.'' Mr. Speaker, we can never forget. On October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorists launched a massive, unprovoked war on Israel, killing 1,200 innocent people and taking 240 hostages, including American citizens. It was the worst attack on the Jewish people since the Holocaust. The Israeli people are still reeling from the barbaric attacks on that day. They are unable to begin healing while still separated from their loved ones taken hostage, and they are determined to ensure no further innocent Israeli lives are taken by radical terrorists. Over the past 6 months, Israel has been repeatedly attacked by Iran and its terrorist proxy groups: Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis. Each one of these groups has vowed repeatedly to destroy the State of Israel. The only reason these attacks have been unsuccessful is because of Israel's robust military and because of their missile defense capability, honed by years of defending itself from attacks. Hamas and others who seek the end of the Jewish state have not run out of weapons, resources, or willpower. In this unprovoked conflict they started, they are using none of these things to defend innocent civilians, preferring to use them instead as human shields. Hamas has made a choice to continue the conflict by tormenting their hostages and hiding behind civilians. It is time to stop appeasing terrorists and provide Israel with the weapons and support necessary to end this war. The United States affirmed our resolve to stand with Israel less than a month ago when we passed supplemental appropriations for Israel with strong bipartisan support. This message could not have been clearer. Astoundingly, last week, The Washington Post reported that President Biden ordered a pause on weapons ready for delivery to Israel-- literally on the truck ready to be sent to the airport and flown out to Israel immediately. These are weapons that were previously approved by Congress and the administration. These include 1,800 2,000-pound bombs and 1,700 500-pound bombs that are intended to strike Hamas' extensive tunnel network. It was also reported that the administration was reviewing planned transfers of 6,500 joint direct attack munition kits which would bring precision to the fight and help minimize civilian casualties. The Biden administration is ignoring the fact that the State of Israel is surrounded by people who want to destroy them. Iran does not recognize Israel and has called for its elimination. Hamas is committed to the destruction of Israel, and Hezbollah's primary goal is the elimination of Israel. Iran and its proxies are only deterred through strength, which is why the U.S. must continue to provide weapons to Israel. Unable to deter Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah, or any other nefarious actor seeking to attack the Jewish state, the Biden administration instead is suppressing a close ally. Members on both sides of the aisle have called for President Biden to reverse his decision. The administration should not ignore the will of Congress as evident through overwhelming bipartisan legislative action. Unfortunately, the Biden administration's decision made it necessary for me, along with Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole, State and Foreign Operations Subcommittee Chairman Mario Diaz-Balart, and Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee Chairman David Joyce to introduce the Israel Security Assistance Support Act. This bill prevents the Defense and State Departments from withholding the delivery of weapons to Israel; requires the administration to ensure prompt delivery of weapons to Israel; mandates that anything withheld from delivery to Israel be delivered within 15 days and withholds funds until they are delivered; requires all assistance to Israel be obligated within 30 days; requires the Inspectors General to report on actions taken by executive branch officials to withhold security assistance to Israel. It also includes comprehensive reporting on weapons deliveries to Israel to ensure congressional intent is met.

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, it is appalling that this legislation is necessary. The reaction of the Biden administration proves that it is. A veto threat and a $1 billion unrelated aid package were announced almost simultaneously once it became clear that the House intended to take action on that this week. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. CALVERT

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I was present for the vote on the House floor and thought I had voted ``AYE'' for the bill using my member card but it did not properly count my vote. Had it been counted, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 186.

Mr. CALVERT

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 1160, I call up the bill (H.R. 8034) making emergency supplemental appropriations to respond to the situation in Israel and for related expenses for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the measure under consideration.

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer H.R. 8034, the Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024. This bill provides $26.38 billion to fortify America's support of Israeli allies and defend our troops in the region. It is part of a larger package of three security supplemental appropriations acts before us for Israel, Ukraine, and the Indo- Pacific. All three are essential to deter our adversaries. There are moments when our actions are optional, a convenience but not a necessity, a choice. This is not one of those moments. The world is in chaos. Americans have been killed, and our allies and partners are dying on the front lines every day. Ukraine is entering its third year of a war to repel Russia's invasion while forced to conserve their munitions and choose which areas to defend. Israel is avenging its innocent civilians who were murdered, raped, brutalized, and taken hostage by Hamas while defending its country from a barrage of Iranian missiles. Indo-Pacific nations face China daily with strength and resolve, knowing they are likely next. The United States is not on the sidelines in these conflicts. Our servicemembers are under daily attack in the Red Sea, standing watch along NATO's eastern flank and being routinely challenged in the Indo- Pacific. Mr. Speaker, five American flag-draped coffins have returned home in the past 6 months. When we go to war, we go to war with what we have. There is no time to forge new alliances, no ability to reconstruct abandoned production lines, and no hidden reserve of fully trained and ready troops. This is the situation our allies and partners in Israel, Ukraine, Taiwan, and other Indo-Pacific nations face today. It is a situation we ourselves may face sooner than we think. Xi, Putin, Khamenei, and terrorist leaders will not back down unless met with a strong and resolute America, standing shoulder to shoulder with our constellation of allies and partners. These bills provide the funding necessary to defeat and deter our enemies. While the bills carry the names of other countries, there is one Nation that I care about above all others. That is ours. These conflicts have exposed the fragility of our defense industrial base and the dire need to invest in factories, shipyards, and assembly lines that manufacture the instruments of our national defense. In recognition of this fact, over $59 billion across these bills go into our defense industrial base, including $3.3 billion to supercharge our submarine industrial base; $29.5 billion to replenish our stocks of U.S. defense systems and services provided to Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan; and $1.13 billion to expand procurement and development of artillery and critical munitions. Each conflict has its unique needs addressed in these bills, including: $5.2 billion to replenish Israel's Iron Dome and David's Sling and procure Iron Beam missile defense systems; $542 million for unfunded priorities expressly requested by the USINDOPACOM commander; and $13.8 billion directly to procure U.S. capabilities for Ukraine. Our servicemen and servicewomen across the globe are being tasked to operate at a wartime tempo to track, respond, and engage emerging threats. These bills provide the resources necessary to support their operations with $11.3 billion for current U.S. operations in Europe and $2.4 billion for our forces in the Middle East who are under daily attack. Mr. Speaker, we have been complacent far too long as our allies and partners and our own servicemembers have been under attack. This Congress has a solemn obligation to our military to provide them with the resources they need to deter and win our Nation's wars. Douglas MacArthur once said: ``The history of the failure of war can almost be summed up in two words: too late.'' When conflict occurs, we will fight with what we have and who is with us. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on these bills to ensure our military readiness and reinvigorate the American defense industry. I encourage them to vote ``yes'' to reinforce our Israeli, Ukrainian, Taiwanese, and Indo-Pacific allies and partners. I encourage them to vote ``yes'' so that future generations may write of what we did here today: They weren't too late. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Clyde), a member of the Appropriations Committee.

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. McClintock).

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Lawler).

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Kean).

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith.)

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Fitzpatrick).

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Wilson).

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire how much time is remaining.

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, in closing, this is a day we are going to act. I urge all my colleagues to support these critical national security bills. They provide the resources necessary to bolster our military, reassure our allies and partners, and commit to stand against tyranny. The world is waiting, watching, and wanting America to lead. This is our moment. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.