Michael McCaul

Mr. McCAUL

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. McCAUL

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time until the ranking member has closed.

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close. First, let me just say in response that I also appreciate our friendship, our partnership, Mr. Meeks and myself. We are very proud of our committee and our committee's record of working in a very bipartisan manner. Mr. Speaker, following the Holocaust, the world said: Never again. Following the massacre on October 7, this body, through our bipartisan resolution, said: Never again. When we said that, I thought we meant that. When President Biden said to Israel after the attacks, ``As long as the United States stands . . . we will not let you ever be alone,'' I thought he meant that. Now, in their moment of need, this administration has turned their backs on Israel, halting shipments of weapons they desperately need to win. This administration has sowed the seeds of doubt on this Nation's commitments to our allies. We abandoned Afghanistan to the Taliban. We slow-walked weapons to Ukraine, giving them just enough to bleed out but not to win. President Biden's decision to withhold weapons, approved by myself, the chairman, and the ranking member, and appropriated by Congress, defied congressional intent and is tantamount to an arms embargo. Mr. Speaker, red lines are meant for our enemies. Red lines are not meant for our allies and our friends, but that is precisely what this administration is doing to Israel. What a terrible message to send to our allies. Even more dangerous is the message that we are sending to our adversaries. This week marked the 76th anniversary of Israel's independence. Think about that and the timing of this. To mark this occasion, the State Department released a statement saying: ``The United States was the first country to recognize Israeli statehood when Israel declared independence in 1948. Our history of shared democratic values, trade, deep cultural ties, and commitment to regional security has provided the basis for our countries' strong partnership and friendship.'' A strong partnership and commitment to regional security means standing with our allies, not withholding vital weapons during an unprecedented war and not withholding vital weapons after Iran, for God's sake, for the first time in the history of the State of Israel, fired endless rockets from Iran directly into Israel. We all want peace and stability in the region, but that cannot happen as long as Hamas remains in power. Israel remains under attack, and as their closest ally and partner, we must give them the tools they need to finish the job. The time is now. We cannot wait any longer. It has been delayed enough. Only until that final military objective is completed can we begin the other phase of this that Mr. Meeks and I have been looking forward to, and that is working with the Saudis and Israelis on a security agreement, along with the other Arab nations, to finally just maybe bring peace and prosperity to a part of the world that has been at war for so many years, for way too long. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this measure and to stand with Israel in its darkest hour. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. Kiley).

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from the great State of Texas (Mr. Pfluger), a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee and an original cosponsor of this bill.

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Clyde), a member of the Committee on Appropriations.

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. McClintock), chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary's Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement, and an original cosponsor of this bill.

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Self), a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee.

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Diaz-Balart), an original cosponsor of this bill and chairman of the Committee on Appropriations' Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs.

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentleman from California.

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, let me just say, first, with respect to the first President I had the honor to vote for, Ronald Reagan, in 1982, it was concluded that Israel was violating U.S. and international laws by their use of cluster munitions. In this case, the Biden administration actually concluded in a national security memo that Israel was not violating U.S. and international laws. Yet, the President still announced his plan to withhold all defensive weapons to Israel. That is a very different situation, and I wanted to rectify and clarify the Record on that. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert), who is the author of this bill and the chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense.

Mr. McCAUL. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on this measure.

Mr. McCAUL. Madam Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 1227, I call up the bill (H.R. 8369) to provide for the expeditious delivery of defense articles and defense services for Israel and other matters, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. McCAUL. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, Hamas' October 7 massacre was as cruel, barbaric, and bloody as anything I have ever seen. Hamas unleashed pure evil on Israel that day. The Hamas terrorists filmed themselves committing brutal atrocities because they were so proud of their barbaric acts. In fact, in just hours they murdered 1,200 innocent people and took over 250 hostages, including Americans. I say this to remind my colleagues of the moral clarity that we as a body felt in the aftermath of these brutal attacks. It was obvious to us then that Hamas was ruthless. It was obvious to us that Hamas needed to be eradicated to ensure Israel's security. It was obvious to us that Hamas would fight dirty and use innocent civilians as human shields. It was obvious to us that Israel had no choice but to win this war and end the perpetual terrorist threat. We all, Republicans and Democrats, spent those weeks talking about our steadfast support for Israel, our ironclad commitment. In fact, Mr. Meeks and I introduced a bipartisan resolution condemning Hamas in support of Israel which had more cosponsors than any other resolution in the history of the Congress. However, today, I am deeply disappointed that for some in this country and for the administration that that moral clarity has faded, that their ironclad commitment apparently is not, in fact, ironclad. In an about-face, the Biden administration is now withholding critical arms necessary for Israel to win this war. This administration wants to dictate how Israel executes the war that they were thrust into. They did not ask for this war. They did not start this war. Hamas started this war. Just recently, though, President Biden said that if they go into Rafah, I am not supplying the weapons, period. That would be similar for us, Madam Speaker, to say during World War II, my father's war, that you can invade all the way up to Berlin, but you can't go into Berlin to finish the job. Imagine if we had done that with our Allies back then. Israel is in a fight for its very existence, and this administration's public break with Israel has only made negotiations and victory more difficult. Rafah is a final key military objective to complete the mission against Hamas. Israel has effectively eradicated 19 battalions throughout Gaza, yet 4 remain in Rafah. This is the last stage of the military operation, and it keeps getting delayed and delayed and delayed. We know that Hamas is exploiting this cease-fire and using the negotiation process just to buy more time. Hamas has established a network of tunnels that total over 300 miles in Gaza. These tunnels of terror are where they are holed up ready to strike Israel at the first opportunity. Their use of tunnels is why Israel must use these larger bombs, to destroy their command and control centers and eliminate the terrorists that find refuge in them. By the way, contrary to what has been said publicly, these bombs when applied with JDAM kits can become precision-guided weapons. Precision means just that, precise. It goes straight to the target without collateral damage, and it does, indeed, protect innocent civilians. We know that Yahya Sinwar, the head of Hamas, is somewhere around these tunnels. Taking him out is critical to defeating Hamas. Madam Speaker, as the saying goes: War is hell. War is horrific. War is messy. Nobody wants war. Israel did not start this war; Hamas did. Sadly, civilian casualties are part of urban warfare. Israel has limited this number greatly and is opening all routes for humanitarian assistance. This is despite the fact that Hamas are the ones who use human shields, hide behind hospitals and schools, and put civilians in harm's way. It was Hamas that destroyed the Erez checkpoint on October 7, significantly impeding aid from getting into Gaza. Since then, they have repeatedly attacked another checkpoint that serves as a major artery of aid into Gaza. Egypt also is currently delaying aid through the Rafah checkpoint. Just the other day, I saw a video of Hamas killing their own people, Palestinian children simply trying to get food out of the trucks, as they gunned down their own people. Until Israel finishes the last major operation to remove Hamas from power, to defeat the remaining battalions that are in Rafah, we will never have the peaceful resolution that everybody wants. For until Rafah is destroyed and Hamas is destroyed, we will not be able to get to the peace talks with the Saudis and Israel and the other Arab nations that everyone is so optimistic about. I can only think of one purpose to withhold these weapons. This administration is more concerned about a small vocal wing of activists than the ironclad commitment that they talked about to stand by Israel. Under this administration, I have noticed a disturbing trend, a trend where we turn our backs on our allies and fall short of the promises we make. That is why this legislation is so important. It will ensure the weapons are delivered to Israel, and it will reassure our allies that when America makes a commitment, we keep it. Think about this, Madam Speaker: What kind of a message is this sending both to our allies and friends and our adversaries and enemies? To our allies, it sends a message that we cannot be trusted. To our adversaries, it sends a message that they no longer fear us. It does not send a message of deterrence. It sends a message of weakness. It invites conflict, aggression, and now, yes, war. Imagine if Iran cut off its weapons to Hezbollah and cut off its weapons to the Houthi rebels, what would be said of Iran? What would be our impression? They believe they have achieved victory, Madam Speaker, without a shot fired, a victory handed to them by this administration tying the hands of Israel, one hand behind its back, as it moves into the final stage of this war to complete its final mission. Prime Minister Netanyahu says: I will do this alone if I have to. He should not have to do this alone. We need to stand with our ally, Israel, stand with her and stand with her to defeat this terrorist organization, Hamas, and bring a final closure and a peaceful resolution to the Middle East. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. McCAUL

Mr. McCAUL. Madam Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Chair, the most serious matters that any committee deals with are matters of war and peace. It is those votes that are the most consequential votes of your career. This is one of those moments. As Secretary Pompeo and General Keane recently wrote in a letter to Congress: `` . . . we write at a pivotal moment in our Nation's history to applaud your efforts to secure vital support to America's allies and to strengthen America's defenses.'' They know that the world is on fire, from Putin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine; to Chairman Xi threatening Taiwan and the Pacific; to the Ayatollah rearing his ugly head, invading Israel through his proxies. The eyes of the world are upon us, and history will judge us by what we do here and now. I thank Speaker Johnson, who has been under enormous pressure. He has said he wants to be on the right side of history, and with this vote today, he absolutely is. He put the interests of the Nation above himself. He is truly a profile in courage. President Reagan taught us that peace is achieved through strength, and that is what this bill is about. It is about providing the deterrence so we don't have another war as we did during my father's generation, and that is why I titled it, ``The 21st Century Peace Through Strength Act.'' This bill includes my REPO Act that allows the transfer of frozen Russian sovereign assets in the United States so that Putin pays for the war he started. This is not just morally the right thing to do, it is also the fiscally responsible thing to do on behalf of the American taxpayer. Let Putin pay for it. That is why President Trump's former economic advisor, Larry Kudlow, supports this provision. This bill also protects Americans, especially our children, from the malign influence of the Chinese Communist Party-controlled TikTok. This app is a spy balloon in Americans' phones. It is a modern-day Trojan horse of the CCP used to surveil and exploit Americans' personal information. This bill also includes the most comprehensive sanctions against Iran that Congress has ever passed, including sanctions on exports of Iranian energy. China has bought $80 billion worth of energy from Iran. Madam Chair, that is money that Iran is using to fund terror operations like the ones that we saw last weekend. This bill also imposes sanctions on anyone involved in Iran's drone and missile program. Think about this, Madam Chair: Iran makes the drones and the missiles that are bought by Russia to kill Ukrainians. As we saw last Saturday, Iran is also manufacturing these drones, with Russia's support, to kill Israelis. This must be stopped. As Reagan said: ``When it comes to keeping America strong, when it comes to keeping America great, when it comes to keeping America at peace, then none of us can afford to be simply a Democrat or a Republican. We must all stand united as Americans.'' Once again today, we need to speak with one voice, as one Nation, especially when addressing our adversaries, for Putin is watching us, Chairman Xi is watching us, and the Ayatollah is watching us. Now is the time to act. Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. McCAUL. Madam Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Hill), a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee.

Mr. McCAUL. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 8038.

Mr. McCAUL. Madam Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Kean), the chairman of the Europe Subcommittee.

Mr. McCAUL. Madam Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Lawler), a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee.

Mr. McCAUL. Madam Chair, I yield an additional 15 seconds to the gentleman from New York.

Mr. McCAUL. Madam Chair, I have no further speakers, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. McCAUL. Madam Chair, in the late 1930s, Winston Churchill described what he saw as the gathering storm, the forces of Hitler and the axis of evil threatening freedom and democracy. I recall when Mr. Meeks and I were on the border between Poland and Ukraine watching thousands of mothers and their children fleeing their own country in fear after the invasion. The Poles told us: This is just like 1939 when Hitler invaded Poland. Today, we are at a similar inflection point in history. The fall of Afghanistan sent a powerfully dangerous message to our adversaries that America was weak. Almost immediately after, the Russian Federation began moving toward Ukraine. Once Chairman Xi met with Putin at the Olympics and cemented their unholy alliance, they invaded. Chairman Xi has become more aggressive in the Pacific; and mark my words, Xi is watching what happens in Ukraine to determine whether he invades Taiwan in the Pacific. Then the Ayatollah raised his ugly head in the Middle East. Last Saturday, the world watched as Iran for the first time in history invaded Israel, sending 300 missiles and drones to kill innocent Israelis. These dictators, including North Korea, are all tied together. They are all tied together. We cannot separate them. We don't pick and choose our enemies; they choose us. My father served as a bombardier in World War II. He was part of the Greatest Generation. I recently took my son to the air base in England where my father was stationed. While there, we visited the church where my father prayed, not knowing if he would live or die. I took my son to the national cemetery for the U.S. airmen who never made it home, and I pointed to the 4,000 crosses and said: Son, those are the ones who did not make it home. In the chapel there is inscribed on the ceiling: In honor of the airmen who on their last flight met the face of God. Met the face of God. It was a moving experience, father and son, teaching my son, like my father taught me, about the importance of patriotism and the cost of freedom. It was also a reminder of the dangers that we face today, for today like then, it could have been prevented. Deterrence is the key. As Churchill wrote in his book, ``The Gathering Storm:'' ``One day, President Roosevelt told me that he was asking publicly for suggestions about what the war should be called. I said at once, `The Unnecessary War.' '' Think about that, the unnecessary war. He said: ``There never was a war more easy to stop than that which has just wrecked what was left of the world from the previous struggle.'' I often think about the blood and treasure that could have been saved from my father's generation had we simply stopped Hitler earlier. Now we are faced with a similar opportunity. As Ronald Reagan told us: ``We know only too well that war comes not when the forces of freedom are strong, but when they are weak.'' He was right. Our adversaries are working together to undermine our Western values and demean our democracy. We cannot be afraid at this moment in time. We cannot be afraid of our shadows. We must be strong. We have to do what is right. Evil is on the march. History is calling, and now is the time to act, for the world is watching. Our adversaries are watching us here today, and history will judge us all by our actions here today and now. As we deliberate on this vote, you have to ask yourself the question: Am I Chamberlain or am I Churchill? Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. McCAUL. Madam Chair, I support this amendment. I believe it will greatly enhance the Department of Defense's China Military Power Report by increasing our understanding of China's critical and emerging technology sector, which is a central feature of the great power competition that we have with China. I thank the gentleman for bringing this amendment.

Mr. McCAUL. Madam Chair, I thank the gentleman from Iowa for this amendment, and I support this amendment. It enhances congressional oversight as he talked about. Under Article I, we have a responsibility over restricted Iranian assets and accounts, including those in Qatar and Iraq. For too long, this administration has not been transparent with the Congress and the American people about sanctions and the like in reporting that to Congress, so I think this is a good step forward.

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