Strengthening America's Security in the Middle East Act of 2019--Motion

Floor Speech

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Mr. RISCH. Mr. President, let me associate myself with the remarks made by my friend and distinguished colleague from Florida.

The importance of this bill cannot be overstated. It is an incredibly important bill. I rise today, once again, to bring it to my colleagues here in the Senate. This time, hopefully, we can get enough votes to move it forward. It is the Strengthening America's Security in the Middle East Act of 2019. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support moving ahead on this commonsense bipartisan legislation.

This package of bills is important and time sensitive. Israel and Jordan are our steadfast allies and friends in the Middle East, and they need support and the critical aid that this legislation would deliver. Our nations depend on one another, and we should not let them down.

Included in this legislation also is a very important bill, the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act, which, as I have noted numerous times before, very nearly passed the full Senate by unanimous consent last year. We were within one vote of getting unanimous consent on it.

This legislation is long overdue. Half a million Syrians have died at the hands of the Syrian dictator, Assad, his friends, and their allies, and it is past time that we put an end to it.

This bill includes strong financial sanctions to target those responsible in the Assad regime for the terrible loss of life and destruction in Syria. Further, it extends sanctions to those who would support the Syrian regime's actions in the war in Syria, such as Iran and Russia. The tragic loss of life in Syria has gone on far too long. We need to take action now to pressure those who have the ability to bring this war to an end--and they do have the ability to bring this war to an end.

The State of Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East. It is surrounded by oppressive nations, many of which, like Iran, wish to do Israel harm. Their security and stability in the region is of extreme importance to all Americans. This legislation would protect Israel where we can here in the United States by rejecting anti-Israel boycotts.

I hope that today you will all join me in a bipartisan way in moving forward on this important legislation.

Thank you, Mr. President.

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