Iron Dome Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2022

Floor Speech

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Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5323) making supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, and for other purposes.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 5323

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the following sums are appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, and for other purposes, namely: DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE PROCUREMENT Procurement, Defense-Wide

For an additional amount for ``Procurement, Defense-Wide'', $1,000,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2024, for the Secretary of Defense to provide to the Government of Israel for the procurement of the Iron Dome defense system to counter short-range rocket threats: Provided, That such funds shall be provided to address emergent requirements in support of Operation Guardian of the Walls: Provided further, That such funds shall be transferred pursuant to an exchange of letters and are in addition to funds provided pursuant to the U.S.-Israel Iron Dome Procurement Agreement, as amended: Provided further, That nothing in the preceding provisos shall be construed to apply to amounts made available in prior appropriations Acts for the procurement of the Iron Dome defense system: Provided further, That such amount is designated by the Congress as being for an emergency requirement pursuant to section 4001(a)(1) and section 4001(b) of S. Con. Res. 14 (117th Congress), the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2022. GENERAL PROVISIONS--THIS ACT

Sec. 101. Each amount appropriated or made available by this Act is in addition to amounts otherwise appropriated for the fiscal year involved.

Sec. 102. Unless otherwise provided for by this Act, the additional amounts appropriated by this Act to appropriations accounts shall be available under the authorities and conditions applicable to such appropriations accounts for fiscal year 2022. This Act may be cited as the ``Iron Dome Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2022''.

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Ms. DeLAURO. 5323 currently under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Iron Dome Supplemental Appropriations Act, which provides $1 billion in funding for Iron Dome, Israel's short-range missile defense system.

In May, during the latest period of increased violence between Israel and Hamas, more than 4,000 rockets were launched from Gaza. Using radar technology and missiles to track and destroy incoming rockets, the Iron Dome intercepted over 90 percent of the rockets that would have landed in civilian-populated areas. This system, with help from Congress' funding, saved thousands of lives in that month alone.

Under the 2016 memorandum of understanding between the United States and Israel, the United States is committed to replenishing the Iron Dome so Israel can continue to defend itself from attack and protect its citizens.

With the funding in this bill, the Iron Dome would continue to protect millions of civilians. Let me repeat, this funding, as the bill language clearly states, is limited to a system that is entirely defensive. And there is no greater demonstration of the defensive nature of this system than the videos showing the Iron Dome's interception capacity.

Mr. Speaker, the United States has long been committed to the objective of a two-state solution, Israelis and Palestinians living side by side in a lasting peace. The legislation before us ensures that Israel can fully defend all its citizens, a necessary condition for lasting peace.

In the State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs funding bill passed by the House over the summer, we provided funding to help meet the humanitarian and development needs of the Palestinian people, another requirement for lasting peace.

Peace must always be our mission. It will allow Israelis and Palestinians to reconcile their differences and heal their many wounds. But only through peace can this reconciliation and healing even begin to be achieved.

Mr. Speaker, this bill demonstrates that Congress' commitment to our friend and ally Israel is bipartisan and ironclad. It fulfills our moral imperative to protect the lives of innocent civilians and helps build the foundations for peace.

I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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Ms. DeLAURO. McCollum), the chair of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee.

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Ms. DeLAURO. I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. The answer is no, they cannot be used for offensive weapons by the Government of Israel. On page 2, line 7, the bill clearly states the purpose, ``for the procurement of the Iron Dome defense system to counter short-range rocket threats.''

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Ms. DeLAURO. Wasserman Schultz), the chair of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Subcommittee.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Iron Dome Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2022, which I was proud to help bring to the floor today.

The United States has long supported critical funding to help our democratic ally, Israel, protect herself by herself.

During my trips to Israel, I have been privileged to spend hours meeting with families living near the border with Gaza who huddle in bomb shelters designed to dually function as schools. There you can see Israel's geographic vulnerability firsthand and clearly understand the urgency of securing this replenishment funding for Israel's highly effective Iron Dome missile defense program.

Israel relies on the Iron Dome to defend her citizens against incoming rocket fire from terrorist groups like Hamas, Islamic jihad, and Hezbollah. Earlier this year when terrorist groups fired 4,500 rockets at Israel's population centers in just 11 days, the Iron Dome effectively intercepted 90 percent of those rockets, saving innocent Israeli and Palestinian lives.

The system also maintains regional stability by preventing dangerous escalation. For these reasons, I know I will continue to use my vote and my voice to maintain our Nation's ironclad commitment to Israel's security, including maintaining her qualitative military edge, especially against emerging terrorist threats.

This is a defense system. Its whole purpose is to stop violence and save lives. By supporting this program, you are promoting peace.

I am proud to have worked on a strategy with other pro-Israel Democrats and our House leadership to ensure there is no question about our commitment to the safety and security of our closest ally in the Middle East, Israel.

I urge the United States Senate to take up this urgent funding bill immediately to defend our ally Israel and increase prospects for peace and avoid the CR debt-limit debate. I thank the chair for bringing this important legislation to the floor.
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Ms. DeLAURO. Maloney).

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support funding for the Iron Dome.

The Iron Dome is a purely defensive system, one that has saved countless innocent lives. Its whole purpose is to save lives and pursue peace.

I strongly support Israel's right to defend herself. Since its formation, Israel, our closest ally in the Middle East, has been under attack by terrorist organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah that deny its right to exist. The Iron Dome is crucial to protecting lives against these terrorist attacks who continue to fire thousands of rockets into Israel.

I am proud of the work that Israel and the United States did together to develop this successful defensive system, and I urge all my colleagues to support the Iron Dome Supplemental Appropriations Act. This should be a totally bipartisan effort.

I particularly thank the members of the Appropriations Committee and Chair DeLauro, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, and many others for their work for bringing it swiftly to the floor. I urge a ``yes'' vote.

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Ms. DeLAURO. Pelosi), the Speaker of the House.

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Ms. DeLAURO. Manning).

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Ms. DeLAURO. Tlaib).

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Ms. DeLAURO. My Republican colleague's words ring hollow. What are the facts? With or without the Iron Dome funding, every single House Republican refused to support the continuing resolution. And, I might add, were proud of their opposition to the continuing resolution.

But this, my friends, is not the first time. My Republican colleagues have voted against USAID to Israel three times thus far in the 2022 appropriations bills. Over and over again they say ``no'' to Israel. I say to them, stop politicizing the U.S. support of Israel. Stop your empty, political gimmicks, such as your motion to recommit yesterday. The democratic record is clear on our support for the U.S.-Israel defense relationship.

We are standing up for it today, we have stood up for it in the past, and we will continue to do that.

Mr. Speaker, this bill provides the necessary funds for Iron Dome to continue to protect Israeli citizens which furthers the goal of a lasting peace in the Middle East.

Mr. Speaker, I urge its adoption, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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