Expressing the Sense of Congress Supporting the State of Israel

Floor Speech

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Mr. PFLUGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the State of Israel and the Jewish community here in the United States of America and, quite frankly, throughout the world.

I thank the chairman and the ranking member, two men who have worked tirelessly on this very topic, this very subject.

I have a resolution. It is simple. It is one page. It is one page, but I think it is powerful. It says the State of Israel is not a racist or apartheid state. It says that Congress rejects all forms of anti- Semitism and xenophobia. Lastly, it says that the United States will always be a staunch partner and supporter of Israel.

It is simple. It is a one-page resolution that I think every Member of Congress should be able to agree on. Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, we have heard disgusting statements from Members on the other side of the aisle against Israel.

Mr. Speaker, as I look at this debate here, this is the time when anyone who has said those types of things can come to the House floor to debate and have a conversation. If there is disagreement with this, let's let the American people hear that disagreement.

From my standpoint, we look at Israel as the most important partner in the Middle East. Tomorrow, in fact, as we welcome President Herzog to this very body, to the United States, to a joint address of Congress, it is critical for the U.S. Congress to send a unified message that we stand with Israel and unequivocally support our Jewish communities. There is no place for hate or hateful words.

Mr. Speaker, I hope this is an easy vote today. It should be easy. All 435 Members of this body should be able to vote in affirmation of this so that when President Herzog enters this body tomorrow, he knows unequivocally that the United States is with Israel and that the entire world knows that.

In fact, 75 years ago, within minutes of being recognized as a nation, the United States was the very first to recognize Israel as a nation. It is because we both believe in freedom. We both believe in a trusted partnership. We both believe in pushing back against enemies around the world like Iran, the largest state sponsor of terrorism, that would seek to undermine at every turn the State of Israel.

Where are those colleagues if they disagree?

I think what this debate tells me today, seeing very little disagreement on the House floor, is that we as the United States of America, that we as the U.S. Congress, that the House of Representatives believes in the tenets.

I will say it one more time. The State of Israel is not a racist or apartheid state. Congress rejects all forms have anti-Semitism or xenophobia. The United States will always be a staunch partner and supporter of Israel.

Mr. Speaker, not only do I urge my colleagues to support this, but I urge my colleagues to stand up against bullying against those who would say things that are not true, those that would denounce or use words that are hateful in their rhetoric, that undermine the very essence of the nation of Israel, and that undermine the freedoms that this country stands for.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I am able to author this and stand before the American public and reaffirm, on the 75th anniversary of Israel as a nation, our support in the United States of America for a nation that I believe is divinely inspired.

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