Indo-Pacific Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. ISSA. Madam Speaker, we meet in an extraordinary, extraordinary session here on a Saturday, and we do so because Iran has fired missiles over our very ships intended to land on our ally Israel. We meet here on a Saturday because Russia has invaded Ukraine and continues an aggression that will not stop there, but we also meet here in order to provide a protection and a preventative funding to our allies in the Indo-Pacific.

Included in those allies in this amendment must be the Philippines. Only days ago, the President of the Philippines and the Prime Minister of Japan met with our President in a trilateral meeting for the first time in, literally I believe, history. They did so to talk about many things, including the joint agreement for defense that includes Japan and the U.S. both participating in the Philippines in their defense on their soil by their invitation.

That is how grave the threat from China is and how nothing will do a better job of preventing yet a third major area of conflict than peace through strength.

Madam Speaker, I urge support for this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. ISSA. Madam Speaker, it is my honor to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Guam (Mr. Moylan).

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. ISSA. Madam Speaker, how much time do I have remaining.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. ISSA. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I want to remind this body of something that I think is important today. When I entered this body some 20-plus years ago, another Congressman then, Bob Filner, and I founded the Philippine Friendship Caucus.

We did so because there were many promises made all the way back in World War II that had been reneged on through what was known as the Rescission Act.

Through education, the Congress wisely restored those scouts. These were individuals who fought and died next to us, or often were tortured when captured while defending us and warning us from the Philippines when it was occupied.

The Philippines has been our possession, our colony, our ally throughout history, but, more importantly, the Philippine people have reached out to us time and time again to be our friends.

President Marcos came here personally to double down and triple down on that relationship as a friend of the U.S., a democracy, and, in fact, ready to defend the region with its partners for freedom in the Indo-Pacific.

So, Madam Speaker, I ask you, please, this is an amendment more important perhaps than any other to prevent war, and I yield back the balance of my time.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source