Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2025
Floor Speech
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Mr. STEUBE. Madam Chair, Americans deserve the assurance that their hard-earned taxpayer dollars are going to fulfill the needs of the American people and not be funneled to terrorists who threaten our very existence.
I stood here just 9 months ago offering the same amendment to ensure that no taxpayer funds would be made available to the Lebanese Armed Forces, a military force that emboldens Hezbollah and their Iranian handlers to spread terror and destruction upon our ally, Israel, and the entire Middle East. Guess what happened just 9 days later on October 7?
To say that Hezbollah and the Lebanese Government are two separate entities is just plain false. They are merely two sides of the same coin. Not only do Hezbollah and its allies control dozens of seats in Lebanon's parliament, but they literally sit at the helm of the military force that our tax dollars have been propping up since 2006. Its grip extends across its military, through its government, and over a majority of its politicians.
Even advocates of aid to the Lebanese military recognize Hezbollah's influence over its Defense Ministry is rampant. We may as well be sending these checks directly to Hezbollah headquarters.
Money is fungible. Why should the generosity of the American people be used to fund a terror haven unwilling and unable to counter Hezbollah?
As we stand here today, Israel is in a state of war with Hamas. An all-out war with Hezbollah to the north seems to be imminent. Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah has repeatedly threatened war with Israel while suggesting his force far exceeds 100,000 fighters. We are fighting an army that emboldens Hezbollah to spill the blood of our allies.
This really should be a bipartisan issue, but where are the Democrats complaining about Lebanon's human rights atrocities? The Lebanese Armed Forces shoot protesters and forcibly repatriate Syrian refugees. Yet, on this issue, Democrats tell us to turn a blind eye and fund Hezbollah's allies in the Lebanese Armed Forces.
In fact, the majority of Lebanon's military expenditures don't even go toward its defense. Over 70 percent of its budget is allocated for personnel salaries and excessive benefits, which even include domestic servants and drivers for high-ranking officers.
This didn't stop the United States last year from partnering with the U.N. to implement the Livelihood Support Program, which disbursed more than $55 million to 70,000 LAF personnel and helps fulfill their generals' lavish lifestyles. American taxpayers expect their hard- earned dollars to be spent on American interests, not armed Mercedes and other luxurious goods for Lebanese generals.
Given the rampant terror financing and money laundering activities that Hezbollah uses to extend its reign across nearly every facet of life in Lebanon, we must acknowledge that foreign aid dollars sent to the Lebanese Armed Forces will ultimately be used by Hezbollah to further expand its terrorist actions against our ally, Israel.
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Mr. STEUBE. Madam Chair, by safeguarding the actions of Hezbollah terrorists and their allies, the Lebanese Armed Forces fundamentally empower Iran in their mission to kill American troops and wipe Israel off the map. Now more than ever, following October 7, giving them any taxpayer funds from America is just simply unjustifiable.
I encourage my colleagues to stand with our ally, Israel, and recognize the dangers of funding the Lebanese Armed Forces by voting for my amendment.
Madam Chair, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.
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Mr. STEUBE. Madam Chair, Hezbollah's influence on the Lebanese Armed Forces is rampant. They have members in their parliament. The influence is overreaching, and Americans are sick and tired of sending our tax dollars to countries and to people who absolutely hate our values and hate America and hate our ally, Israel.
Why would we continue to fund money for Lebanon? Why would we continue to fund humanitarian aid to Gaza when we know that all that money is going to Hamas?
The American people are sick and tired of it. The American people want this body and this House to put America first, and I think it starts with focusing on the challenges that face America and not giving money that is ultimately going to end up in the hands of terrorist organizations.
Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
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Mr. STEUBE. Mr. Chair, Americans entrust us with ensuring that their hard-earned tax dollars go toward measures that advance our interests, not undermine them.
Over the past quarter of a century, not only have Americans provided billions of dollars to Iraq, but thousands have lost their lives in that country. Essentially, Americans have been generous enough to give Iraq a blank check payable not only in cash but with American lives.
Yet, in 2024, we see a country that is becoming increasingly anti- American, essentially becoming one of Iran's strongest proxies. I served in Iraq, and protecting American interests should continue to be our number one priority in the region. We cannot justify funding a foreign government unable to safeguard our dollars from exploitation by Iran, ISIS, and other terror groups.
Yet, the money we send to Iraq has been funding Iranian militias that target and attack our troops. Iran's influence over the Iraqi Government is rampant. Over 2 years ago, the Pentagon's inspector general disclosed that Iraqi security forces are overrun by Iranian- backed militants and IRGC terrorists. These are the same terrorists who attacked the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad in 2018 and continue to threaten our troops to this day.
Yet, every year, we continue to provide millions of taxpayer dollars to Iraqi security forces and expect a different outcome. It is the definition of insanity.
These militias are part of Iraq's own government. They are officially part of the Popular Mobilization Forces, which fall under Iraq's Ministry of Interior. These militias are funded by the Government of Iraq and then attack our troops with the financial backing of our own taxpayers. Let that sink in.
It is apparent that our funding for the Iraqi Government is not countering terrorism. In fact, it seems to be emboldening the terrorists.
It is time for us to stop the endless cycle of trading blank checks for false promises with the Iraqi Government, especially when they use it to put Iranian-backed terrorists on their payroll.
This does not give us leverage, nor does it safeguard American interests. It is unwise, unacceptable, and, quite frankly, inexcusable to send American taxpayer dollars to Iraq when we know that these funds end up in the hands of terrorists.
The underlying bill should support our diplomats and servicemembers overseas, not threaten them.
Mr. Chair, I encourage my colleagues to stand up for the American taxpayer and support my amendment.
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Mr. STEUBE. Mr. Chair, I don't believe that American taxpayer dollars should be going to a country that supports terrorism. There are no assurances that, once the money is sent to Iraq, it is not going to be in the hands of Iranian proxies and terrorist organizations to then attack our own troops.
Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
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