Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 2010 And 2011

Floor Speech

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Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of my amendment to the Foreign Relations Authorization Act. My amendment would affirm the United States' complete support for Israel's absolute right to defend itself from an imminent military or nuclear threat from Iran, from terrorist organizations or from nations that harbor them.

Israel is currently being threatened on three fronts--by Hamas in the south, by Hezbollah in the north and by Iran. Iran provides financial and material support to both of these terrorist organizations. This threat culminated on May 20 when Iran successfully tested a surface-to-surface missile with a range of 1,500 miles. Iranian leaders continue to express their hatred for Israel, and they refuse to acknowledge its right to exist. Their incendiary words and actions are an existential threat to Israel and to the entire region.

No nation should be subjected to these continued threats. Israel has demonstrated tremendous restraint in the face of these dangers despite being continually questioned by some in the global community regarding its approach to dealing with these threats and terrorist attacks on its citizens.

Israel has been and remains one of the United States of America's strongest allies. Israel seeks only peace with its neighbors and a homeland secure for its people; but if an attack from Iran or from a terrorist organization becomes imminent, this Congress should declare that Israel, like the United States, should reserve for itself the inalienable right to defend itself and to protect its people.

I encourage my colleagues to demonstrate their strong support for Israel by supporting this amendment.

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Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank the gentleman, the chairman of the committee, Mr. Berman, for his words of support.

In fact, this Member sees the need to make sure that not only the people of Israel but the people of our country understand it should be the express purpose and policy of the United States of America to yield to other nations--yes, those we call dear friends--to make sure that they are very clear in understanding our support for them. They should reserve the same right that we do to protect this country. Notwithstanding that, we've had a change of administrations. Notwithstanding that, we've had many, many, many people who are supportive of Israel come and speak to me, personally, about just the question as it might occur:

Where does the United States stand in its support of Israel?

Today is a great day. Today is the bill that's very appropriate to make sure that we understand that the United States' support of Israel is strong and that we stand behind Israel and that we understand that it is they, Mr. Chairman, who are just miles away from imminent threat through missile attack. I believe it is the right thing to do.

I appreciate the gentleman's feedback. I hope we vote for this. I hope it's accepted.

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Mr. SESSIONS. I appreciate the gentleman, the chairman of the committee, Mr. Berman, and the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee) for speaking today.

Mr. Chairman, we live in a dangerous world, and there are some of our friends and allies who live in, perhaps, a more dangerous neighborhood than we do here in the United States. I believe that this amendment is one we should support because it makes sure, unequivocally, that the world understands where the United States of America is in our support of not only a friendly nation but of a democracy, one of the few democracies in the region.

United States policy in the United States and in this House of Representatives should be to support it openly and to make sure the world understands, not where, Oh, I thought we had done that, and I know that's what both of my colleagues are saying. I thought we were there; we don't really need to do this. We need to do it. We need to do it. It's the right thing to do.

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