Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011

Floor Speech

SPEECH OF
HON. LAURA RICHARDSON
OF CALIFORNIA
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2011

The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 1) making appropriations for the Department of Defense and the other departments and agencies of the Government for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2011, and for other purposes:

Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Chair, I move to strike the last word.

I rise to oppose any effort, including the Paul Amendment (No. 523), which would terminate International Security Assistance Funding. I oppose any such attempt because cutting international security funding is unwise and short-sighted, and would undercut U.S. interests in the Middle East.

Given the turmoil in the Middle East, it is essential that the United States keep its commitment to Israel's security by fully funding the $3 billion in U.S. aid pledged to Israel for Fiscal Years 2011 and 2012.

The dramatic events in Egypt and Tunisia underscore the importance of Israel to the United States and the fragility of Israel's security situation. At a time when Israel is facing increased security threats, cutting U.S. aid to Israel would send exactly the wrong message to Israel and its potential adversaries about the strength and reliability of America's commitment to Israel's security.

Mr. Chair, international security assistance funding is not a "handout" or "giveaway" to Israel, Egypt, Jordan, or to Pakistan. Rather, this investment provides several tangible benefits to the United States: by helping Israel maintain its qualitative military edge, QME, American assistance has promoted peace with Egypt and Jordan, and made Israel secure enough to make significant concessions in peace agreements with these countries and dramatic peace overtures to the Palestinians and to Syria; Israel's battlefield use of American equipment and shared know-how has helped the United States improve both its equipment and tactics especially while fighting two wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; aid to Israel also fuels economic growth here at home since Israel is required to spend 74 percent of U.S. aid in the United States, which helps create American jobs.

Mr. Chair, while other countries in the Middle East wrestle with change and instability, the United States can count on Israel as our trusted, reliable, and democratic ally. Israel in turn must be able to count on the United States. Nothing will send a clearer message to Israel and any potential adversaries of America's unshakeable commitment than defeating any and all attempts to terminate security funding for Israel.

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