{time}  1340

  Mr. MASSIE. Madam Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
Texas (Mr. Castro), my friend and colleague.
  Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Madam Chair, Israel does not need and, quite
honestly, does not deserve more American money for weapons.
  Prime Minister Netanyahu has taken Israel down an ugly path. The
tragedy of October 7 has become a justification for the ethnic
cleansing of the Palestinians.
  Self-defense does not include indiscriminately bombing homes,
hospitals, churches, schools, or refugee camps. There were even
credible reports of children intentionally shot in the head and chest.
  For decades, our Nation gave Israel billions to facilitate peace and
a two-state solution. Instead, Israel has chosen more war and more
occupation.
  Today, it occupies not only Gaza and the West Bank but parts of Syria
and Lebanon.
  If there are no consequences, why in the world would Benjamin
Netanyahu change what he is doing?
  Words are not enough. Condemnations are not enough. If we hope to
change Israel's behavior, we must use our leverage.
  The American people have seen this tragedy with their own eyes. They
have made their judgment. They do not support giving Israel more
weapons. Do not reward a wrongdoer. Now it is up to us in this Chamber
to take action.
  Madam Chair, I support this amendment.

  Mr. MASSIE. Madam Chair, may I inquire as to how much time I have
remaining.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman has 1\1/2\ minutes remaining.
  Mr. MASSIE. Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Madam Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman
from Florida (Ms. Lois Frankel), the distinguished ranking member of
the subcommittee.
  Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida. Madam Chair, I rise in very strong
opposition to this amendment.
  Maintaining stability in the Middle East has long been a vital United
States strategic interest. What happens there affects our economy,
national security, and the safety of our American servicemembers.
  As written, this amendment is overbroad in that it prohibits or could
limit the use of funds for longstanding initiatives related to peace
building, refugee settlement, and U.S. Embassy operations.
  This amendment would restrict our country's ability to confront
Iran's proxies: Hamas, Hezbollah, and other terrorist organizations in
the region who are sworn enemies of the United States, Israel, and our
allies.
  Madam Chair, a 10-minute debate is not the way to change policy as we
have a mission of peace in the region and prosperity, both for Israelis
and Palestinians.
  Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Madam Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from
Maryland (Mr. Hoyer).
  Mr. HOYER. Madam Chair, I rise in strong opposition to this
amendment, which would dangerously undermine American national
security.
  As Leader Jeffries rightly pointed out, if adopted, it would limit
our ability to confront terrorist organizations, like Hamas and
Hezbollah, that expressly target American citizens and military
personnel. It would make it harder for America to use our relationships
with Israel and regional partners to promote a negotiated two-state
solution, the only realistic path to deliver on the promise of peace,
security, and self-determination for both Israel and Palestine.
  I understand the frustration that many Members feel with some of the
policies and actions of the current Israeli Government, as well as
their concerns about its commitment to the peace process and a two-
state solution. However, this amendment would embolden the enemies of
peace, those pursuing the complete elimination of Israel and those who
seek the death of Jews.
  Madam Chair, it is a vote to weaken our ability to engage in the
region and a vote against American security, interest, and safety. Vote
``no.''
  Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Madam Chair, as I have said before with this bill,
and I have said it many times: If you are an ally and a friend of the
United States, this bill supports you. If you are an adversary, you are
not going to like this bill. We have no stronger ally than the State of
Israel. This is our commitment under the MOU, which is why I
respectfully, but very strongly--very strongly--oppose this amendment.
  Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. MASSIE. Madam Chair, I yield myself the balance of my time to
close.
  Madam Chair, Israel has the strongest economy in the Middle East.
Their debt per GDP is in much better shape than ours. They don't need
our money. In fact, they have claimed recently they want to get off of
the welfare. I am concerned that the other funding mechanisms they are
talking about, or comingling, our technology and supply chains, we will
have even less transparency than what is going on here today, so I am
opposed to that as well.
  I am opposed to all foreign aid. I didn't pick on Israel here. I
offered an amendment to defund Egypt and also to defunding aid to
Jordan, which we will talk about in a little bit. I am particularly
concerned this year about the foreign aid to Israel. There have been
70,000 casualties in Gaza, and I don't think we should be a part of
that. American taxpayers should not be conscripted into funding the
military adventures of Israel.
  Madam Chair, I urge adoption of my amendment, and I yield back the
balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Massie).
  The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes
appeared to have it.
  Mr. MASSIE. Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Kentucky
will be postponed.
  Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida. Madam Chair, I rise as the designee of
the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro), and I move to strike
the last word.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida. Madam Chair, I yield such time as he may
consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Sherman).
  Mr. SHERMAN. Madam Chair, President Obama signed a 10-year memorandum
of understanding. We are now in the ninth year of that memorandum. Mr.
Massie would have us repudiate that signature. That is as bad an idea
as Donald Trump's repudiation of the JCPOA, the deal with Iran that
limited its nuclear program.
  We are told that this is about offensive weapons. This $3.3 billion
provides the AMRAAM system that defends Israeli apartment buildings and
houses from incoming missiles that have as one purpose: to kill as many
Israeli civilians as possible.
  How are we going to influence the people of Israel and the government
of Israel? They need our influence. They need to change their policies.
How are we going to influence them? As the missiles are coming in for
the sole purpose of killing as many civilians as possible, we say we
will not help shoot them down. We will not fund the AMRAAM system that
is provided for in a memorandum of understanding signed by President
Obama.
  This amendment is a political stunt. Republican leadership has
brought it to the floor--not for the purpose of having it become law,
but for the purpose of driving a wedge through the middle of the
Democratic Party, for the purpose of facilitating Republican
advertisements that will put our party on the side of those who are
screaming death to America and death to Israel, and to put our party on
the side of those who say that Israel has no right to exist.

                              {time}  1350

  If you care about not only our Middle East policy but you care about
the Democratic Party's position, with the American people, then you
must vote ``no'' on this amendment.
  Now that does not mean that there will not be future reductions in
our aid to Israel. That does not mean that we will not try to change
Israeli policy, but this amendment goes as far as it possibly can to
put us on the side not of those who would shoot down the missiles that
are aimed at civilian neighborhoods in Israel but on those who are
cheering those missiles.
  Then we are told that the amount of money involved is the focus. It
says $3.3 billion, but that is about an 80th of the aid that we have
provided Ukraine and that we should have provided Ukraine.
  This is not an attempt to divert a large portion of our money from
Israel. This is an attack on the Israeli people.
  Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida. Madam Chair, there is no question that
going forward there needs to be a thoughtful conversation how we spend
our foreign aid money. I know we are all committed to that.
  My heart breaks for the suffering of innocent people in Gaza. We must
find a way to infuse humanitarian support, how to find a peaceful
coexistence between Israelis and Palestinians, but let me tell you how
we got here.
  Since 1979, Iran has repeatedly called for Israel's elimination while
arming terrorist proxies. In the past 3 years, those proxies have
launched more than 30,000 rockets, missiles, drones, and mortars into
Israel while Hamas hid in their billion dollars' worth of building of
tunnels, 450 miles of tunnels, beneath civilian areas to wage war, not
peace.
  This is not a way to handle foreign policy. I join all rational
people who say let's have a deliberate conversation how to move
forward, but not with a 10-minute debate on the floor of the House.
  Let's have our efforts aimed together to a two-state solution where
Palestinians and Israelis can live peacefully and prosperously
together.