Rep. Chu Votes for Ukraine, Indo-Pacific Aid, against Israel Aid
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the House of Representatives voted on three separate emergency supplemental appropriations bills to respond to situations in Ukraine, the Indo-Pacific region, including Taiwan, and Israel, as well as a bill to counter the influence of adversarial countries like Russia and Iran.
H.R. 8034, regarding the situation in Israel, passed 366-58.
H.R. 8035, regarding the situation in Ukraine, passed 311-112-1.
H.R. 8036, regarding the situation in Indo-Pacific region, passed 385-34-1.
H.R. 8038, a package of measures toaddress continued aggression by Russia and Iran, passed 360-58.
Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28) voted for H.R. 8035, H.R. 8036, and H.R. 8038, and against H.R. 8034, and released the following statement:
“Half a year. That’s how long House Democrats have had to wait to vote on critical national security funding priorities President Biden submitted to us on October 20, 2023. But because the MAGA Republican majority would rather bend to the will of their pro-Putin wing and Trump, Congress has been unable to play its critical role of supporting our democratic allies fight dictators around the world. With today’s vote, however, Ukraine can finally receive economic and civilian security assistance and access to the munitions and weapons it has desperately needed to sustain the fight to protect its people, democracy, and territory from Putin’s war of aggression. Further, this vote will provide our democratic allies in the Indo-Pacific, including Taiwan, the resources they need to face military and strategic threats in the region.
“While I unreservedly cast my vote to support the fight for democracy in Ukraine and Taiwan, I made the decision to vote no on the military assistance package to Israel. Had this bill provided defensive assistance only, I would have voted yes without hesitation. In fact, in my entire time in Congress, I’ve consistently voted to support funding for the Iron Dome and other defensive military systems for Israel that were so effectively used last week against Iran’s unprecedented airstrikes. However, H.R. 8034, directs many billions of dollars towards the offensive use of weapons by Irael. As I’ve indicated since the ghastly attack by Hamas on Israel on October 7th that killed 1,200 and resulted in hundreds more taken hostage, Israel has the right to defend itself. But in the six months since the President requested this assistance, conditions on the ground have evolved. Israel has demonstrated that it can prosecute its war against Hamas without this offensive military assistance from the United States, and the way in which it has done so has resulted in more than 33,000 deaths in Gaza and a worsening humanitarian crisis.
“I have signed on to letters that ask that in the dissemination of U.S. weapons, the Israeli government promises to adhere to the international law. However, the right-wing Netanyahu government has ignored these calls, failed to uphold U.S. and international law, and proven to be an untrustworthy, unreliable partner—resulting in the deaths, amongst so many, of the seven World Central Kitchen workers. And with no guarantees that the assistance will be used in compliance with U.S. and international law and no commitment for a day-after plan with the ultimate goal of securing a two-state solution for Palestine and Israel, I cannot in good conscience support putting more offensive weapons in this government’s hands. I remain committed to doing everything in my power to accelerate an immediate, negotiated ceasefire to end fighting, secure every hostage’s release, and surge humanitarian aid to Gaza, and then turn to a two-state solution that provides sovereignty and security for the Palestinian people to safely live side-by-side with Israel.”