Hoyer Discusses FISA, Support for Ukraine, and Iran’s Threats Against Israel on CNN Newsroom with Wolf Blitzer
WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) joined Wolf Blitzer on CNN Newsroom to discuss the importance of passing legislation to reauthorize FISA, the immediate need for Congress to act on sending aid to our ally Ukraine, and support for Israel in the face of a possible attack from Iran. Below is a transcript of his interview and a link to the video:
Click here for a link to the video.
On the Importance of Passing Legislation to Reauthorize FISA
“Well, I think you made clear what the stakes are and what the intelligence community says. They believe our intelligence gathering efforts will be deeply damaged at a time of great conflict in the world and great threat to the American people and to America itself.
“So that I am very hopeful that the majority of Members of the House, having listened to the intelligence people – not the not the politicians, not the Biden Administration, but the intelligence community professionals – who have indicated that this bill is critically important to the national security and safety of our country.
“It is ironic that the Speaker of the House – you have just indicated how important this bill on the Floor is – that the Speaker of the House is down as a conspirator with the former President of the United States, to spread misinformation that clearly is a lie, not true. Keeping beating this dead horse of the election was stolen after scores of courts have looked at the evidence and said they were absolutely wrong and that contention.
“But he's able to vote on this Floor – this is a critically important bill for the national security of our country, and he's down in Florida with the [former] President continuing the [former] President's bleating and yelling about something that they should know – and I think do know – is untrue.”
On if Speaker Mike Johnson Will Bring Aid for Ukraine to the Floor
“If he doesn't, it will undermine the security of the United States of America. We need to make sure that Putin understands that we are for freedom. We're against invasion. We're against the breaking of international law. And we're against the killing of people in their own country because you want to take them over.
“If this doesn't come on the Floor next week, we ought to raise hell and we ought to raise this issue and have the American people see how irresponsible this is for the security of America – not just Ukraine, but of America and our NATO allies.
“Presidents have said, the Congress of the United States has said, ‘We have an agreement with Europe.’ If a single inch of their soil is invaded – Ukraine is not a Member, but all the Europeans believe that Putin is not going to stop. Our own people think he's not going to stop if we don't beat him and make sure that Ukraine is not overrun by the invader, Russia.
“So that this is a critical issue. For 450 plus days, we have not done anything to help our ally and friend and victim of this international aggression. 450 days have gone by, and America has not helped.
“Now, very frankly, the President of the United States has in fact had some authority to give some relief, to give some weapons. They're running out of bullets and trying to defend their country with our help, but we have not helped them in a way that is absolutely essential.
“So, he needs to put it on next week.”
On a Possible Attack on Israel By Iran
“Well, my own thought is that if we have been given a very strong message to Iran that we will not allow Israel to be destroyed – and that's Iran's objective.
“Very frankly, backing up, historically, you can go to Chamberlain and Churchill, but you can go much more recently. In 2014, Russia invaded and occupied and took Crimea, a part of Ukraine.
“The West did little to send a message that you can't do that. They still occupy Crimea and as a result, they're now trying to occupy eastern Ukraine and perhaps all of Ukraine. We cannot allow that to happen, and we've sent a message to Iran. The Secretary of State has sent that message, the President of the United States has sent that message, and very frankly, the Congress of the United States has sent that message.
“Iran, we will not stand for your invading Israel, for your attacking Israel.
“And I think the President will stand by that. I think the Congress of the United States will stand by that. I think we should take the action that is appropriate to not only inform Iran that there will be grave consequences, but if they do something, that grave consequences will occur.
“Do we stand at risk? I frankly think we stand at risk in either instance, and that's why I brought up the Crimea. We did not respond forcefully, and as a result, the aggressor thought that they could keep on aggressing. That is Russia. That is Putin. And we learned that lesson in World War II as well, to the tragedy of losses of millions of lives.
“So in this instance, we cannot allow Iran, with impunity, to damage one of our closest allies, the state of Israel.”