Hoyer Floor Remarks Calling for Immediate, Unconditional Aid for Israel and Ukraine
WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) delivered the following remarks on the House Floor today urging Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson to bring legislation to the Floor immediately that provides unconditional aid to Israel and Ukraine. Below is a transcript of his remarks and a link to the video:
Click here for a link to the video.
“Mr. Speaker, we have less than three weeks scheduled to the remainder of this year for us to act. We have less than weeks to secure aid for Israel and Ukraine, before we return to our districts in December. They cannot afford that time.
“Each day we wait, winter grows colder in Ukraine. Each day we sit on our hands, American and Israeli hostages in Gaza become more fearful that they have been forgotten – as do their families. Each day we idle, our allies sacrifice more lives in their fight against tyranny and terror. Each day we fail to act, America’s reputation as the world’s greatest defender of freedom and democracy decays.
“Inaction suggests to our friends and foes alike that our Congress chooses doubt over determination, reluctance over resolve, and contention over conviction. We embolden those assaulting democracy in Israel, Ukraine, and elsewhere to set their sights on the rest of the free world, including our own shores.
“We must not project uncertainty in our willingness to oppose despots and international terrorists. Securing this supplemental aid without condition and without delay needs to be this House’s priority.
“I’ve served in Congress for over forty-two years – including twenty-eight years in the leadership. In that time, I’ve seen Democrats and Republicans work together to defend democracy and further freedom. Earlier this year, I went with former Speaker McCarthy to meet with Israeli leaders to reaffirm our vital U.S.-Israel relationship. I worked with him to preserve the overwhelming bipartisan support our Congress has had for Israel for the past 75 years – just as I did with past Republican leaders.
“Now, Mr. Speaker, we come together in solidarity as Vladimir Putin threatens freedom, democracy, international law, and the lives of Ukrainians. A few years ago, I stood with Republicans in Kyiv’s Independence Square to lay wreaths for the pro-democracy protestors who were gunned down there during the Revolution of Dignity in 2014.
“Our Republicans also joined me on my CODEL to Ukraine’s border just last year. When I met with President Zelenskyy and House leaders on both sides of the aisle in September, in this House, we expressed our unanimous commitment to Ukraine’s cause; to America’s cause; to freedom’s cause.
“We saw that same bipartisanship on the House Floor in recent weeks when some 75% of us voted to approve additional funding for Ukraine all seven times, perhaps eight times if you count a couple of bills, we came up for consideration, 75% of us voted for Ukraine's funding. We ought to act on the strong consensus that exists in this body to deliver aid for Israel and Ukraine. Now, today, perhaps tomorrow, but certainly very soon.
“Neither dysfunction nor disagreement ought to undermine that effort. Victory is our objective; delay is our enemy. I have spoken with Israeli and Ukrainian leaders. I have met with officials from NATO partners and other allies. I have talked with the families of American hostages held captive by Hamas in Gaza. Their question is the same: is America still willing to pay the price of freedom? Our answer, ladies and gentlemen of this House, and the answer of America, must be yes. Now!
“We must send a deafening message to our friends and to the enemies of freedom and democracy: we will defend our allies and our shared values – not only in the next few days but in all the days to come. My friends it is time to act. It is time to act without condition. Ukraine needs us. Israel needs us. And freedom, democracy, and international law needs us. Let us act now.”