February 7, 2024 Press Release WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) released the following statement after voting against House Republicans' partisan Israel aid supplemental: “Although I full-heartedly support the objective of the Israel supplemental aid bill we voted on yesterday, I deeply regret the partisan manner in which Republicans brought it to the Floor. This partisanship not only led to the bill's failure; it undermines America’s reputation as the great defender of freedom, democracy, human rights, and international law. “For the past 75 years, Democrats have worked with Republicans to strengthen the vital U.S.-Israel relationship. In the wake of Hamas' devastating October 7 terror attack, we made clear our desire to work with Republicans to secure supplemental aid for our Israeli allies, as well as humanitarian relief for innocent Palestinian civilians and vital military resources for our allies in Ukraine. An overwhelming bipartisan majority in Congress shares those aims. Instead of acting on this consensus, Speaker Johnson and the far-right Members of his Conference sought to undermine it, including with yesterday's bill. “At the very least, this legislation ought to have included humanitarian aid for the innocent Palestinian civilians living under Hamas' brutal rule. They did not want this war. Hamas did. Now this terrorist organization uses the people it claims to represent as human shields. Republican leadership excluded this humanitarian relief and Ukraine funding only to undermine the comprehensive bipartisan legislation making its way through the Senate and to force House Democrats to take a difficult vote. “The far-right would do well to remember that the wars in Israel and Ukraine are interconnected. The same Iranian-made drones that Hamas is using to kill Israelis are being used by Russian forces to kill Ukrainians. Russia, North Korea, Iran, and Iranian proxies like Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthi Rebels all stand united in their assault on democracy and freedom. Our Congress must do the same if we are to stop them. We ought to expect more of ourselves. The rest of the world certainly does. Indeed, our world will become a far more dangerous place if America continues to sit idle, Absent Without Leave.”