September 24, 2021 (Washington, DC) — Jeff Mendelsohn, Executive Director of Pro-Israel America, issued the following statement on the passage of H.R. 5323:
“Pro-Israel America applauds the many members of Congress who spearheaded efforts in the last few days to ensure that Israel can quickly replenish its Iron Dome missile defense systems after Hamas sent more than 4,000 rockets into Israel in May. The House of Representatives spoke clearly yesterday in passing the $1 billion supplemental funding bill by an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote of 420-9, clearly demonstrating that the United States Congress stands with Israel, America’s vital strategic ally, and will continue to ensure that Israel has the means to defend itself, by itself, in the face of terror attacks and other threats to the Jewish state. The vote also sent a strong message to the small, yet vocal, ‘Blame Israel Caucus’ that sought to deny vital funding for the Iron Dome defense system, a direct by-product of U.S.-Israeli cooperation, that has literally saved hundreds upon thousands of both Israeli and Palestinian lives during these attacks. The eight Democrats and one Republican who voted ‘no’ on this funding resolution put those lives at risk. Politically-motivated efforts to cut, condition or restrict security assistance to Israel are misguided and bad policy, designed to undercut the U.S.-Israel alliance and weaken Israel’s ability to defend itself.
Pro-Israel America thanks Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) for introducing HR 5323 and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer for ensuring its immediate consideration. Pro-Israel America also thanks Representatives Kathy Manning (D-NC), Ted Deutch (D-FL), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Brad Schneider (D-IL), Elaine Luria (D-VA), Dean Phillips (D-MN), Ritchie Torres (D-NY) and Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) for their swift efforts to push this legislation forward and ensure that Israel’s security partnership with the United States remains rock-solid.”