On Thursday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a stand-alone supplemental appropriation to provide emergency military aid to Israel in its war against Hamas. Congresswoman Terri Sewell (D-AL07) voted against the Republican-led package and then released a statement to explain her opposition to the Republicans’ supplemental funding package.
“While I fully support assistance to Israel, the partisan bill that House Republicans pushed through provides no assistance to Ukraine, blocks humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza, and includes billions in tax giveaways to the rich,” Rep. Sewell said. “I am disappointed that my Republican colleagues have taken an otherwise bipartisan priority—supporting our national security and our allies—and turned it into a bitter partisan battle. This bill is dead on arrival in the Senate and undercuts the bipartisan efforts by the White House and the Senate to pass a comprehensive aid package that includes funding for both Israel and Ukraine and provides humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza. I look forward to supporting this legislation, which is in line with President [Joe] Biden’s original funding request that would holistically support our national security efforts.”
Twelve Democratic members of the House voted in favor of the legislation. The six Alabama Republicans all voted in favor of the measure.
President Biden had asked for over $100 billion in a supplemental aid package, with $61 billion going to further Ukraine’s war with Russia. Republicans also objected to sending $6 billion in aid to Hamas-controlled Gaza, arguing that Hamas will simply seize the aid and use it to support their fighters.
Democrats also objected to House Republicans using the supplemental appropriation to cut billions that Democrats passed when they still controlled the House of Representatives to hire 81,000 more IRS agents to harass and persecute American taxpayers.
President Biden said he will veto the stand-alone aid bill for Israel.
On October 7, Hamas fighters came across the Israeli border and killed 1,400 Israelis, including 32 Americans. Another 2,800 were wounded in the senseless attacks, and over 200 Israelis were taken hostage. Thousands of rockets were fired into Israel from both Gaza and Hezbollah-controlled regions of Lebanon.
Israel has declared war on Hamas and has begun ground operations in Gaza while the Israeli air force continues to bomb targets in Gaza. Palestinian authorities claim that over 4,000 Palestinians have died in the fighting – most of them civilians. A bipartisan majority of Congress supports aiding the Israeli war effort, but they are not in agreement on how to do that. A key sticking point has been Biden’s insistence that aid for Israel is linked to aid for Ukraine.
Terri Sewell is in her seventh term representing Alabama’s Seventh Congressional District.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
