U.S. Senators Katie Britt and Tom Cotton support bill to stop Biden's blockade of munitions shipments to Israel

Israel is fighting a war against Hamas in Gaza in response to unprovoked attacks by Hamas on Israeli civilians in October. The United States Congress voted for and the President of the United State Joseph R. Biden (D) signed legislation supporting Israel in its quest to defeat Hamas. That aid however is not getting to Israel because the Biden administration, which used concern for Israel's plight to get a much broader foreign aid package through Congress, is halting arm shipments to the country over disagreements on strategy and tactics.

U.S. Senators Katie Britt (R-Alabama) this week joined Senator Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and 13 of their Senate Republican colleagues in introducing the Israel Security Assistance Support Act, which would force the Biden Administration to send critical munitions to Israel.

This comes after Sen. Britt last week participated in a press conference hosted by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) on President Biden's decision to withhold certain shipments of American weapons to Israel.

The Senators announced their introduction of a resolution, led by Sen. Graham, condemning any action by the Biden Administration to withhold or restrict ammunition or weapons for Israel.

"After World War II, we as Americans said, 'Never Again.' Today, President Biden's dithering doctrine of appeasement and legacy of weakness threaten to break that promise," said Sen. Britt. "This Administration is turning its back on Israel - and at the worst possible time. As Israel works to secure the release of the hostages - including American citizens - still held by Hamas in Gaza, President Biden has undermined Israel and empowered Hamas. We must stand unequivocally with Israel as she fights to end Hamas' reign of terror and ensure there is never another October 7."

Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyoming), Ted Budd (R-North Carolina), Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Steve Daines (R-Montana), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Deb Fischer (R-Nebraska), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Mississippi), John Kennedy (R-Louisiana), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming), Roger Marshall (R-Kansas), Pete Ricketts (R-Nebraska), Rick Scott (R-Florida), and Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina) also cosponsored the legislation.

Congressman Ken Calvert (R-California) recently introduced companion legislation in the House.

The Israel Security Assistant Support Act would:

1) Force the Biden administration to complete the delivery of weapons to Israel.

2) Cancel the salaries of any Biden administration official at the Department of Defense or Department of State who take any action to withhold the delivery of weapons to Israel.

To read the text of the bill:

https://www.britt.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/hold-on-us-made-ammunition-shipments-final.pdf

Additionally, Senators Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Roger Marshall (R-Kansas), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), John Thune (R-South Dakota), Markwayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma), Marco Rubio (R-Florida), John Barrasso (R-Wyoming), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee), John Boozman (R-Arkansas), Mike Braun (R-Indiana), Shelley Moore Capito (R-West Virginia), Bill Cassidy (Louisiana), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Steve Daines (R-Montana), Deb Fischer (R-Nebraska), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Bill Hagerty (R-Tennessee), Josh Hawley (R-Missouri), John Hoeven (R-North Dakota), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Mississippi), Ron Johnson (R-Wisconsin), John Kennedy (R-Louisiana), James Lankford (R-Oklahoma), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming), Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky), Jerry Moran (R-Kansas), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Pete Ricketts (R-Nebraska), Mitt Romney (R-Utah), Mike Rounds (R-South Dakota), Eric Schmitt (R-Missouri), Rick Scott (R-Florida), Tim Scott (R-South Carolina), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina), J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi), and Todd Young (R-Indiana) cosponsored the resolution.

"Israel is one of our closest and most important allies," Sen. Tuberville said. "We should be consistent in supporting our friend as they fight a war for their very survival. What we are seeing from the Biden Administration is the worst kind of betrayal. Saying you support the Jewish people then withholding critical arms and munitions only emboldens the Hamas Terrorists and prolongs the fighting. President Biden needs to stop appeasing the America-hating fringe of the Democrat party for votes in November and release the weapons to Israel."