SE Kentucky News

The U.S. House of Representatives has urged President Biden to release defense weapons to Israel that were recently approved by Congress. The President has indicated he may withhold the weapons if Israel advances into Rafah, a known stronghold of Hamas terrorists.

On Thursday, U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers (KY-05) voted in favor of the bipartisan Israel Security Support Act, which calls on the President to heed the will of Congress. “Israel has the right to self-defense, and the United States Congress has voted with overwhelming support for our greatest ally in the Middle East. With rising threats from highly-organized, evil terrorist groups, now is not the time to withhold these critical resources from Israel. President Biden needs to follow the very legislation that he signed into law,” said Congressman Rogers, Dean of the House.

Rogers added: "This bill requires delivery of weapons within 15 days, and federal funding within 30 days, and I urge the Senate to bring this bill to a vote.”

House Speaker Mike Johnson also backed the legislation, criticizing the President’s actions as a betrayal to Israel. “The Biden Administration’s decision to withhold weapons is catastrophic and goes directly against the will of Congress,” Speaker Johnson stated.

He continued: “With the passage of the Israel Security Assistance Support Act, we send a clear message of solidarity and support to Israel and demand the urgent delivery of defense weapons to our most important ally in the Middle East."

However, President Biden issued a veto threat on the bill while Senate Leader Chuck Schumer announced he will not bring it up for a vote.

“The President’s threat to veto this legislation and Leader Schumer’s refusal to bring it to a vote in the Senate are acts of betrayal to our closest ally in the region," said Speaker Johnson. He expressed further concern about "the 184 House Democrats that joined them in siding with the radical, pro-Hamas wing of the Democratic party."

For more information about Congressman Rogers’ work in Washington and at home in Kentucky, visit halrogers.house.gov and follow him on social media.