Murphy Statement on House Foreign Aid and National Security Packages

Today, Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. issued the following statement after voting in support of foreign aid and national security packages critical to America's efforts to deliver peace through strength:

"On day one, President Biden committed the greatest sin a president can commit. He sacrificed our security and allowed our country to be invaded,” said Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. "Closing the border and ending the crisis is my FIRST priority. However, I do not believe, for one minute, that more dead Israelis, Ukrainians, or Palestinians are going to force Senate Democrats and this feckless President to change their course on our border. Our previous passage of H.R. 2 was a clear and reasonable demand for a border package early in this Congress. It is not Republican leadership's fault that we cannot change the minds of Democrats and the President in a divided Congress. As the leader of the free world, we cannot abdicate our responsibility to stand for freedom."

"That is why I voted in favor of supplying essential aid to Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan, greenlighting the REPO Act to use Russia's frozen assets against them, enacting sanctions against Iran and extremist, militant groups, forcing TikTok to divest, and declaring fentanyl trafficking a national emergency."

Please see below for analysis of each package:

Read H.R.8034 - Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act here. The bill passed 366-58. 

“Israel has the absolute right to exist, and America must stand with our ally in its defense against Iran and its extremist proxies,” said Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. “President Biden, depending upon the political winds, may waver on his support for Israel, but I will not. Israel's defense against the Islamic terrorist state of Iran demonstrated the tenuous nature under which Israel exists. We also witnessed the success of joint efforts to bolster its defense systems. Our support will not cease now or ever.”

This legislation includes the following:

• $4 billion to replenish Iron Dome and David’s Sling missile defense systems.
• $1.2 billion for the Iron Beam defense system to counter short-range rockets and mortar threats.
• $3.5 billion for the procurement of advanced weapons systems, defense articles, and defense services through the Foreign Military Financing Program.
• $1 billion to enhance the production and development of artillery and critical munitions.
• $4.4 billion to replenish defense articles and defense services provided to Israel.
• $2.4 billion for current U.S. military operations in the region in response to recent attacks.
• Provides additional flexibility for transfers of defense articles to Israel from U.S.
  stockpiles held abroad.
• Prohibits funds to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).

Read H.R. 8035 - Ukraine Security Supplemental Appropriations Act here. The bill passed 311-112-1.

"Russia's invasion of Ukraine, an unjust act reminiscent of 1939, must not be allowed to succeed," said Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. "Vladimir Putin is a bloodthirsty tyrant who wishes to not only reimpose the borders of the former Soviet Union but also align himself with the sinister elements of China, Iran, and North Korea. Backing down will only embolden our enemies. The vast majority of the military assistance voted on will stay in America, reinvigorating our defense industrial base and manufacturing lines. We beat the USSR over 30 years ago and we will not falter in the face of Russian aggression today."

This legislation includes the following:

• $23.2 billion to replenish defense articles and defense services provided to Ukraine.
• $11.3 billion for current U.S. military operations in the region.
• $13.8 billion for the procurement of advanced weapons systems, defense articles, and defense services.
• $26 million to continue oversight and accountability of aid and equipment provided to Ukraine.
• Bolsters oversight through in-person monitoring requirements.
• Requires partners and allies to pay their fair share through cost-matching requirements.
• Mandates agreement on repayment for economic support by the government of Ukraine.
• Increases the fiscal limits on several Presidential drawdown authorities. 

My analysis on Amendment #4. The measure failed 154-272.

“This amendment would cut funding to support the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv, efforts to protect critical infrastructure, and oversight of our aid,” said Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D.  “We must protect American personnel in Ukraine and their ability to work, as well as ensure our assistance is utilized appropriately and judiciously. Our mission must remain targeted and effective. I opposed this amendment.”

Read H.R. 8036 - Indo-Pacific Security Supplemental Appropriations Act here. The bill passed 385-34-1.

"China has made it abundantly clear it will stop at nothing to achieve world hegemony," said Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. "Beijing is lying in wait to seize Taiwan, a robust democracy and close friend of the United States, and expand its influence in the Indo-Pacific. The country is critical to the security and defense of our regional interests. We must confront the reality that China's plan to supplant the United States as the leader of the world runs straight through Taiwan and prepare accordingly. "

This legislation includes the following:

• $3.3 billion to develop submarine infrastructure, including investments in dry dock construction.
• $2 billion in Foreign Military Financing Program for Taiwan and other key allies and security partners in the Indo-Pacific confronting Chinese aggression.
• $1.9 billion to replenish defense articles and defense services provided to Taiwan and regional partners.
• $542 million to strengthen U.S. military capabilities in the region.
• $133 million to enhance the production and development of artillery and critical munitions.
• Provides additional flexibility for Foreign Military Financing loans and loan guarantees.

Read H.R. 8038 - 21st Century Peace through Strength Act here. The bill passed 360-58.

"The United States must take aggressive action to weaken Russia, Iran, and China's abilities to wage war and undermine the free world," said Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. "It is critical we crush Iran with sanctions, use our financial leverage to punish Russia for its grave crimes and prohibit Chinese surveillance on and exploitation of the American people. China floods our streets with inexpensive fentanyl killing over 100,000 Americans a year. It is a national emergency that we must confront the fentanyl invasion. Providing security assistance alone is not sufficient to stop hostile nations, we must also enact effective policies to cripple their belligerent assault on freedom and peace."

This legislation includes the following:

• Declares international fentanyl trafficking a national emergency and directs the Treasury Department to target, sanction, and block the financial assets of transnational criminal organizations and key members of drug cartels involved in international fentanyl trafficking.
• Empowers the executive branch to transfer frozen Russian sovereign assets to Ukraine to help Ukraine stay in the fight and rebuild. This will ensure that Putin pays for his brutal war of aggression.
• Prevents app store availability or web hosting services in the U.S. for ByteDance-controlled applications, including TikTok, unless the application severs ties to entities like ByteDance that are subject to the control of a foreign adversary.
• Makes it illegal for data brokers to sell personally identifiable data of Americans to North Korea, China, Russia, Iran, or entities controlled by any of these countries.
• Imposes sanctions on ports and refineries that receive and process Iranian oil.
• Imposes mandatory sanctions on anyone involved in activity covered under the UN missile embargo on Iran that lapsed in October 2023, and on anyone involved in the supply, sale, transfer of, or support for Iran’s missiles and drones.
• Fully enforces human rights sanctions on the Iranian regime.
• Imposes mandatory sanctions against Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Al-Asqa Martyr’s Brigade, the Lion’s Den, and other Palestinian terrorist groups and their supporters.
• Further restricts the export or re-export of U.S.-origin goods and technology to Iran, including those used to manufacture missiles and drones attacking our forces across the Middle East and used by Vladimir Putin against Ukraine. 
• Reauthorizes and strengthens the 2018 Sanctioning the Use of Civilians as Defenseless Shields Act.