Sen. Cruz: ‘Democrats Are Sacrificing Our Security and the Security of Our Allies to Try to Score Political Points’
Issues statement in response to Senate Democrats voting against the Strengthening America’s Security in the Middle East Act
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) today issued the following statement after Senate Democrats voted against the Strengthening America’s Security in the Middle East Act, legislation critical to Israel’s security. As a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Sen. Cruz joined Sens. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), and James Risch (R-Idaho) in support of this bill, which would provide security assistance to Israel, enhance our defense partnership with Jordan, hold the Assad regime accountable for human rights atrocities, and combat the discriminatory anti-Israel boycott movement.
“Democrats are sacrificing our security and the security of our allies to try to score political points,” Sen. Cruz said. “Today was a missed opportunity for the Senate to unite in order to provide critical assistance and protection to Israel and Jordan, and to show the Assad regime that it cannot continue to commit crimes with impunity.”
The legislation includes three bipartisan measures previously co-sponsored by Sen. Cruz:
- United States-Israel Security Authorization Assistance Act of 2018: Sen. Cruz co-sponsored this legislation previously introduced in the 115th Congress by Sens. Rubio and Chris Coons (D-Del.). This bipartisan measure would ensure Israel, as an ally to the U.S., is provided with military support and access to weapons needed to defend itself against any and all security threats.
- United States-Jordan Defense Cooperation Extension Act: Sen. Cruz co-sponsored this legislation previously introduced in the 114th Congress. This bipartisan measure would continue the U.S.-Jordan partnership to address the ongoing humanitarian crisis and work to promote regional stability, and enhance Jordan’s military capacity.
- Combating BDS Act of 2018: Sen. Cruz co-sponsored this legislation previously introduced in the 115th Congress by Sens. Rubio and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.). This bipartisan measure would reaffirm states and local governments’ authority to identify and divest assets such as pensions, retirement funds or contracts with an entity including a company that engages in commerce related boycotts, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) activity against Israel.
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