Sens. Cruz, Hagerty, Rubio, Cotton Introduce Legislation to Resupply Israel’s Iron Dome Missile Defense
‘Our Israeli allies have an obligation to defend their people, and we have an obligation to stand with them as they do so’
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), and Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) today introduced the Emergency Resupply for IRON DOME Act of 2021, a bill to authorize the Executive Branch to redirect U.S. foreign assistance to help Israel replenish its highly-effective missile defense interceptors. Yesterday, Sen. Cruz led a group of Republican senators in calling for President Biden his administration to stand firmly with our ally Israel, as the Israelis are defending themselves against waves of attacks by Iran-backed terrorist groups including Hamas.
Upon introduction, Sen. Cruz said:
"Iranian-backed Hamas terrorists have fired over 4,000 rockets into Israel. Our Israeli allies have an obligation to defend their people, and we have an obligation to stand with them as they do so. President Biden should swiftly replenish the Iron Dome missiles. I am proud to join Sen. Hagerty on this critical legislation urging President Biden to lead with clarity on this issue and not moral relativism or appeasement."
Sen. Hagerty said:
"With Hamas and other Iranian-backed Palestinian terrorists continuing to launch indiscriminate rocket attacks against Israel, Americans have seen the images of Israel's IRON DOME missile defense systems repeatedly intercepting rockets and saving the lives of countless civilians. My legislation requires the Biden Administration to halt U.S. foreign assistance from going to Gaza and other Hamas-dominated areas and instead to redirect these resources to help Israel resupply its live-saving IRON DOME interceptors. The United States should unequivocally support the right of Israel to defend itself from terrorists."
Sen. Rubio said:
"Iranian-backed terrorists have launched thousands of rockets targeting innocent civilians in Israel. In addition, their hate for Israel has also resulted in misfires that have killed their own people in Gaza. Israel's Iron Dome has saved countless lives, and we should ensure that it is fully funded and Israel has what it needs to continue to defend itself."
Sen. Cotton added:
"The United States must ensure Israel continues to have the resources it needs to protect Israeli citizens and to defeat its terrorist enemies. U.S. assistance headed to areas under Hamas control should be redirected to Israel to resupply the Iron Dome."
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