Submitted by United States Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana
MADISONVILLE, LA (May 10, 2024) – Senator John Kennedy (R-La.) joined Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and colleagues in introducing a resolution condemning the Biden administration’s decision to halt shipment of American-made ammunition and weapons to Israel.
“Israel is fighting to protect its people from Iran and its proxies, but the Biden administration seems to think now is a good time to get weak in the knees. America should stand strong in support of Israel and get them the military supplies they need,” said Kennedy.
The resolution:
- Recognizes that Hamas murdered more than 1,200 innocent men, women and children and took more than 240 innocent civilians hostage in an unprovoked attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
- Recognizes that the U.S. is the largest supplier of military aid that Israel uses to defend itself from Iran and its proxies.
- Recognizes that 99% of the projectiles Iran launched were intercepted by Israel and its allies, using supplies provided in part by the U.S.
- Recognizes that the Biden administration has publicly claimed that “[c]onditioning aid has not been our policy” and “our commitment to Israel’s security . . . is ironclad.”
- Recognizes that the Biden administration has taken actions in May 2024 to stop the shipments of weapons and ammunition to the Israeli military, which could embolden Hamas and other Iranian proxies.
- Condemns any decision the Biden administration makes to halt shipments of ammunition and weapons to Israel and demands that the administration continue to fulfill Israeli military aid requests.
- Reaffirms the importance of the U.S.-Israel partnership and upholds America’s commitment to Israel’s security.
Background:
- In Dec. 2023, Kennedy urged the Biden administration to continue American support for Israel until it succeeds in destroying Hamas.
- In Feb. 2024, Kennedy supported the End Iranian Terrorism Act to require President Biden to enforce sanctions on Iranian oil.
- In May 2024, Kennedy and other Republican members of the Senate Judiciary Committee authored a letter to Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) calling for a Judiciary Committee hearing on violations of Jewish students’ rights and growing domestic support for terrorist organizations.
Sens. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Mitt Romney (R-Utah), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.) and John Thune (R-S.D.) cosponsored the resolution.
The full resolution is available here.
