Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize for Women's History Month, Amanda Brewer, Chief Executive Officer of Habitat for Humanity of Omaha, who has the heart of service for her community. Amanda was raised in Norfolk, Nebraska by her parents Michael and Kathleen Jedlicka, graduating from Norfolk Catholic High School, where she was instilled with the values of service, compassion, and community. She is married to her husband Kelly, and they have a pre-teen daughter, Lydia.

Amanda went on to graduate from DePaul University. Still, in 1997, she felt a call to serve and address inequities in the world that she had become aware of. So, she dropped everything and moved from the corporate world in Chicago to Georgia, where she became a full-time volunteer with Habitat for Humanity International.

Returning to Nebraska in 1999, she joined Habitat for Humanity of Omaha as an associate director. Six years later, she was named CEO and has served in that role faithfully and with a dedicated vision.

Becoming the top-ranked affiliate in families served in the U.S., Habitat for Humanity of Omaha has achieved remarkable growth and impact under Amanda's leadership. The organization serves five eastern Nebraska counties, has built and renovated thousands of homes, and developed transformative programs that empower families and strengthen communities.

Amanda knows that preserving communities goes beyond simply building homes. She has provided opportunities for families to create generational wealth through innovations such as education programs for homeowners about wealth transfer and heirs' rights. She has also implemented covenants to ensure long-term affordability through property tax limits and advocacy efforts. Her vision for communities also includes pioneering affordable housing initiatives, advocating for equitable homeownership opportunities, and launching partnerships far beyond traditional boundaries.

These accomplishments are monumental but not what Amanda cherishes most: the kindness and humanity she has seen in others during her 27 years of service. She fully embraces the idea that everyone has something valuable to offer and talents to share.

Answering the call to serve is an honorable quality in a person, and Amanda's story of courage, compassion, and commitment to others is a testimony to the power one person can have when they answer that call. Generations of families will feel the ripple effect from her work leading Habitat for Humanity Omaha. She truly reflects a life that shows when someone shifts from receiving to giving, a world can be created where everyone has hope, equity, and opportunity to thrive.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to remove the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Norman) as cosponsor of H.R. 1851.

Madam Speaker, I rise today as we celebrate Black History Month and honor the incredible achievements of Kenny McMorris, a visionary leader, champion for community well-being, and constituent in our Second District of our great State of Nebraska.

Mr. McMorris is a veteran healthcare executive, innovator, influencer, and strategist with an extensive leadership, policy, community, and public health background. His wife, Makayla, is the founder and owner of Moxie16. They are the proud parents of two children, Kenny Jr. and Makenli.

As the CEO of Charles Drew Health Center, Inc., Kenny oversees the health center's business, community, and primary care operations. The center has a $24 million operating budget, over 200 employees, 13,000 patients, and nearly 40,000 outpatient service visits annually.

Under his leadership, Charles Drew Health Center has expanded its service locations from 4 to 16, including primary medical, dental, pharmacy, and behavioral health services. It emphasizes the disenfranchised and addresses the social drivers of health.

Over the course of his decade-long career at CDHC, Kenny has contributed to transforming healthcare delivery and equity through his innovative strategies and disciplined commitment to serving disenfranchised communities.

As a North Omaha native, Kenny attended the University of Nebraska Omaha, earning a bachelor's degree in business administration and management in 2002. In 2004, he earned an MPA in public management and healthcare administration.

After his education, he brought his expertise to the Omaha community as the first executive director of the 100 Black Men of Omaha and director of marketing and development for the Urban League of Nebraska.

Kenny has shown himself to be active in both the professional and larger communities. In his advocating career, Kenny is board-certified in healthcare management and a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and Community Health Centers Executives Fellow. He holds memberships with the National Medical Association, the National Association of Health Services Executives, the American Public Health Association, and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

These demonstrations showcase his engagement in advancing professional standards, networking, and mentoring. Furthermore, Kenny McMorris also

serves on the boards of directors of the Omaha Chamber of Commerce, Nebraska Methodist College, RADIUS, Health Center Association of Nebraska, Heartland Community Health Network, BRIDGE Family Resource Connector Network, and the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services Medicaid Advisory Committee.

It is crystal clear that Kenny is not just a professional of the highest caliber but a great community leader who exemplifies public service, vision, and unwavering commitment to making a difference in our communities.

Kenny's accomplishments include the University of Nebraska Omaha Young Alumni Achievement Award; University of Nebraska Omaha College of Public Affairs and Community Service Alumni Award of Excellence; National Association of Community Health Centers' Betsey K. Cooke Grassroots MVP Award; Urban League of Nebraska African American Leadership Award; Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Mid-Western Region Award for Excellence in Health and Wellness; and University of Nebraska Medical Center/Nebraska Medicine Servant Leader Award. He has done it all.

The accolades Kenny received reflect his excellence through investing in public health, uplifting community development, and demonstrating to inspire innovative change in every role he has played while being a great husband and father, which I also admire.

Through dedication and perseverance in tackling healthcare inequities or inequalities, Kenny has encompassed a meaningful vision for disenfranchised populations. His role has laid a foundation for healthier, more equitable communities.

Kenny McMorris' contributions in Omaha exemplify nothing short of the values of Black History Month, which celebrates resilience, leadership, and a commitment to advancing public health and opportunity for all.

Omaha is a better place because of Kenny McMorris. His impact has been positively felt by thousands upon thousands.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss an increasingly alarming problem facing America's public health, which is the flow of unregulated illicit nicotine pouch products. These illicit products, most of which are coming from China, avoid FDA regulation, confusing adult consumers seeking safer alternatives and retailers, and muddying the waters for manufacturers that are following the rules.

While enforcement action has largely focused on e-cigarettes, the Food and Drug Administration has paid little attention to illicit Chinese nicotine pouches and enforcing the rules--especially when the foreign manufacturer failed to apply for FDA authorization.

Congress established the FDA's Center for Tobacco Products to regulate the tobacco and nicotine market. But the FDA has failed to determine which nicotine pouch products should remain available or be removed, making it difficult for retailers and consumers to know what to do.

The FDA must follow the science. By doing so, the FDA will authorize nicotine pouch products that are appropriate for the protection of public health and stem the flow of illicit products coming in from China.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Sarpy County Sheriff Jeff Davis, who has selflessly given 51 years of his life to ``protect and serve'' the residents of Sarpy County, Nebraska. Sheriff Davis started as a dispatcher in 1973 at the age of 18. After getting his law enforcement officer certification, Davis became a deputy sheriff for Sarpy County in 1974. Working his way through the ranks, he became a sergeant in 1985, lieutenant in 1989, captain in 1990, and chief deputy in 1999. In May 2005, Sheriff Davis was appointed to serve the remaining term of Sherriff Pat Thomas, who retired. He subsequently won reelection in 2006 and has served diligently in that capacity since then.

He was recognized in 2019 for his work when he was inducted into the Nebraska Sheriffs Association Hall of Fame. Davis's other achievements include serving as the past president and vice president of the Sarpy County Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 3 and receiving the ``Michael J. Elman Officer of the Year'' Award He received the Bellevue Kiwanis Chapter ``Officer of the Year'' award. While serving a term on the Bellevue City Council in 1996, Davis was presented the ``Jewel of Bellevue'' award by Past Bellevue Mayor Boyd.

Sheriff Davis has worked on many initiatives to handle the growing population of Sarpy County. The department routinely trains in Standard Response Protocol, working with

schools, first responders, and medical facilities. Another area of focus for Sheriff Davis has been the Sarpy County Sheriffs Sex Offender Registry, which allows residents to locate sex offenders on a website. He has also focused on resources to identify and treat mental illness, with a goal of reducing crime and to better assist victims of mental health illness.

Sheriff Davis is proud of these accomplishments and more, but the one he is most proud of is the ``Project Life Saver'' program. Through this program, over 80 autistic childien and adults with dementia have been fitted with bracelets so they can easily be found when they wander.

A native of Bellevue, Nebraska, Sheriff Davis also serves on the Nebraska Crime Commission, Nebraska Crime Victims Reparations Program, and the Nebraska State Council for Interstate Compact for Adult Offender Supervision. He is also a member of the Bellevue Volunteer Fire Department and a graduate of the FBI National Academy.

I thank Sheriff Davis for his longtime service to Sarpy County and the entire state of Nebraska.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act.

The 2025 NDAA prioritizes the servicemembers and military families who protect and defend the United States by making their quality of life the cornerstone of this legislation.

I had the honor of serving as the chairman of the committee's bipartisan military Quality of Life Panel side by side with my friend, Ranking Member Houlahan, and other distinguished members of this committee.

I thank Chairman Rogers and Ranking Member Smith for their support of our efforts and for their deep commitment to improving the quality of life for the men, women, and families who serve.

As a result of the tireless efforts of our members, the professional staff, and the personal staff, the legislation

before us delivers the most comprehensive military quality of life reforms in the history of this country. It includes a 14.5 percent pay raise for our junior enlisted members, a 4.5 percent pay raise for the rest of the force, improvements for the Basic Needs Allowance and cost of living allowances, improvements to unaccompanied and military family housing, and far-reaching reforms to expand access to medical care and childcare and to improve support to military spouses.

In addition, this year, I was able to serve as the chairman of the Cyber, Information Technologies, and Innovation Subcommittee. The 2025 NDAA advances the DOD's offensive and defensive posture in cyberspace and ensures our warfighters are equipped with the most modern and lethal technologies in the world.

I am grateful that several of my provisions were included in the final legislation, including the elevation of the Joint Force Headquarters-Department of Defense Information Networks to a sub- unified command within the U.S. Cyber Command and the establishment of the Department of Defense Hackathon program.

In addition, this bill includes needed hiring authorities for DOD's innovation enterprise, including DARPA, DIU, SCO, and SDA, which will ensure that the Department of Defense has access to the best and brightest technical talent.

Mr. Speaker, the 2025 NDAA is a strong defense bill that prioritizes our national security, all of those men and women who serve, and their families, and I encourage my colleagues to support this bill.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act.

One percent of Americans answered the call to defend our Nation with: Send me. We owe them a debt of gratitude. Our veterans should receive healthcare and benefits they have earned without having to battle the

Mr. Speaker, I rise today during Hispanic Heritage Month to recognize two constituents of our district who have impacted the history and culture of Hispanic Americans across Nebraska and the Second Congressional District.

Linda Rivera Garcia and Jose Francisco Garcia, descendants of Mexican-born grandparents, founded the Mexican American Historical Society of the Midlands. They have dedicated their whole adult lives to creating awareness of the rich legacy built by the presence of Mexican Americans in the Midlands.

Linda Garcia grew up on a farm in Papillion, Nebraska, my hometown, and attended a one-room country school. She graduated from Papillion High School with her brother, representing the only persons of color in the late fifties and early sixties. Linda would go on to obtain a degree in the arts at the College of Saint Mary in Omaha, Nebraska.

For over 50 years, Linda has used her artistic presence as a community advocate for Mexican Americans. She has received many accolades, including being named Hispanic Woman of the Year by the Mexican American Commission. The Great Plains Museum in Lincoln and the Willa Cather museum in Red Cloud, Nebraska, featured Linda's art exhibits. She serves as a storyteller with the National Arts Council and Humanities Nebraska and is the artistic director and cultural curator of the South Omaha Museum of Immigrant History.

Jose Garcia was born and raised on the west side of Kansas City, Missouri. Growing up, Jose sold TV Guides and worked at a Mexican grocery store.

After graduating high school, he would go on to work at Macy's, Aetna Insurance, and the Commerce Trust bank, all while attending night school at a junior college.

In 1966, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in Vietnam. Jose would then use the GI Bill to obtain a degree in psychology from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and became involved in the Chicano student movement of the time.

Jose moved to Omaha in 1976 and married the love of his life, Linda, in 1977, starting a family just south of Saint Frances Cabrini Church in South Omaha. Jose directed the Chicano Awareness Center and, in 1980, began working with the Chicago & North Western Railroad. Additionally, he hosted a community news program called ``Razatimes.''

Aside from their accomplishments, Linda and Jose would establish three ``Houses of Culture,'' ``Casas de Cultural,'' in South Omaha. In 2009, they founded the Mexican American Historical Society of the Midlands to curate, preserve, collect, and exhibit the presence of Mexican-American and Latino history, culture, and traditions.

Through the historical society, the Garcias currently manage a 2,000- square-foot collection of Chicano, Latino, and Mexican cultural materials, images, literature, folk art, and objects documenting the postcolonial Spanish-speaking peoples with Midwestern ancestry. They also support the South Omaha Museum of Immigrant History.

The Garcias' lifelong commitment to preserving Hispanic heritage and culture will impact future generations. As we reflect on the significant contributions of Hispanic Americans to our society and culture, I recognize and thank both Garcias for the long-lasting legacy they have contributed to Nebraska's Second Congressional District.

Mr. Speaker, I am grateful to welcome Pastor Ralph Lassiter and his wife, Doris Lassiter, to the people's House. We are grateful to have them in Washington, D.C., and I thank him for opening up our session in prayer.

Pastor Lassiter has been the lead pastor for Mount Moriah Baptist Church for 17 years before he retired. Now, he is the pastor emeritus.

Mount Moriah is a historical church in our city, preaching the Gospel for generations, healing relationships, and helping people with their physical needs. It has been a true blessing.

Today, both Pastor and Mrs. Lassiter are helping to bring a small business back to north Omaha. Pastor Lassiter also works with men who are struggling with addictions. He has been a true blessing.

His favorite Bible verse is out of Proverbs: ``Trust in the Lord with all your heart; and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will guide your paths.'' It is a great prayer.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Pastor Lassiter for opening us up with prayer, and I welcome both him and his wife, Mrs. Lassiter.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the legacy of the Strategic Air Command (SAC) Elite Guard, as they celebrate their reunion this August.

Founded in 1956 by the visionary General Curtis Lemay, the Guard wasn't simply a security unit, it was the cornerstone of safeguarding our nation's most critical assets. Following WWII, the security surrounding our strategic air assets were woefully inadequate. Because of this, Lemay sanctioned Detachment ``A'' of the 3902nd Air Police Squadron at Offutt Air Force Base, which later became known as the SAC Elite Guard.

Having had the privilege of serving as a SAC intel briefer, I can attest to the elite men and women that served in the Guard. They were hand-picked, rigorously trained, and became guardians not just of installations and resources, but those who shielded our nuclear arsenal, and served as our planet's greatest deterrence.

The Guard's mission was threefold: securing SAC Headquarters, protecting the Commander and Vice Commander, and as SAC ambassadors at official dignitary functions representing SAC with honor. Serving during the Cold War had its many complications, and the weight of responsibility all service men and women carried was immense, yet the Guard never faltered. The Guard pushed themselves to the limit, both physically and mentally, and the weight of these responsibilities forged an unbreakable bond between them, because they knew even the smallest mistake could have devastating consequences.

In 2004 the SAC Elite Guard Association was formed by former SAC Elite Guardsmen Sgt Mike Paventi and Sgt Herbert ``Bill'' Marshall. The association's mission was to maintain a social connection to those men and women that served and protected SAC Headquarters. The Guard's reunion each year is a chance to honor the legacy they built together. A chance to remember all our fallen comrades, whose sacrifices will never be forgotten, and a chance to reconnect with the brothers and sisters in arms who shared the Guard's extraordinary experience.

Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition to this amendment.

Mr. Chair, I do recognize the concerns of Mr. Huizenga. I think they should be corrected, but there is a lot of goodness in this program as well. Let's not throw out the baby with the bathwater.

Earlier this year we mourned the murder of Alexei Navalny by Putin, an anticorruption activist and courageous leader of the political opposition to Putin of Russia.

Navalny's legacy of leadership has been recognized and honored all around the world.

While many are familiar with the renowned life of Alexei Navalny, most do not know he first came to America in his early twenties under a congressional exchange program for emerging world leaders, the same program this amendment now seeks to defund.

The Congressional Office for International Leadership was founded in 1999 to promote democracy and accountable governance. For more than two decades, COIL has been investing in the best and brightest young leaders from around the world to show them how government of, by, and for the people functions and remains accountable to the people it serves.

Since 1999, COIL has introduced more than 30,000 young leaders to the United States of America to see firsthand what self-government looks like at the Federal, State, local, and Tribal levels in all 50 States, all for about $6 million a year.

I have hosted three of those delegations, two from Vietnam, and one from Papua New Guinea. I was surprised to see the Vietnamese members who came here from the initial parliament in Vietnam, the seeds of democracy that we want to water, nurture, and grow.

So, Mr. Chairman, the COIL program promotes and inspires America's foundational values. I ask my colleagues to join me in opposing the amendment which would end one of the most cost-effective ways the United States Congress, the most powerful and consequential legislative body in the world, has to grow and inspire America's future allies and partners around the world.

Madam Speaker, I thank Lieutenant General Bergman, the most senior officer ever elected to Congress. I am proud to serve with him.

I rise today to advocate in support of those fighting to transform trauma into triumph.

June is PTSD Awareness Month. I want to stop right there. I don't like to say PTSD because it is not a disorder. It is actually normal when someone encounters a traumatic situation in their life to have that kind of response. It is time to recognize a serious condition, though, that affects many veterans and civilian members of our community.

As part of this awareness, Post-Traumatic Growth Day, as General Bergman said, was June 13, a day to recognize the transformative power of resilience, strength, and courage, and an opportunity to embrace the challenges and opportunities that come with growth and transformation.

Research tells us that 70 percent of American adults have experienced at least one traumatic event in their life and that two-thirds of children experience trauma before the age of 16. Of the 6 million veterans served by the Department of Veterans Affairs in fiscal year 2021, about 10 out of every 100 men and 19 out of every 100 women were diagnosed with post-traumatic stress.

Many battle their demons alone, especially veterans, focused almost exclusively on negative impacts of trauma and struggle, trying to protect loved ones from their suffering. Feelings of hopelessness or failure often permeate their thoughts and add to the challenge of healing. This often leaves individuals feeling alone and victims of their own worst experiences.

It is time to change the conversation and highlight the possibility of growth after trauma, to show how struggle can be a catalyst for profound growth and transformation. It is time to advocate for success.

In Proverbs 4:23--one of my favorite books in the Bible--it tells us to ``Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts.'' This is especially true for those trying to overcome horrific events in their lives, and it is the foundational message of the Choose Growth campaign, an initiative focused on raising awareness that trauma doesn't have to be the end of the story.

Awareness is necessary to remove the stigma and to encourage those suffering to seek proper and timely treatment that may save their lives and restore them to being productive and successful members of society.

Treatment can take many forms, from peer-related therapies to medications. The key is finding what works best for each individual. Support from loved ones and groups provides a positive impact on outcomes. That is why I share my own experience with PTS after spending 1 year in Iraq and having been on the receiving end of 3 to 30 rockets or mortars a day.

When I got home, I had reflexive instincts wherever I went to be ready to find cover. Even in Chicago, walking with my dad, my dad looked at me and said: What are you doing?

I said: I can't help it. I am looking for where I should dive if a mortar rocket comes in.

Though I know it is not going to happen, I did that every day multiple times for over a year. It is called muscle memory.

Thankfully, for me, this slowly ebbed away after 2 or 3 months, but I know others are not so fortunate. That is why we are here today.

The bottom line: In these trying times, I urge my colleagues to come together and advocate for those fighting to transform trauma into triumph and to reclaim their lives.

Mr. Chair, I thank the chairman and the ranking member for putting this great legislation together and navigating the ship to a good spot. I appreciate the opportunity to serve on those two committees.

I rise today in strong support of H.R. 8070, the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025. The 2025 NDAA prioritizes the servicemembers and military families who dedicate their lives to protecting and defending the United States by making their quality of life the cornerstone of this legislation.

The bipartisan bill includes a targeted 19.5 percent pay raise for the junior enlisted, improves the basic needs allowance and housing allowance, supports military spouse employment, and makes necessary investments in military housing, childcare, and schools.

I am extremely proud of the hard work and oversight conducted by the bipartisan Quality of Life Panel that I had the honor of chairing this past year to address all of these critical issues impacting our servicemembers. By voting for this bill, each of us has the opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to the All-Volunteer Force, the foundation of America's military strength.

In addition to supporting servicemembers and families, this year's NDAA also makes strides in bolstering the United States' offensive and defensive posture in cyberspace. It promotes innovation. It makes investments in critical technology areas, like biotechnology, quantum, and artificial intelligence, and secures our sensitive military research from adversarial interference.

This year's NDAA also advances critical partnerships between our universities, military services, and combatant commands, including the United States Strategic Command and the University of Nebraska, in order to develop the next generation of military technologies.

These partnerships are critical to developing the scientific and technological workforce and talent pipelines needed to secure the United States' technological edge now and in the future.

We have a strong NDAA. It is a bipartisan bill that supports our servicemembers, it modernizes our fighting force, and ensures U.S. Forces are well-equipped to fight and win from competition to conflict.

Mr. Chair, I strongly encourage my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. Chair, I thank my colleague, my friend from California, for yielding.

Mr. Chair, I want to speak on H.R. 354, the previous bill that we just debated on. It is my legislation that I have worked on for 7 years. It is the LEOSA Reform Act.

What does this bill do?

It says that if you are a retired law enforcement officer, Mr. Chair, or if you are an off-duty law enforcement officer and you maintain your gun qualifications, then you can carry your sidearm. We used to have LEOSA that was standardized throughout all 50 States, but over time, over the last decade, it has gotten very uneven, and it has been chipped away at in various States. We want to level the table again for all of our law enforcement officers.

When I talk to our county sheriffs, and I have three of them, this is their number one priority. Their number one ask is to get LEOSA passed again. When I talk to our Federal law enforcement, it is also one of the top requests that they have.

Mr. Chair, why is it called the law enforcement safety bill?

It is because, just picture, if you will, if you are in a theater, and someone who is deranged starts shooting their weapon at people, hurting or killing innocent people, who would you want to have in there, Mr. Chair?

I would want to have an off-duty policeman or a retired policeman who has maintained their qualifications and who has been trained to respond to these kinds of killers and these kind of incidents.

This is what LEOSA allows. It improves the safety of wherever they are with these retired policemen or off-duty policemen.

I have talked to Federal agents who have arrested serious narcotics dealers, and they have a price on their head. They have a bounty, if you will. When they are retired, they want to carry, as well, to defend themselves and their family.

Mr. Chair, I hope we can have a bipartisan vote on this bill. It is one of the top requests of law enforcement officers at the local, State, county, and Federal level for us to get this done. This would be a way to say thank you to the law enforcement who serve every day, who put their lives on the line, and who still want to serve when they are retired and be there when and if needed.

Mr. Speaker, on October 7, 2023, the Palestinian terrorist group, Hamas, viciously attacked Israel--America's best ally in the Middle East--and they did it from the Gaza Strip. On that day, more than 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals, including at least 35 Americans, were killed. Not since the Holocaust have so many Jews been killed in a single day.

During the unprecedented attack, Hamas, in conjunction with other terrorist groups, seized 253 hostages, many of whom are still held captive today, and we know for a fact that some were murdered while in captivity by Hamas. The barbaric attacks against Israel on October 7 were of a scope and lethality not witnessed ever before in the 16 years of Hamas' control in Gaza.

The U.S.-Israel alliance is founded upon our shared democratic and cultural values, our mutual security interests, and an enduring friendship. I say we have spiritual connections. Also, there are moral reasons to support Israel. There needs to be a safe haven for Jews all over this world that have been persecuted for several thousand years.

We support the Abraham Accords. These accords reflect our mutual respect for our partnership and the significance that the pursuit of peace in the region holds for the United States and Israel--a peace vital to the national security of both of our countries.

Israel is a vibrant democracy with a government elected by the people of Israel. Israel is a sovereign nation with a right to self-defense and self-determination.

No country, including the United States, has the right to tell Israel whether or how to conduct wartime operations in response to a devastating terrorist attack. We certainly have no right to demand that Israel submit to a cease-fire. This course of action is for the leadership of the military of Israel to determine. It is for the people of Israel to determine.

In addition, no country has the right or authority to suggest that the Prime Minister of Israel should resign. Only the citizens of Israel have this right. Israel is a sovereign and capable nation with a right to determine who will serve in the government and how it wants to defend itself, and only Israel can determine its security needs after the fall of Hamas.

Sadly, our President has called for a cease-fire, and Leader Schumer has called for a new election--disregarding and interfering in Israel's sovereignty.

We also see the administration is calling for a two-state solution. So I ask: Who is Israel going to negotiate with? Who on the Palestinian side acknowledges Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state? Who on the Palestinian side is committed to peace and the rejection of terrorism?

Pushing for a two-state solution with the current Palestinian leadership is a fool's errand. The Palestinian leaders want a one-state solution where there is no Israel. So who are the Israelis supposed to negotiate with? Who are the trusted Palestinian leaders for Israel to talk to? There are none.

Last month, Congress voted to send much-needed munitions to Israel. Iran has fired 330 munitions recently. The Israeli air defenses are depleted. Their precision munitions are also depleted.

The President has halted sending these needed weapons after Congress approved them and directed them to be sent there because he is trying to prevent Israel from going into the last stronghold of Hamas, which is Rafah.

Israel can't let Hamas and Gaza survive. If they do, Hamas will continue to be a mortal threat. Israel needs to go and finish the job quickly so humanitarian aid can get to the Palestinian people, and the President should get out of the way. The United States should continue to support Israel, to stand with Israel in the face of attacks, not only from Hamas but from anti-Semitic nations throughout the world, particularly with the United Nations.

The United States should continue to assist Israel with the means to defend itself. Israel is a longtime friend and ally, and our policies toward Israel should be consistent and in line with that history. American politics and election year concerns should have no role in the United States' foreign policy with Israel.

In short, the administration and the majority leader and the Senate must

stop meddling in Israel's politics. The goal for Israel is to destroy Hamas so that no more terrorist acts can be conducted from Gaza. They are trying to provide security for their people. We would do the same thing just like we did after 9/11.