Dear Friends –
More than 1,400 Israelis were murdered by Hamas terrorists less than two weeks ago, making it the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust. At least 30 Americans have also been killed, and nearly 200 people were kidnapped by Hamas. As we decry the loss of innocent lives, it may be comforting to note what actions have been taken so far.
Two days after the attack, Sen. Cornyn joined a group of 19 Republican colleagues in calling on President Biden to immediately freeze the Administration’s $6 billion transfer to Iran given Iran’s financial and military support to Hamas, which the Administration ended up doing. Sen. Cornyn has since cosponsored the Revoke Iranian Funding Act, which will permanently freeze the release of those funds.
Last week at Temple Emanu-El in Dallas, Sen. Cornyn met with local Jewish leaders and community members directly impacted by the assault from Hamas. Sen. Cornyn witnessed the emotional toll in their faces and stories, and he vowed to ensure that words of support for Israel are backed with action. You can read their stories HERE, and the article is also pasted below.
I’d also like to highlight the Senator’s commitment to remain vigilant in safeguarding America’s national security against any potential terrorist threats here at home. Furthermore, Sen. Cornyn signed onto a Senate resolution calling on President Biden to enforce existing law and revoke the visas of foreign nationals who endorse or espouse activity in support of Hamas or other Foreign Terrorist Organizations. As reported by Fox News: “According to the resolution text, it requests that the president ‘revoke visas and initiate deportation proceedings for any foreign national who has endorsed or espoused the terrorist activities of Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah,’ or other terrorist groups in the attacks against Israel last week.”
Finally, Sen. Cornyn has been on the Senate floor three times this week to condemn the evil behind the attacks and to restate his unequivocal support for Israel. See press releases below for more details as well this excerpt from the Senator:
“There’s no excusing, no equivocating, no explaining the actions of Hamas. It’s not trying to protect the Palestinian people or promote freedom. Hamas’ singular goal is to annihilate the Jewish people and wipe Israel off the map.”
“It’s important for the terrorists and their sponsors to understand that America’s support for Israel is not limited to rhetoric. If Israel needs weapons, the United States will provide them. If Israel needs support gathering or analyzing intelligence, the United States will provide it. If Israel needs help with humanitarian assistance, medical supplies – whatever they need – the United States and the people of this great country will answer the call.”
While Sen. Cornyn will likely be involved with more Pro-Israel legislation and other actions in the coming days, I wanted to provide a snapshot for where we are at the moment. Please feel free to share this email with anyone you think may be interested, and don’t hesitate to let me know if you have any feedback for the Senator.
For Texas,
Brian
________________________________
Brian Flores | Deputy Regional Director
U.S. Senator John Cornyn
Tel: 972-239-1310
brian_flores@cornyn.senate.gov | www.cornyn.senate.gov
News Releases from Senator John Cornyn
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Cornyn Applauds Senate Passage of Resolution Supporting Israel
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) released the following statement after the Senate unanimously passed a bipartisan resolution he cosponsored in support of Israel:
“Since Hamas launched its unprovoked attacks on Israel, we have witnessed evil in its purest form,” said Sen. Cornyn. “I applaud the Senate’s swift action to support Israel’s right to self-defense against these barbaric attacks and will continue to advocate for any form of assistance our ally needs in its fight against terrorism.”
Text of the resolution is below, and you can view the full resolution here.
“Whereas on October 7, 2023, Hamas, an organization designated by the United States as a foreign terrorist organization, launched an unprecedented attack on Israel by air, land, and sea;
Whereas this heinous assault took place just after the 50th anniversary of the multi-front 1973 Yom Kippur War against Israel and while Israeli Jews were preparing to celebrate Simchat Torah;
Whereas Hamas, which has long been supported by Iran, launched thousands of rockets into southern and central Israel;
Whereas Hamas terrorists crossed the Israeli land border, killing civilians and abducting hostages in more than 20 towns in southern Israel, including children and the elderly;
Whereas the initial attack killed more than 1,300 Israelis and injured thousands more;
Whereas American citizens in Israel are among those killed and abducted by Hamas since October 7, 2023;
Whereas since October 7, 2023, Hamas is directly responsible for the deaths of hundreds of Palestinians;
Whereas expansion of this war to other fronts by Hezbollah, Iran, or others would create an even more devastating regional catastrophe;
Whereas Iran has long provided hundreds of millions of dollars in material support to Hamas and other terrorist groups, such as Palestinian Islamic Jihad;
Whereas since 1998, the United States Government has supported successive Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) between the United States and Israel, and in the MOU negotiated in 2016, the United States pledged to provide Israel with $3,300,000,000 per year in foreign military financing and $500,000,000 per year in missile defense funding for 10 years, which Congress has appropriated annually since 2018;
Whereas section 513(c) of the Security Assistance Act of 2000 (Public Law 106–280), as amended by section 1273 of the United States-Israel Security Assistance Authorization Act of 2020 (subtitle H of title XII of Public Law 116–283), authorized not less than $3,300,000,000 in foreign military financing for Israel for fiscal years 2021 through 2028, in accordance with such MOU;
Whereas Congress has responded with emergency supplemental appropriations beyond the terms of such MOU, when needed, such as a $225,000,000 appropriation in 2014 to replenish immediate Iron Dome interceptors after Hamas fired thousands of rockets into Israel, and appropriations of an additional $1,000,000,000 for the Iron Dome after the May 2021 conflict during which Hamas launched more than 4,400 rockets into Israel; and
Whereas the United States will make every effort to prevent Iran, Hezbollah, and others from entering the conflict against Israel, including increasing credible regional deterrence through the deployment of naval and air assets to the Middle East:
Now, therefore, be it
1 Resolved, That the Senate—
2 (1) stands with Israel as it defends itself, in-
3 cluding Israeli efforts to diminish the threat posed
4 by Hamas;
1 (2) reaffirms Israel’s right to self-defense, and
2 is committed to helping Israel safeguard its people
3 from future aggression;
4 (3) calls on all countries to unequivocally con-
5 demn Hamas’ war on Israel, including Hamas’ in-
6 tentional targeting of, and attacks against, civilians;
7 (4) demands that Hamas immediately cease its
8 attacks against Israel and safely release all living
9 hostages and return the bodies of deceased hostages;
10 (5) condemns Iran’s support for global ter-
11 rorism, including its support for terrorist groups
12 such as Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad;
13 (6) calls on the United States to lead an inter
14 national effort, including through sanctions, to de-
15 prive Hamas of Iranian and other sources of funding
16 and lethal assistance that the terror group relies on
17 to threaten Israel;
18 (7) warns against any other party hostile to
19 Israel taking advantage of the current situation;
20 (8) reaffirms the United States’ commitment to
21 Israel’s security, including through security assist-
22 ance, consistent with the 2016 Memorandum of Un-
23 derstanding Between the United States and Israel;
24 and
1 (9) stands ready to assist Israel with emergency
2 resupply or other security, diplomatic, and intel-
3 ligence support needs, both during the immediate
4 crisis and in the near future, including by accel-
5 erating delivery of defense articles and systems.”
