Florida Rep. Mike Waltz (R) has sent a letter to Senate leadership warning against playing politics with critical aid. In the letter, Waltz calls on the Senate to prioritize a narrower emergency supplemental that’s focused on the urgent need for Israel security assistance and border security.
The letter, directed to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R), was also signed by Florida Reps. Byron Donalds (R), Bill Posey (R), and Aaron Bean (R), Pennsylvania Rep. John Joyce (R), and Missouri Rep. Mark Alford (R).
Waltz and company argue that the Senate should not “jam the House with a politically loaded funding bill” according to a press release from Waltz. The reason being because they cite that President Joe Biden (D) is using the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas “to force billions of dollars more in additional spending through Congress, rather than address the nations’ most pressing emergencies.”
“The United States is also potentially at risk from the Iranian-backed proxy networks that are causing widespread death and destruction in Israel,” the lawmakers express in the letter, further writing that “given the lack of operational control of our southern border, the record 2.2. million illegal immigrants, and the one million gotaways, we must take the threat of their infiltration into the U.S. seriously.”
After the letter was sent to Senate leadership, the Biden administration announced that the U.S. had directed “self-defense strikes on two facilities in eastern Syria used by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp and affiliated groups” as announced by U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.
Tension continues to escalate as Republicans call on the Biden administration to address concerns.
“Standing up to bullies takes guts. No, Iran isn’t going to go to war if we retaliate. Yes, they’ll view retreat as an invitation for more aggression. Stand up to them, Mr. President,” shared Texas Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R) on social media in response to the escalation.
