MASSIEFLIX

Massie: More Money to Israel Than Homeless Veterans

Jul 15, 2026 · 12:39 israelforeign-aidspendingfloor-speechveterans

Official-channel floor remarks: this appropriations bill sends more to Israel than the U.S. spends on homeless veterans. Massie's own cut of the July 15 aid fight.

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Chapters

  1. 0:00 Amendment recognized
  2. 0:36 Strike $3.3 billion
  3. 1:10 Homeless veterans comparison
  4. 2:30 Opposition claims time
  5. 6:40 Military-industrial complex
  6. 10:00 Closing

Transcript

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  1. It is now in order to consider amendment number eight printed in part A of House Report 11-119-749. For what purpose does the gentleman from
  2. Kentucky seek recognition? >> Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk. >> The clerk will designate the amendment. >> Amendment number eight printed in part A
  3. of House Report number 119-749 offered by Mr. Massie of Kentucky. >> Pursuant to House Resolution 1423, the
  4. gentleman from Kentucky, Mr. Massie and a member opposed each will control five minutes. The chair recognizes the gentleman from Kentucky.
  5. >> Madame Chair, my amendment is simple. It strikes $3.3 billion of foreign aid to the country of Israel from this State
  6. Department funding uh bill. You know, we've got 39.4 trillion dollars of debt. We've got
  7. needs at home which include our infrastructure, our roads and bridges. We've got a shortfall in that fund. We've got our locks and dams that we're
  8. perpetually trying to figure out new funding mechanisms to come up with. And we've got homeless veterans. And we're sending more money to Israel in this
  9. bill than we spend on homeless veterans in this country. Just to put it in perspective, there are 3,000 counties in this country. And if you divide that
  10. into three billion, that's a million dollars from every county. This is not a significant amount of money that is going overseas. So I think we should u
  11. stop it. We should put them on a diet. They're the biggest welfare recipient of the United States and have been for many years. $310 billion has been received uh
  12. by Israel from the taxpayers of the United States. That's inflationadjusted dollars since we've been giving them money. And that's why I think this
  13. amendment is important. and I reserve the balance of my time. >> The gentleman reserves. For what purpose does a gentleman from
  14. Florida seek recognition? >> Madam Chairman, I rise to claim time and opposition to the gentleman's amendment. >> And it's recognized for five minutes.
  15. >> Thank you, Madam Chairwoman. As chairman of this subcommittee since 2023, I'm proud uh to be a leader in this body in providing unwavering support to our
  16. friend and ally Israel, especially especially after the October 7th terrorist attack. The 3.3 billion in
  17. foreign military financing for Israel included in this bill supports American, our national security interests
  18. overseas. You see, the same terrorists and terrorist entities that threaten Israel also threaten the United States and our
  19. people directly. You when we give Israel the tools and capabilities to eliminate these terrorist threats and to protect
  20. their homeland, by the way, including the many Americans who visit and live there, we are making America and the American people safer. The United States
  21. and Israel have worked together on successful military operations like those in the past year to decimate Iran's nuclear program and missile
  22. capabilities. And Israel is also using the overwhelming overwhelming majority of this funding to
  23. actually purchase Americanmade weaponry. So it actually helps our defense industrial base and our economy. And
  24. we've worked together extensively on developing military capabilities and other capabilities. Because of these advancements for our mutual interest and
  25. for our mutual security, there is currently a discussion, frankly, of moving to a new security uh partnership with Israel after the fiscal year 2028.
  26. Now just to be clear, the assistance in this bill for fiscal year 2027 is under the terms of the existing
  27. memorandum of understanding which runs for two more fiscal years. This does not in any way prejudge the outcome of
  28. ongoing negotiations. This is about fulfilling our commitment to one of our closest and most important
  29. allies that we have in the entire world at a time when terrorists are butchering
  30. people around the world. And we made that commitment because it makes the American people, our country
  31. stronger. So I urge defeat of the amendment and I reserve the balance of my time. >> The gentleman reserves.
  32. The gentleman from Kentucky. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. I I heard a common refrain in my colleagues arguments there that, oh, don't worry, all this money is going to the military
  33. industrial complex. Well, I've got a problem with that. That's not a sustainable economy. uh buying weapons and letting people use
  34. them overseas on other people, particularly oftentimes innocent civilians. And I'm not compelled by the argument that we our job is to be here
  35. and enrich the military-industrial complex, now called the defense industrial base. With that, I would like to yield two minutes to my friend and colleague, Mr. Castro from Texas.
  36. >> The gentleman is recognized. Uh, Madam Speaker, Israel does not need and quite honestly does not deserve more American
  37. money for weapons. Prime Minister Netanyahu has taken Israel down an ugly path. The tragedy of October 7th has become a justification
  38. for the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians. Self-defense does not include indiscriminately bombing homes, hospitals, churches, schools, or refugee
  39. camps. There were even credible reports of children intentionally shot in the head and chest.
  40. For decades, our nation gave Israel billions to facilitate peace and a two-state solution. Instead, Israel has
  41. chosen more war and more occupation. Today, it occupies not only Gaza and the West Bank, but parts of Syria and Lebanon. If there are no consequences,
  42. why in the world would Benjamin Netanyahu change what he's doing? And words are not enough. Condemnations are not enough. If we hope to change
  43. Israel's behavior, we must use our leverage. The American people have seen this tragedy with their own eyes. They have made their judgment. They do not
  44. support giving Israel more weapons. Do not reward a wrongdoer. Now it's up to us in this chamber to
  45. take action. I support this amendment and I yield back. >> I now recognize the gentleman from Kentucky.
  46. >> May I inquire as to how much time I have remaining. >> The gentleman has a minute and a half remaining. >> I reserve. >> The gentleman reserves.
  47. The gentleman from Florida is recognized. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. and I yield uh to the distinguished ranking member of the subcommittee. The gentleman from Florida, Miss Franklin, for one minute.
  48. >> The gentleoman is recognized. >> Franklin, >> should I yield to Okay.
  49. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I I I rise in very strong opposition to this amendment. Maintaining stability in the Middle East has long been a vital United States
  50. strategic interest. And what happens there affects our economy, our national security, the safety of our American service members. And as written, this
  51. amendment is over broad in that it prohibits or could limit the use of funds for longstanding initiatives related to peace building, refugee
  52. settlement, and US [clears throat] embassy operations. And this amendment would restrict our country's ability to confront Iran's proxies, Hamas,
  53. Hezbollah, and other terrorist organizations in the region who are sworn enemies of the United States, Israel, and our allies. A 10-minute
  54. debate is not the way to change policy as we as we have a mission of peace and prosperity both for Israelis and
  55. Palestinians and peace in the region. Yield back. The gentleman yields back.
  56. Gentleman from Florida. >> I would like now to uh yield one minute to the gentleman from uh Maryland, Mr. Hoyer.
  57. >> Gentleman from Florida. Maryland. >> You're recognized. >> Ask unanimous consent to revise and extend.
  58. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to this amendment, which would dangerously undermine American
  59. American national security. If if adopted, it would, as leader Jeffre rightly pointed out, limit our ability to confront terrorist organizations like
  60. Hamas and Hezbollah that expressly target American citizens and military personnel. And it would make it harder
  61. for America to use our relationships with Israel and regional partners to promote a negotiated two-state settlement.
  62. The only realistic path to deliver on the promise of peace, security, and self-determination for both Israel and
  63. Palestine. I understand the frustration that many members feel some of the policies and actions of the current Israeli government as well as their
  64. concerns about its commitment to the peace process and a two-state solution. However, this amendment would embolden the enemies of peace,
  65. those pursuing the complete elimination of Israel and who those who seek the death of Jews. It is a vote to weaken our ability to
  66. engage in the region and it's a vote against American security, against American interest and against American safety. Vote no.
  67. >> The gentleman I now recognize a gentleman from Florida. >> Okay. >> Um, let me just very briefly conclude.
  68. As I said before at this bill, I've said it many times, if you're an ally and a friend of the United States, this bill uh this bill supports you. And if you're
  69. an adversary, this you're not going to like this bill. We have no stronger ally than the state of Israel. Uh this is our commitment under theou, which is why I
  70. respectfully but very strongly, very strongly opposed uh this amendment. Uh and with that, I would uh I would yield back.
  71. >> The gentleman yields. gentleman from Kentucky. >> And with that, I would like to close by saying that Israel has the strongest
  72. economy in the Middle East. Their debt per GDP is in much better shape than ours. They don't need our money. In fact, they've claimed recently they want
  73. to get off of the welfare, but I'm concerned that the other funding mechanisms they're talking about or co-mingling our technology and supply chains will have even less transparency
  74. than what's going on here today. So, I'm opposed to that as well. I'm opposed to all foreign aid. I didn't pick on Israel here. I've offered an amendment to
  75. defund Egypt and also to defund the aid to uh Jordan, which we'll talk about in a little bit. But I am particularly concerned this year about the foreign
  76. aid to Israel. There have been 70,000 casualties in Gaza, and I don't think we should be part of that. American taxpayers should not be conscripted into
  77. funding the military adventures of Israel. And I urge adoption of my amendment. And with that, I yield back. >> The gentleman yields back. The question
  78. is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Kentucky. Those in favor say I. >> Those opposed say no.
  79. >> In the opinion of the chair, the nos have it. Does a gentleman from Kentucky seek recognition?
  80. >> I request the yays and nays. >> Does the gentleman request for a recorded vote? I request a recorded vote. >> Pursuant to clause six of rule 18,
  81. further proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Kentucky will be postponed.