Dear Representative,
On behalf of millions of Americans for Prosperity’s activists in all 50 states, I urge you to carefully consider the anticipated votes regarding the National Security Supplemental before the House of Representatives and to support H.R. 8034 and H.R. 8036 and to oppose H.R. 8035.
Several major global challenges are unfolding at once on the international stage. Each of the challenges the bills being brought forth in the supplemental are important enough to warrant their own consideration, and Congress best represents the American people when it can consider uniquely important topics individually and through a process of regular order.
- Key Vote Yes: H.R. 8034, The Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, offered by Rep. Cole. Though the United States has an interest in avoiding wider regional conflict, it is right to support Israel’s ability to defend itself and replenish its air defenses in its ongoing struggle against Hamas and its continuing efforts to repel attacks from Iran and its proxies.
- Key Vote Yes: H.R. 8036, The Indo-Pacific Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, offered by Rep. Cole. America’s greatest long-term strategic priority is the Indo-Pacific and should receive the priority of our limited defense resources going forward. This bill would support Taiwan’s efforts to improve its defenses by addressing existing arms backlogs and support our lagging submarine industrial base in order to improve long-term deterrence in the Indo-Pacific.
- Key Vote No: OPPOSE H.R. 8035, the Ukraine Security Supplemental Appropriations Act offered by Rep. Cole. While the oversight provisions and strategy requirements in this bill are an improvement from the Senate Ukraine supplemental’s blank check approach, its topline would still commit the greatest single tranche of aid to Ukraine Congress has ever passed without changing the fundamental constraints Ukraine faces in the conflict. Our wealthy European allies, in whose region the Ukraine war is taking place, need to be taking greater steps to concretely militarily aid Kyiv, not patting themselves on the back about multi-year economic aid pledges. Ukraine’s main constraints are its manpower and the high rate of its munitions consumption. The increased production levels this supplemental would offer are still mathematically insufficient to simultaneously refill U.S. stockpiles in a timely fashion while meeting Ukraine’s needs. Amid growing risks to U.S. troops in the Middle East and growing challenges in the Indo-Pacific that are more important for long-term U.S. interests, the United States needs to prioritize where it invests its resources instead of risking overextension.
This vote will be recorded in our legislative scorecard. To see what other votes have been included, please visit AFP’s scorecard online at: AFPscorecard.org.
Sincerely,
Brent Gardner
Chief Government Affairs Officer
Americans for Prosperity