Our global security is once again being weakened and our ally, Israel, is facing yet another threat to its very existence with Iran’s recent attacks.
At a time when the White House’s foreign policies have failed to adequately support our ally and have emboldened Iran, the House of Representatives came together to show the world our resolve to make sure Israel has the resources to defend itself and hold Iran accountable.
Some of the bills I helped pass in support of Israel include measures to:
- Provide $26 billion in support of Israel’s efforts to defend itself against Iran and Iran’s terrorist proxies, as well as to reimburse the U.S. military in response to recent attacks
- Condemn Iran’s unprecedented drone and missile attack on Israel
- Strengthen U.S. sanctions against Iran
- Improve oversight of presidential authority to waive sanctions on regimes that engage in terrorism
- Condemn the slogan, “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”
- Reinstate sanctions against those who use civilians as human shields in conflict zones
We are living in a time when our national and global security are being threatened from many
sides – from Iran, Russia, China and North Korea – and the U.S. must stand with our allies and partners.
The Indo-Pacific Security Supplemental Appropriations Act is another bill that passed the House with my support. It provides $8 billion to continue efforts to counter communist China and make sure there is strong deterrence in the region.
With my recent appointment to the State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Subcommittee, I will make sure that America continues to lead as a beacon of freedom. Americans and the rest of the freedom-loving world are counting on us.
Read: Edwards appointed to additional subcommittee seat on House Appropriations Committee
The reality and urgency of the fight in Ukraine
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| Congressman Chuck Edwards meets with Brig. Gen. Jerry Baird, a McDowell County native who commands the forward operating base in Poland near the Ukraine border, which fills a vital role in equipment and munitions delivery. Who else but a WNC native would be called on to fulfill such a critical mission? |
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| The Transfiguration Cathedral in Odesa is Ukraine’s largest church. It was destroyed by Joseph Stalin in 1926, and was recently one of more than 660 Ukrainian churches targeted by Vladimir Putin’s Christian persecution. This brave priest continues to hold services among the bombed-out remains. |
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| This is a cold, moldy basement in Bucha, Ukraine, where 136 women, children and the elderly were imprisoned by Russian soldiers for 27 days. Looking at the far corner where nine decaying bodies were piled among those imprisoned. |
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| An elderly woman stands in the makeshift basement prison and tells me of the atrocities committed during the reign of Russian terror brought down on the innocent civilians of Bucha. Days passed and names of the deceased were tracked with crayon on the basement walls. |
Ronald Reagan said, “There is sin and evil in the world, and we’re enjoined by Scripture and the Lord Jesus to oppose it with all our might.” The United States is being called on now to oppose Vladimir Putin, a pure, unadulterated, evil war criminal.
My recent trip to Ukraine has made it clear to me that Israel is not the only nation facing threats to its existence. I witnessed firsthand the effects of Russia’s invasion and discovered that the situation in Ukraine is much worse than many of us realize.
The Ukraine Security Supplemental Appropriations Act that I supported provides nearly $61 billion in assistance and loans to help Ukraine and our regional partners as they counter Russian terrorism. About 70 percent of these funds will be spent right here in America to replenish weapons, stocks and facilities.
The Ukrainian democracy, as imperfect as it may be, is quickly crumbling to Putin, a card-carrying, KGB Marxist murderer with no regard for human life. Civilians are being tortured and murdered, children are being kidnapped, sexual assault is being used as a weapon of war, and Christians are being persecuted.
Ukraine has a strong base of men and women who are willing to defend their country, and the funding from the U.S. will tangibly help Ukrainians at a time when they are running out of ammunition and equipment.
The supplemental bills for Israel, Ukraine and the Indo-Pacific region confront aggression from our foreign adversaries and strengthen U.S. and global security and defense while making sure there is strong oversight and accountability over these funds.
The eyes of the world are on America to see if we put our money where our mouth is, to see what our actual commitment is to defending democracy. I was pleased to see the House come together to make it clear that the United States stands for freedom. Make no mistake: If Putin wins, our world will be less safe.
Read: Edwards visits Ukraine, stresses urgent need to safeguard American, global security against Russia
DHS Secretary Mayorkas should be held accountable
This administration’s open border policies continue to jeopardize the safety and security of every American, and Americans have had enough.
In fact, these policies are why a suspect on the FBI’s terrorist watchlist who was caught entering the U.S. illegally at our southern border was released back into our country and allowed to roam freely around America for nearly a year.
According to the articles of impeachment that the House passed, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas “has willfully and systemically refused to comply with Federal immigration laws.”
The House transmitted the duly passed articles of impeachment against Secretary Mayorkas to the Senate majority leader, and it is the Senate’s constitutional duty to hold an impeachment trial.
Maintaining our national security while preserving Americans’ privacy
There is a lot of misinformation circulating around the reauthorization of FISA, so I wanted to take a moment to deliver the facts without the noise.
In 2008, Congress enacted Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). This critical intelligence collection authority, resulting from the 9/11 terrorist attacks, enables the intelligence community (IC) to collect, analyze and appropriately share foreign intelligence information, not on Americans, but on foreigners on foreign soil, regarding national security threats.
President Trump reauthorized FISA for five years in 2018, and after a short extension by Congress, it was set to expire again on April 19, 2024. I have received multiple classified briefings on how its use has continued to save American lives.
It was abused by the American intelligence community without authorization to spy on 278,000 U.S. citizens. That is why I supported 56 reforms to tighten controls and penalties to help make sure it is not abused again.
As we see rising threats from foreign adversaries such as Hamas, China, Russia and fentanyl-trafficking cartels, FISA Section 702 is vital to our national security. The entire program was in desperate need of reforms before reauthorization, and I spent several months helping to work on those reforms.
Like many Americans, I was concerned with the evolution of Section 702 of FISA and the inappropriate use of FISA authority to spy on American citizens. To address the egregious problems while preserving this important national security tool, I helped pass 56 key reforms while reauthorizing FISA in the Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act. Some of the changes include:
- Reforming Section 702 procedures that involve using key words to find relevant foreign intelligence at the FBI
- Limiting the use of information obtained under Section 702
- Requiring greater oversight of Section 702 targeting decisions
- Reforming the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court
- Imposing stronger criminal penalties for FISA violations
- Holding leaders accountable for FISA abuses on their watch
FISA is designed to monitor foreigners on foreign soil – not American citizens – and we need it to protect our nation. The reformed FISA program will maintain our national security while preserving Americans’ privacy, and place necessary guardrails to prevent abuses by the intelligence community. It is also important to note that this authorization is only for two years. This should give Congress plenty of time to evaluate how the reforms are working, and for the next president to again weigh in on protecting lives and privacy.
Veterans shouldn’t have to suffer due to the government’s lost records
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not have to spend decades trying to prove that their disabilities are related to their military service.
The Veterans’ Lost Records Act that I gladly co-sponsored will allow those whose records were lost by the Department of Veterans Affairs or the Department of Defense to use additional methods to apply for benefits.
This bill is a commonsense solution to fix an injustice that veterans have faced for far too long, and I look forward to veterans in our mountains finally receiving the care and benefits they have rightfully earned.
Thanks for dialing in!
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Once again, it was energizing to hear from Western North Carolinians during my tele-town hall and also share updates about recent priorities in Congress.
While we might not agree on every issue, it was clear how much the folks in our mountains care about our district and nation by their thoughtful questions that included topics like Ukraine, dam safety, gun control, government spending and the southern border.
Thank you to all who joined the call, whether to ask questions or to just listen in. Although I was not able to get to every question, know that you can always reach out to my office by calling or submitting your question online here.
To make sure that you stay updated on future tele-town halls, subscribe to my newsletter here or by visiting my website at edwards.house.gov/newsletter.
