Congressman García’s Statement on Today's Votes

WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04) issued the following statement on today’s supplemental votes:

“It is my moral duty to the people I represent to reject U.S. complicity in the devastation of Palestinian life in Gaza. The Israeli military is well supplied—it does not need more offensive weapons. Instead, sending more unconditioned military aid signals support for an expanded invasion of Rafah, regional escalation, and further civilian death. And while the bill appropriates money for humanitarian use, it blocks funds to UNRWA, the most viable delivery mechanism for ensuring that aid can actually be distributed.

“We need an immediate and lasting ceasefire, a return of Israeli and other hostages, regional de-escalation, and a path to Palestinian statehood. This Israel supplemental bill puts those priorities further out of reach.

“I voted yes on Ukraine and Taiwan supplemental funding. The assistance comes at a time of dire need for the Ukrainian military in its mobilization against Russia’s illegal invasion. I also remain focused on advancing legislation that ensures the Ukrainian government is not subjected to punitive economic measures and supports humanitarian and reconstruction assistance that the Ukrainian people so desperately need.

“As we consider today’s bills, we must recognize that the military aid they contain is not reflective of the full range of foreign policy tools we can and must deploy to confront pressing national security concerns. Many of the people I represent are troubled by funding conflicts that demand ever more military resources while so many other priorities go unaddressed.”

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