Austin News

U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) has joined the effort led by Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS) to pass the $14.3 billion Israel aid package in the Senate. This aid package was cleared by the House last month but has been held up by Majority Leader Schumer's refusal to bring it to the Senate floor for a vote.

During a recent Senate session, Sen. Cornyn expressed his frustration with the delay in providing aid to Israel, stating, "Why in the world would the Majority Leader, who I know supports Israel, refuse to bring a bill to the floor to provide that aid almost five weeks since the House passed an appropriation bill to do exactly that?" He questioned the motives behind the delay and emphasized the importance of supporting Israel.

Sen. Cornyn also highlighted the political strategy behind withholding the Israel aid bill. He stated, "He wants to use the support for the Israel aid to build the vote for the larger bill, understanding that while support for Israel is virtually universal among both parties and in both houses, there are some divisions on the Ukraine aid or the terms under which that aid is provided." He expressed his confusion as to why there has been such a delay in providing aid to Israel, especially considering the recent attack by Hamas and the House's passage of the Israel aid bill.

Furthermore, Sen. Cornyn expressed his disappointment in the objections raised by the Democratic side. He said, "It's mysterious to me why all this time – two months after Israel was attacked by Hamas, five weeks after the House has passed an Israel aid bill – that finally, here we are coming to the floor offering to take up and pass the Israel aid, and we're going to get an objection from the Democratic side." He called out those who only offer lip service to supporting Israel but fail to take action when it matters.

The support for Israel is a bipartisan issue, and Sen. Cornyn stressed the importance of following through on commitments. He stated, "There are a lot of people who say the right words, but when it comes to actions, they're missing in action." This sentiment reflects the frustration felt by many who believe that providing aid to Israel should not be subject to political maneuvering.

The efforts led by Sen. Cornyn and Sen. Marshall aim to ensure that the Israel aid package reaches the Senate floor for a vote. Their determination to pass this bill highlights the bipartisan support for Israel and the recognition of the urgent need to provide aid. As the debate continues, it remains to be seen whether the Senate will prioritize the aid to Israel and overcome the political obstacles that have delayed its passage.

To find out more, go to this link: https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/news/cornyn-joins-effort-to-pass-houses-israel-aid-bill-in-senate/