New Mexico Congressional Statements on National Security Supplemental to Support American Allies and Global Security

The US Senate on Tuesday passed a $95 billion foreign aid package aimed at bolstering support for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, ending months of legislative wrangling among lawmakers over extending help to the American allies.

The package includes the FEND Off Fentanyl Act, which Heinrich cosponsored, to tackle the opioid epidemic and protect New Mexico communities from fentanyl.
Per Senator Henrich: “Today, the United States is sending a strong message to the world that we stand firmly behind our allies in the fight for freedom and democracy.

“With this bipartisan legislation, we finally deliver urgently needed aid to the Ukrainian people as they defend themselves against Vladimir Putin. We stand with Israel against aggression from Iran, Hamas, and other Iran-backed extremists. We send critical humanitarian assistance to innocent civilians in Gaza. And we strengthen our national security to keep Americans safer at home and abroad.

“I’m especially pleased that this package includes our FEND Off Fentanyl Act to help address the fentanyl epidemic that’s killing New Mexicans and tearing families apart. By giving law enforcement the tools needed to crack down on drug traffickers and international criminal organizations, this bill will combat the flow of deadly fentanyl before it ever reaches our nation’s borders.

“Now that Congress has finally delivered, President Biden can sign this legislation into law.”

U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) issued the following statement after passing the bipartisan national security supplemental to support Ukraine, Israel, the Indo-Pacific, and humanitarian assistance:

“Today, Congress sent a strong message to the world that we will not abandon our allies or the pursuit of global security. This national security supplemental, which includes badly-needed support to our allies in Ukraine, Israel, and the Indo-Pacific, will help deter aggression from our adversaries who seek to dismantle democracies. The need for this aid could not be more urgent.

“This package also includes humanitarian assistance for innocent civilians in Gaza. I have been clear that humanitarian aid access should be expanded to ensure safe and timely delivery. It’s our duty as Americans and as a Congress to uphold international humanitarian law.

“While I believe this package should have been passed months ago, I am glad that the House finally sent the Senate a bill that can garner bipartisan support and become law. Our national and global security interests must always come before partisan differences. This is a moment in history that requires leadership, and I am proud that Congress is living up to that responsibility.”

On Saturday, April 20, 2024, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) released the following statement after voting to support bipartisan legislation that strengthens national security, provides aid to U.S. allies, including Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan and directs billions in humanitarian aid to Gaza.

“Today, I voted to pass long-overdue, bipartisan legislation that reaffirms America’s commitment to its allies, strengthens national security efforts and provides much-needed aid to Gaza. We must stand with Ukraine to prevent further Russian aggression and prevent hostilities from Russia and China. As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I understand the threats that our U.S. allies face and the steps we must take to protect our homeland.

“Support for our allies must always be in line with our American values. We must put a stop to the exponential loss of innocent lives and address the current humanitarian crisis in the region, which is why I supported the overall package. This legislation includes critical humanitarian assistance for Gaza, and I remain committed to demanding a lasting, effective ceasefire and a two-state compromise.”

Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) issued the following statement after voting yes to give funding to Ukraine, Taiwan, and Israel:

"I voted yes for global democracy, humanitarian aid, and support for our allies in Ukraine, Taiwan, and Israel—because the future of our globe depends on it. For months we've worked to move aid to our allies facing the threats of expanding war and authoritarian governments. Today we voted to ensure Ukraine has munitions to fight back against Vladimir Putin and the prospects of expanded war in Europe, that Taiwan and our Indo-Pacific allies can face imminent threats from China, and that Israel can defend its people from Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah, and other Iranian-backed militias.

"At a moment when freedom and democracy around the world are hanging in the balance, this aid is essential in ensuring that we do not abandon our allies, especially in Ukraine and Europe where we know Putin will not stop in his violence and campaigns against his neighbors. The world and America cannot afford to be drawn into another war.

"That is why the U.S. must also work to deescalate the conflict in the Middle East and secure a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war. We cannot allow the continued loss of life and humanitarian crisis to unfold unchecked, which is why we sought assurances from the Biden Administration that this package will only be used to secure defensive systems to protect the Israeli people from attacks and will provide a massive surge in humanitarian aid. We will be diligent in holding the Administration to those assurances that it will not be used for further incursions in Gaza and that all aid will be used in accordance with U.S. and international humanitarian laws. The time to ensure global peace and security around the world is now.”

Congresswoman Leger Fernández (NM-03) released the following statement after she voted today in support of bills that provide $9 billion in humanitarian assistance to Gaza and starving communities around the world as well as aid to Ukraine, U.S. allies in the Indo-Pacific, and Israel.

“Today, after months of extreme-Republican delay that allowed Putin to turn the tide in the Ukraine war, delayed desperately needed humanitarian aid for starving civilians, and emboldened China to increase its foothold in the Indo-Pacific, I voted to support democracy and our allies alongside the vast majority of my colleagues in both parties,” said Congresswoman Leger Fernández.

“In Gaza and across the globe, millions are on the brink of starvation. The humanitarian aid in this package is essential and needed now.

This bipartisan bill provides much-needed humanitarian assistance to starving children in Gaza and around the world. As the death toll and looming famine continue to mount in Gaza, the U.S. desperately needs the ability to deploy humanitarian aid—something only Congress can grant.

This funding was key in my vote in favor of the package. I am not willing to let families starve in Gaza or across the globe.

The aid to Ukraine and the Indo-Pacific included in this bill is also especially important as we work to defeat the cruel regimes that seek to take the world backward. When authoritarians like Vladimir Putin, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and Xi Jinping emerge, we must act united with our allies to push back against their aggression. We must combat their evil at every turn and protect the democracies that they seek to erase from the map.

This bill also includes defensive military aid to Israel. We have learned in recent days that the United States and Israel’s defensive capabilities have been depleted by missile attacks sent by those who seek to eliminate the state of Israel.

But Israel’s deadly operations in Gaza must stop—too many innocent civilians and aid workers have been killed. I strongly condemn how Prime Minister Netanyahu has conducted this war. His military has engaged in indiscriminate and immoral bombing of children and families in Gaza that has directly led to a massive humanitarian crisis.

The Biden Administration has provided commitments that none of the military aid included in this package will be used in Gaza or to offensively extend the war. It will only be used to replenish the Iron Dome and missile defense systems used to protect Israeli civilians. Together with my colleagues, I have sent a letterto the President calling on him to enforce these commitments and international law protecting civilians. I have also worked with and received commitments from Congressional colleagues with the power to enforce these conditions that the military aid will not be used in Gaza. I will work diligently to make sure the Biden Administration upholds their commitments.

Finally, I voted for the bipartisan 21st Century Peace Through Strength Act which authorizes the President to seize Russian property that belongs to Putin and his cronies, imposes sanctions on Iran, China, and Hamas as well as other terrorist groups that operate in Gaza.

Importantly, this bill also includes the bipartisan FEND Off Fentanyl Act to fight the fentanyl crisis in New Mexico and across the U.S.

New Mexicans are sadly no strangers to addiction. It steals the futures of too many of our loved ones and leaves a hole in our hearts. We know we must stop the flow of dangerous drugs into the country—this is a step toward that goal,” she concluded.

After votes, the New Mexico House Delegation—Representative Stansbury, Representative Teresa Leger-Fernandez (N.M.-03), and Representative Gabe Vasquez (N.M.-02)—signed and sent a letter to President Biden urging the Administration to ensure that all military aid sent to Israel be used for defensive purposes only, and no offensive weapons be used in Gaza. Read the full letter below:

"Dear President Biden,

"We are writing to urge you to use every tool at your disposal to de-escalate and bring an end to the conflict in the Middle East and a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict. In the wake of last week’s unprecedented air strike on Israel by Iran on April 13th, 2024, and retaliatory strikes by Israel on April 19th, we are concerned by the potential of a widening conflict across the Middle East and the dangers it poses for regional and global security, American service-members on the front lines, and for securing a lasting peace, and the safety, security, and self-determination of the Israeli and Palestinian people.

"We strongly support and stand with Israel and the Palestinian people, which is why we voted to support an emergency aid package to provide $9 billion in humanitarian aid for Gaza and other regions experiencing crisis and to resupply the defensive systems that have enabled Israel to respond to airstrikes by Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah, and other Iranian-backed militias. We have been grateful for the opportunity to engage with the Administration on this issue and understand that the funding provided in the supplemental is defensive in nature and will not be used to support offensive weapons in Gaza. We believe Israel has a right to defend itself and that Hamas must return all remaining hostages. Prior to voting on H.R. 8034, the Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, the Administration provided Members of Congress with assurances that funding for Israel will be used for defensive purposes and will not be used for further incursions into Gaza that could harm civilians. We expect that your Administration will uphold these assurances.

"We are gravely concerned by the devastating civilian death toll and humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza and the recent killing of international aid workers, in addition to journalists, who have been killed or disappeared during the conflict. Over the last six months over 34,000 people have died in Gaza, in addition to the more than 1,400 Israelis who were brutally executed and kidnapped by Hamas. Over a million people are currently facing extreme food insecurity and famine. We appreciate your sustained efforts to increase aid and secure additional humanitarian corridors into Gaza, but remain deeply concerned by reports that hundreds of thousands of people still do not have sufficient access to food, water, shelter, and medicine. Let us be clear, Israel must do more to protect civilians and allow humanitarian aid to reach the innocent civilians in Gaza.

"As the death toll and looming famine continue to mount, we believe the U.S. must do everything it can to secure humanitarian aid and an end to the conflict. This includes the rigorous enforcement of all U.S. laws regarding the transfer and sale of weapons. We support the resupply of defensive weapons like David’s Sling and Iron Dome to protect the Israeli people, but are opposed to the transfer of offensive weapons that may be used in Gaza and result in civilian harm. The U.S. must fully investigate credible concerns raised by international bodies, human rights, governmental and non-governmental organizations regarding civilian harm and restrictions of humanitarian aid. We urge you to exercise your full authority under the Leahy Laws, the National Security Memorandum on Safeguards and Accountability with Respect to Transferred Defense Articles and Defense Services (NSM-20), and civilian harm authorities with respect to the investigation, compliance, and restriction of military transfers to ensure that weapons of U.S. origin are used in accordance with U.S., international, and humanitarian law.

"We must act to de-escalate this conflict and secure a lasting peace. The time is now."

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