Walkinshaw Statement on The FY2027 National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act

Washington, D.C. - Congressman James R. Walkinshaw (VA-11) released the following statement. "The FY2027 National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act is legislation that should fund U.S. humanitarian, diplomatic, and democracy programs globally, including peacekeeping missions, cultural exchanges, civil society organizations, and efforts to address the root causes of conflict. Unfortunately, the partisan Republican proposal failed to do that and I voted no. The Massie amendment would have eliminated $3.3 billion in Foreign Military Financing for Israel and barred funds for humanitarian aid, refugee resettlement, peace-building efforts, and U.S. Embassy operations. This poorly-drafted amendment would have cut longstanding initiatives like the Nita M. Lowey Middle East Partnership for Peace and Middle East Regional Cooperation programs, which promote dialogue and reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians. It also would have hamstrung U.S. intelligence and diplomatic efforts to protect Americans from Hamas, Hezbollah, and other terrorist organizations. For those reasons, I joined pro-peace organizations like J Street in opposing the amendment. Its overly broad language threatened important peacebuilding work, and I believe there are better ways to confront the far-right Netanyahu government and secure the lasting peace that Palestinians, Lebanese people, and Israelis deserve. Clearly, U.S. policy toward the Middle East and Israel must change. Historically, Israel has been an important U.S. ally, and a strong U.S.-Israel relationship remains in America's interest, but only if it is based on shared values of democracy and human rights. Increasingly, the Netanyahu government takes actions that fail to reflect those values. The 10-year Memorandum of Understanding signed under President Obama has provided security support to Israel and will soon expire. Israel is a wealthy nation with an advanced economy and, moving forward, should pay for its own weapons. Israel faces real security threats from Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and others. But the current Israeli government's military campaigns have caused massive civilian casualties in Gaza and Lebanon, destabilized the region, and not made Israelis safer. I'm particularly troubled by illegal settlement expansion and settler violence in the West Bank, which push a two-state solution — still the only viable path to security and prosperity for both peoples — further out of reach. To replace the expiring MOU, Prime Minister Netanyahu is seeking an expanded security arrangement that deepens cooperation between the U.S. and Israeli militaries. I will not support that expansion until there is an end to illegal West Bank settlement activity, real progress toward peace and reconstruction in Gaza, and an end to Netanyahu's failed, never-ending total war approach." ###