Press Releases

Today, Rep. Salud Carbajal (CA-24) issued the following statement ahead of the vote on a package of national security funding and policy bills advanced by bipartisan votes earlier this week in the U.S. House of Representatives.

“This action is better late than never, but our nation and people around the world could not afford ‘never’ as an option,” said Rep. Carbajal. “Russian aggression has put Ukraine on the edge of being overrun. Famine conditions have put millions at risk in Gaza. Israel continues to live under threat of increasingly brazen attacks on its people. I will vote today to approve the national security bills largely mirroring the package that was approved by the Senate two months ago to finally break the gridlock on the life-saving aid and critical assistance needed to address these challenges and others around the world.”

“The delay in these votes is unacceptable, but I still appreciate the Speaker’s understanding that this aid is too critical to leave at the mercy of the extreme right fringe of his party,” Rep. Carbajal continued. “It is not lost on me that, when governing needed to be done, Democrats were the ones called upon. Bipartisanship remains the best and only path to getting things done in Washington in these polarized times, and I hope that the lesson of this gridlock for my colleagues on the other side of the aisle will be recognizing the important work that can be done when we work together.”

As a Vice Chair of the New Democrat Coalition and a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, Rep. Carbajal has been a leader in pushing for Congressional action on President Biden’s supplemental request for security and humanitarian aid in support of Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan, as well as humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians in Gaza.

The bills slated for a vote in the House today include funding for all of these national security priorities.

Rep. Carbajal has been pushing for these votes in the House since February, after the Senate passed its own supplemental in a overwhelming bipartisan vote.

In regard to the security assistance included for Israel, Rep. Carbajal added the following:

“While last weekend’s unprecedented direct attack by Iran is a reminder that the Israeli people remain under threat, support of our ally’s self-defense should always come with the clear message that compliance with international law is a fundamental condition to any American alliance, including with Israel,” said Rep. Carbajal. “I call on the Biden Administration to make sure additional security aid that might support ongoing campaigns in Gaza comes with Israel laying out clear and transparent reforms in their tactics that will prevent future deaths of civilians and aid workers, as well as allowing for more humanitarian aid to reach Palestinian civilians without threat or obstruction.”

Rep. Carbajal has also been pushing the Biden Administration to help scale up efforts to deliver life-saving aid to Palestinian civilians in Gaza, seek the renewal of a humanitarian ceasefire, secure the release of the remaining hostages held by Hamas, and emphasize to Israel the need for a strategy that protects civilian life.

In addition, Rep. Carbajal has voiced concerns to President Biden over Israel’s military operational strategies, and signed a resolution calling for a ceasefire like the one that previously helped facilitate safe delivery of humanitarian aid and the release of hostages being held by Hamas.

The bills slated for a vote today include a measure related to data security for Americans using foreign controlled mobile applications, a bill that Rep. Carbajal voted for earlier this year.

An explanation of his vote on that legislation can be found here.