Rep. Mullin’s Statement on Foreign Aid Funding Vote

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Kevin Mullin (CA-15) issued the following statement:

"Today I voted NO on the House Republicans' foreign aid funding bill because it threatens American diplomacy, slashes vital humanitarian aid, undermines our national security, and tries to strip away voting rights from Americans.

While I voted no on the bill, I voted yes on an amendment to cut military and other funding to Israel. I did this to send a clear message to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu: stop the wars and seek peace in the region. I strongly support Israel's right to exist and protect its citizens, but I cannot agree to continued American support of Netanyahu's actions in Gaza and the West Bank that I believe stray from American values and law.

This was a deeply imperfect and overly broad amendment, and it was a difficult decision as I firmly believe we need more diplomatic, humanitarian, and refugee programs that promote peace. However, I oppose the Trump-Netanyahu war in Iran and believe Netanyahu's war in Gaza has been a horrific and disproportionate response to the brutal attacks by Hamas on October 7^th. Innocent Palestinians have suffered and I deeply oppose the settlement expansion and violence in the West Bank that every day further threaten chances of peace.

I have long supported Israel's defense from those who seek its destruction. Iron Dome and other purely defensive funding would not have been affected under this amendment. But I firmly believe that further loss of innocent life will never be the answer to this decades-long conflict.

For the sake of Israel's global standing and for the security of the world, we need a change of course in the Middle East. The valued relationship between the U.S. and Israel will need repair and a full reset in a post-Trump and post-Netanyahu world. And as difficult as it may be, we cannot abandon work toward a future Palestinian state co-existing in peace with a Jewish and democratic Israel."

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