I rise today to once
again try to end
President Trump's war
of choice in Iran.
We're nearly five months into this
war with no end
in sight.
President Trump and Pete Hegseth
have spent at least $37.5
billion on
a war that Americans
overwhelmingly oppose.
Americans are footing the bill with
their tax dollars
and at the pump
as higher prices continue.
We've lost 18
American service members,
with hundreds more wounded.
My heart is with the military
families who are grieving
the loss of
a loved one.
Now, after months of
chaos, Secretary Hegseth
wants Congress to sign
off on nearly $70
billion for
this illegal war.
Nearly $70 million more
of our money to
fund a war that Americans did
not choose.
That's $70 billions
that we could be using
to bring down the cost of housing
and help folks.
Get their foot in the
door to buy their very
first home.
That's $70 billion that we
could be using to help families
afford child care
and allow parents to
get back to work.
And that's$ 70 billion
that could be using to
lower Americans'
health insurance premiums,
fund our rural hospitals,
or put some of
the damage from Republicans.
Cuts to Medicaid to
rest, in other words, restore that
money.
Instead, this president
wants nearly $70 billion
for a war that's spiraling
further out of control.
That is his priority,
not Americans' housing costs
or insurance premiums,
but rather a war across
the globe that nobody
asked for.
Even worse...
We are five months into this
war, and this administration refuses
to give us straight
answers about when
this conflict will end.
It does not
have to be this way.
It's clear the only
way to stop this war and
find a political solution
through diplomacy and tough
negotiations is for
Congress to force President
Trump's hand.
He started this war.
And he's clearly incapable
of ending it on his
own.
So on behalf of all of
our constituents who are
paying the price,
I urge my Republican colleagues
to join us in
bringing an end to
this war before another
American life is
lost.
I yield.