Press Releases

Washington DC — Representative Jim Himes, Ranking Member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, today issued the following statement on his decision to vote in opposition to Speaker Johnson’s Israel-only supplemental:

“For months, Speaker Johnson has demanded a combined national security and border reform package, delaying support for Ukraine, Israel, and our Indo-Pacific allies, as well as resources to respond to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza,” said Congressman Himes. “That decision is inexcusable and dangerous, and has meant that Ukraine is running out of the ammunition it needs to defend itself against Russia.

“After thoughtful bipartisan negotiations, we are finally on the cusp of that package, which was led by a conservative Republican Senator and includes significant reform to our immigration policy. In a cynical attempt to drive his partisan narrative, Speaker Johnson announced it “dead on arrival,” planning instead to move forward legislation that would only provide funding for Israel. While I remain committed to aiding our Israeli allies in their fight against the Hamas terrorists, I cannot support legislation that plays politics with our national security, kneecaps Ukraine’s defense efforts against Russia, and does nothing to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

“The responsible course of action is to carefully evaluate a bipartisan deal announced in the Senate to fund national security priorities along with major steps to secure our borders. We cannot and will not determine how the United States advances its national security based on the whims of Donald Trump.”