Senator Ted Cruz Works to Keep Americans Safe While Beto O’Rourke is Weak On Foreign Policy

As a U.S. Senator, Ted Cruz has fought at every turn to strengthen our national defense and keep America safe. He has authored 23 amendments to the National Authorization Act that successfully became law, and have provided for our bases in Texas and equipped our service men and women all across the globe. He has consistently voted to support our allies abroad and oppose our enemies, taking clear stances that prioritize America’s national security interests.

Beto O’Rourke’s record on foreign policy on the other hand, is weak and dangerous. O’Rourke has made statements against Israel, taken votes to support the Iranian regime, and inexplicably, has voted against allowing victims of terrorist attacks to take legal action against regimes like Saudi Arabia. Americans deserve a Senator who will stand up to protect America’s standing around the world.

The O’Rourke Record:  Weak On Foreign Policy

• Voted against the veto override for the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA) putting Saudi Arabia before 9/11 victims.
• Voted against a ban on material support or resources to designated terrorist organizations Such as Hamas or the Palestinian Authority.
• Opposed legislation urging President Obama to provide Ukraine with lethal defensive weapons systems to defend themselves against Russia’s invasion.
• Voted against an agreement between the U.S. and Mexico regarding transboundary oil and gas reservoirs in the Gulf of Mexico.
• Voted against placing a plaque with FDR’s prayer address before D-Day at the WWII monument.
• Voted against barring funds for the United Nations Human Rights Council, the United Nations Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency in the wake of vehemently anti-Israel and U.S. actions.

O’Rourke is Weak on Russia

Beto O’Rourke’s has neglected to take a strong stance against Russia, despite the increased threat Russia poses to the U.S. and its NATO allies. In his time in Congress O’Rourke has:

• Twice refused to express support for Ukraine after Russian Invasion.
• Voiced concern regarding Russia’s potential response if the U.S. helped arm Ukraine.
• Voted against placing an envoy to promote religious freedom in the Near East and South-Central Asia.
• Opposed directing Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty to provide service to Ukraine highlighting Russian misinformation.

Beto O’Rourke:  Not a Friend of Israel

Beto O’Rourke claims that he supports Israel, but his record tells another story. Beto has consistently voted against Israel, taking dangerous and extreme positions that few of his Democratic colleagues share.

Beto Was One of Only Eight Members of Congress to Vote Against Funding for the Iron Dome – The Joint U.S. – Israeli Missile Defense System

• In 2013, Congressman O’Rourke voted against continued funding from the United States to Israel for the Iron Dome, the joint U.S.-Israeli missile defense system.This system is incredibly important to the defense of the United States’ most important ally in the Middle East. October of 2013 was a tumultuous time for Israel’s self-defense. Just two days prior to O’Rourke’s vote against the Iron dome funding, Palestinians fired a rocket into Israel in the Eshkol Regional Council.  Less than two weeks following the end of the government shutdown, the Iron Dome missile defense system intercepted a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip according to U.S. News and World Report.
• In August of 2014, Beto O’Rourke joined notorious former Nation of Islam supporter Representative Keith Ellison and liberal Representative Zoe Lofgren in voting against emergency funding for Israel’s Iron Dome rocket defense system during the Gaza war.
• O’Rourke was one of just eight Members to vote against the measure.
• The United States has a long history of supporting the Iron Dome program, which tracks incoming rockets that could hit population centers and fires interceptors to knock them down. The system has a 90-percent success rate.

Prior to the Iron Dome Vote, O’Rourke Re-Tweeted  “…No On Any Funding to the Iron Dome or Israel. Stop Funding Atrocities” Then Later Deleted the Tweet

• O’Rourke re-tweeted a tweet calling Israel’s self-defense an atrocity. The Tweet was live for 36 minutes before O’Rourke noticed it and ordered it deleted. He stated that he did not agree with the message, nor was he the one who retweeted it.
• To make matters worse, O’Rourke’s congressional Twitter account re-tweeted a comment hours before Friday’s vote from a user called @Mosh_Lives that said: “@RepBetoOrourke “Vote no on any funding to the Iron Dome or to Israel. Stop funding atrocities.” O’Rourke’s congressional Twitter account deleted its retweet 36 minutes later, according to the conservative website Twitchy.com.

Refused to Attend Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Address to Congress

• In March 2015, Beto O’Rourke again insulted Israel by being one of just a few Members who refused to attend Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to Congress. O’Rourke wrote a long screed criticizing Netanyahu on Medium.

Opposed Moving the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem and Suggested the Move Incited Violence

• O’Rourke opposed moving the U.S. Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, calling the move “absolutely unnecessarily provocative” and suggested that the decision provided “incentives and incitement to violence which I think the move did.”
• The Trump Administration’s decision to move the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem was roundly praised and celebrated by Israel as a move that advanced peace and security in the region.

O’Rourke Declined to Participate in an AIPAC trip to Israel and Instead Traveled to Palestine with the Ultra-Liberal Group J Street – Has Accepted Bundled Contributions from J Street

• Beto participated in an expensive trip funded by the liberal group J Street, where he traveled to Palestine to see Palestinian landmarks on the West Bank. Beto has received $16,400 in earmarked funds from J Street, despite saying he does not accept money from special interests.

Supports the Highly Controversial and Dangerous “Iran Nuclear Deal”

Congressman O’Rourke has supported the Iran nuclear deal, which has been criticized due to vast amounts of evidence that the Iranian regime lied about its nuclear capabilities.

Despite evidence of the Iranian regime’s bad faith, O’Rourke called the Iran Deal an “impressive diplomatic achievement.”[1]  Beto O’Rourke has made a number of votes in favor of the Iran Nuclear Deal or Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) as it is sometimes referred to, and has voted to make it easier for Iran to access the U.S. financial system, despite their frequent human rights violations, sponsorship terrorism, and reckless missile testing. During his time in Congress O’Rourke has voted:

• Against legislation stating that President Obama failed to comply with the Congressional review period allowed to Congress.
• Against legislation that would block funds to Iran until they pay judgements owed for acts of terror.
• Against legislation that would block purchases of heavy water from Iran.[2]
• Against strengthening sanctions on Iran following their ballistic missile testing.
• Against legislation that would block Iran from accessing the U.S. financial system.
• Againstlegislationthat would create a report of assets held by key Iranian figures.
• Against a bill that would bar ransom payments to Iran.
• Against bill that would block aircraft sales to Iran.

Refused to Condemn Russian Federation Ukraine Invasion

In December of 2014, Beto O’Rourke was one of 10 Members of Congress to vote against resolution from Rep. Adam Kinzinger that would express the support of Congress for Ukraine’s president and the people of Ukraine to establish peace in their country through the withdrawal of Russian forces and establish full control of their own borders. The resolution would call on Russia to end their violations of the ceasefire and to cooperate with U.S. allies on visa bans, asset freezes and sanctions with the attempt to end Russia’s occupation of Ukraine. It would also express support for the disarming of separatist and paramilitary forces in eastern Ukraine as well as the creation of policies to reduce Russian energy exports and barriers as economic weapons.

Opposed Ukraine Support Act

In March of 2014, Beto O’Rourke was one of only 19 members of the House that voted against H.R. 4278, “the Ukraine Support Act.” According to a press release from Chairman Ed Royce, this legislation “promotes Ukraine’s sovereignty and democratic institutions while sanctioning those who have sought to undermine Ukraine’s independence and stability, ” a clear reference to the Russian intervention.

Voted Against U.S.-Mexico Transboundary Agreement

In June of 2013, Beto O’Rourke voted against H.R. 1613, the “U.S.-Mexico Transboundary Agreement.” This legislation would allow the Department of the Interior to implement the terms of a 2012 agreement between the U.S. and Mexico relating to transboundary oil and gas reservoirs in the Gulf of Mexico.

Voted Against “Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism” Which Protects Saudi Arabia

In September of 2016, Beto O’Rourke voted against the veto override for legislation that would narrow the immunity of foreign states and their employees from U.S lawsuits by victims of terror attacks. This legislation is known as the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism (JASTA). President Obama’s vetoed this legislation primarily to avoid conflict with the Saudi Arabian government.  This veto override passed by a vote of 348 to 77.

Opposition to Ukraine Military Assistance

In March of 2015, Beto O’Rourke opposed legislation that would “strongly urge the president to fully and immediately exercise authorities provided by Congress to provide Ukraine with lethal defensive weapons systems in order to enhance the ability of the Ukrainian people to defend their sovereign territory from the “unprovoked and continuing aggression of the Russian Federation.”

Voted against Requiring DHS to Conduct a Thorough Background Check on any Refugee from Iraq or Syria

In November of 2015, Beto O’Rourke voted against[3] the American SAFE Act, legislation that would prohibit admitting any refugee from Iraq or Syria to the United States before the secretary of Homeland Security, with the unanimous concurrence of the director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the director of National Intelligence, has conducted a thorough background check on any refugee from Iraq or Syria and certified that they are not a security threat to the United States.

Voted Against Ban On Material Support for Terrorist Organizations Such as the Palestinian Authority

In June of 2014, Beto O’Rourke voted against an amendment to the FY 2015 Defense Appropriations bill that would have barred the use of funds to support designated sponsors of terror specifically, the Government Iraq, the Government of Syria, the Palestinian Authority Hamas, and the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.