Dear Friend,

Last week, I sent a letter to President Obama urging him to immediately provide the assistance that our allies and partners in the Middle East need as they battle against the terrorist group known as the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).

ISIL continues to demonstrate their savagery through brutal acts, including the execution of four Americans and the execution of Japanese, Egyptian, Iraqi, and Jordanian citizens. There is no mistaking that this is a war against violent extremists who want to destroy the U.S. and our allies.

As I expressed in my letter to the President, the Egyptians, Jordanians, and Kurds have retaliated and are defending themselves against ISIL’s heinous acts, but U.S. security assistance to them is being held up and delayed by bureaucratic processes and ill-advised policy decisions by the Administration.

These delays must stop now. The U.S. cannot, and should not, fight ISIL alone. We have courageous partners in the region willing and eager to fight with us, but they need our help. In order to successfully fight and defeat ISIL our partners and allies need weapons, training, and equipment.

I have consistently raised my concerns about these issues and have received various explanations and excuses from Administration officials. Our adversaries and partners in this fight should know with complete certainty that the U.S. is willing to stand with its friends when they need our assistance and that we are united against this common enemy.

As I told President Obama in my letter, I am prepared to do everything within my power as Chairwoman of the State and Foreign Operations Appropriations subcommittee to make sure assistance is given, including placing holds on Congressional Notifications received from the Administration and drafting legislation to hold this Administration accountable.  
Sincerely,
 
Kay Granger
Member of Congress

P.S. My letter to the President was discussed as last Friday’s White House Press Briefing. To watch the exchange, click here.