Southwest Montana News

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congressman Matt Rosendale (MT-02) made a stand by voting against four pieces of legislation that would collectively send $100 billion of American taxpayer money overseas. The bills, including H.R. 8038 The 21st Century Peace through Strength Act, H.R. 8036 The Indo-Pacific Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024, H.R. 8035 The Ukraine Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024, and H.R. 8034 The Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024, drew criticism from Rep. Rosendale for their implications on American interests.

In his statement, Rep. Rosendale expressed his strong opposition, stating, "I refuse to send funds our country, and our taxpayers, do not have to fuel foreign conflicts." He further criticized the legislation, highlighting the concerns about sending money to both sides of the conflict in Israel and the potential consequences of the included REPO Act. Rep. Rosendale emphasized, "The $100 BILLION price tag of these four pieces of legislation, combined with the backwards logic of sending money to both sides of the war in Israel, and the inclusion of the American dollar-jeopardizing REPO Act makes this one of the most America Last pieces of legislation in our history."

One of the key points of contention for Rep. Rosendale was a provision in H.R. 8034, The Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024, which would allocate $9 billion to Gaza. This allocation, which could potentially fund both sides of the conflict in the Middle East, was a major factor in Rep. Rosendale's decision to oppose the legislation. While he supports defending ally Israel and providing resources after recent attacks, he believes that the United States should not be funding conflicting parties.

Additionally, Rep. Rosendale's opposition extended to H.R. 8038, The 21st Century Peace through Strength Act, due to concerns about the REPO Act and its potential impact on the stability of the U.S. dollar. Despite his approval of the TikTok ban within the bill for national security reasons, the overall implications led him to vote against the legislation.

It is essential to note that Rep. Rosendale had previously supported measures to protect American interests, such as his vote in favor of H.R.7521 The Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, which aimed to safeguard private information from foreign adversaries.

Rep. Rosendale's stance against the foreign aid package reflects his commitment to prioritizing American interests and fiscal responsibility in congressional decisions.