Press Releases

Today, Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17) released the following statement after a robust foreign aid package with support for Israel, Taiwan, and Ukraine passed the House by a broad bipartisan margin. The package also included two of Congressman Lawler’s bills, the SHIP Act and the Iran-China Energy Sanctions Act. Both bills target Iran’s illicit oil trade that has brought in over $88 billion in revenue since Joe Biden took office. These mark the 3rd and 4th bills of Congressman Lawler’s that will be signed into law.

“The foreign aid package that we passed by a broad bipartisan margin today reflects the strong support for confronting our enemies and defending our democratic allies overseas,” said Congressman Lawler. “Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan are facing existential threats from Iran, Russia, and China, and they need our support now more than ever.”

“We have a solemn duty as the leader of the free world to stand up to  those who seek to undermine it,” continued Congressman Lawler. “Iran, Russia, and China are all autocratic actors who seek to undermine democracy, assault freedom, and eradicate the United States’ influence abroad - and we cannot let that happen.”

“By passing both the SHIP Act and the Iran-China Energy Sanctions Act in this foreign aid package, we will finally begin to cut off Iran’s funding for terror at its source - its illicit oil trade,” stated Lawler. “My bills will force the Biden Administration to impose secondary sanctions on Iran’s enablers and suppress the regime's money-making scheme.”

“Although I am frustrated by my Democratic colleagues’ refusal to pass a border bill, as evidenced by their near-unanimous votes today, I am certain that Speaker Johnson will continue to work with the Senate in order to try and find a solution to the crisis at our Southern Border - in lieu of President Biden’s total lack of executive action,” concluded Lawler. “Let me be emphatically clear - we can and must secure our own border while helping sovereign democracies protect their own - that is the role of our country both domestically and internationally.”

New York's 17th Congressional District is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties.