{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-mcconnell-to-president-biden-weapons-delays-cost-lives-and-embolden-iran", "Cotton, McConnell to President Biden: Weapons Delays Cost Lives and Embolden Iran", "2024-09-25", "2024", "2024-09", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: Caroline Tabler or Patrick McCann (202) 224-2353\n\nSeptember 25, 2024\n\nCotton, McConnell to President Biden: Weapons Delays Cost Lives and Embolden Iran\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) today sent a letter to President Joe Biden condemning his continued delay in providing critical military equipment and weapons to our ally Israel as they face a multi-front war against Iranian-terrorist proxies. Further delays will continue to escalate conflict and embolden our shared enemies.\n\nIn part, the senators wrote:\n\n\"Further delays will endanger Israeli lives, increase the likelihood that the conflict will escalate further, and harm American national security interests. It\u2019s far past time to transfer to Israel the capabilities it needs to win.\"\n\nFull text of the letter can be found here and below.\n\nSeptember 25, 2024\n\nPresident Joseph R. Biden\n\nThe White House\n\n1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20500\n\nDear President Biden:\n\nWe write to strongly condemn your administration\u2019s continued delay in providing critical military equipment and weapons to our ally Israel in the midst of an existential war. Delays of equipment that Israel requires to win its multi-front war against Iranian-terrorist proxies, compounded by statements by Administration officials blaming Israel for escalation, undercut Israel\u2019s efforts to restore deterrence by emboldening the Iranian-backed terrorists.\n\nWe have reason to believe your administration is currently delaying three critical types of military weapons or equipment.\n\nMK-84 bombs: Israel requires these bombs to hit Hamas\u2019s deeply buried tunnels and other military infrastructure in Gaza. Hezbollah also has significant military infrastructure that Israel must destroy.\n\nApache attack helicopters: Despite ongoing discussions between the United States and Israel, your administration has failed to fast-track and approve the sale of Apache attack helicopters. Israel requested these helicopters last December, recognizing the increased need given the war in Gaza. That need has only increased with Hezbollah\u2019s escalation in the north.\n\nCaterpillar D9 tractors: We recently learned you are holding up tractors that the IDF uses to clear improvised explosive devices (IEDs) ahead of its troops. Israel puts armor on these tractors and uses them to save the lives of scores of Israel Defense force (IDF) soldiers and civilians.\n\nFurther delays will endanger Israeli lives, increase the likelihood that the conflict will escalate further, and harm American national security interests. It\u2019s far past time to transfer to Israel the capabilities it needs to win.\n\nSincerely,\n\nTom Cotton\n\nUnited States Senator\n\nMitch McConnell\n\nUnited States Senator\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:43:57Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-mcconnell-to-president-biden-weapons-delays-cost-lives-and-embolden-iran"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.8991239592432976, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}