{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.ricketts.senate.gov/news/press-releases/ricketts-joins-senate-republicans-to-stand-with-israel-condemn-iran-backed-hamas/", "Ricketts Joins Senate Republicans to Stand with Israel, Condemn Iran-Backed Hamas", "2024-10-07", "2024", "2024-10", "Republican", "Senate", "NE", "Pete Ricketts", "R000618", "www.ricketts.senate.gov", "ricketts", "https://www.ricketts.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list&pagenum=", "scraper", "October 7, 2024\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, one year since the October 7th Hamas terrorist attack killed dozens of Americans, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) joined all 48 of his Senate Republican colleagues to fully condemn Iran-backed Hamas for its actions, support the forever survival of Israel, and call for the safe release of American hostages.\n\nThe Senate resolution was led by U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA), chair of the Republican Policy Committee. Click here to view the full Senate resolution.\n\n\u201cOn October 7th, the world witnessed a heinous terror attack as Hamas murdered innocent women, men and children,\u201d Ricketts said. \u201cWe must remain vigilant and unwavering in our commitment to bringing Hamas terrorists to justice. To the people of Israel, we stand with you, we mourn with you, and we will continue to support you until every hostage is brought home and Hamas surrenders.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis time last year, I woke up in the Middle East to the unbearable news that Israel was under attack by Iran-backed terrorists and Americans were being killed and taken hostage,\u201d said Ernst, a combat veteran. \u201cI immediately traveled into Israel to show that our nation\u2019s friendship is unwavering, in good times and bad. Regardless of whether I have been in Jerusalem, Washington, or Iowa, I have worked around the clock to hold the White House accountable to its \u2018ironclad\u2019 commitment, bring our hostages home, and cut off the source of terrorism in Tehran. One year since that day, as Israel remains under attack on all fronts, Senate Republicans stand united with our greatest ally in the Middle East.\u201d\n\nBackground\n\nRicketts has been a staunch supporter of Israel\u2019s sovereignty, their right to defend themselves against Iran and its terrorist proxies, and Israel\u2019s efforts to bring home the remaining hostages.\n\nIn the weeks following the October 7th attack, Rickettsintroduced legislation to enact a permanent ban on U.S. funding for United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). Since October 7th, numerous reports have revealed UNRWA staff was directly involved in Hamas\u2019 attack on Israel. The Stop Support for Hamas Act would:\n\nCut off contributions for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), which has been described as \u201ceffectively a branch of Hamas;\u201d\n\nFreeze Economic Support Funds (ESF) to Gaza and the West Bank until Israel has verifiably dismantled the terrorist infrastructure of Hamas and other terrorist groups in Gaza;\n\nStrengthen certification requirements under the Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act of 2006 to ensure that no ministry, agency or instrumentality of the Palestinian Authority (PA) employs members, agents or affiliates of Hamas;\n\nEnsure any U.S. assistance to nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) operating in Gaza and the West Bank does not benefit Hamas or any other terrorist organization; and\n\nStrengthen Taylor Force Act provisions to prevent any U.S. funding that directly or indirectly benefits the PA until it ends its \u201cpay for slay\u201d program.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:55:29Z"]], "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.ricketts.senate.gov/news/press-releases/ricketts-joins-senate-republicans-to-stand-with-israel-condemn-iran-backed-hamas/"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.5850658528506756, "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"}