House speaker Kevin Mccarthys remarks at the Israeli Knesset in israel. The first since newt gingrich. We bring you live coverage on cspan2. Israel is resilient. It is strong. Israel is innovative, israel is blessed. Israel endures. The lord blessed you from zion and may you see the prosperity of jerusalem all the days of your life. Indeed, may you see your childrens children peace be upon israel as david has written. [applause] it was president john f. Kennedy who said it best. Israel was not created in order to disappear. Israel will endure and flourish. It can be neither broken by adversity, nor demoralized by success. Kennedys words echo throughout this chamber today. Ladies and gentlemen, israels rebirth is nothing less than a modern miracle and i thank you for it. [applause] the source of that miracle is the people of israel. In those dark days thousands of years ago when the jewish people were scattered from israel, the prophet isaiah predicted a Brighter Future to come, inspired by god he shared this command, arise, shine, thy light to come. My friends, today 75 years after declaring independence, israel lights shine brighter than ever before. [applause] despite the constant threat of terrorism, israel remains a thriving democracy in the middle east. Israels economy once relied on rationing food and oil, today israel is ranked as the fourth best performing economy among developing nations. [applause] its market economy is dynamic and its remarkable people are bursting with talent and ideas. Its innovative hightech sector has rightfully earned the nickname that israel has, the startup nation. It was theodore holmes, the founder of modern zionist who predicted give us a piece of land to hold onto and the rest we will do ourselves. Was right. The story of israel is a story of survival against the perils of war and terrorism. Its a story of pioneers fulfilling a sacred promise inspired by a commitment to freedom, to family, to faith in god. It is a story about making the deserts bloom and building a thriving, innovative economy. And it is a story of hope that continues to inspire millions around the world, especially me and my fellow americans, regardless of our political party. The United States cherishes this unbreakable bond with israel. Im proud as my country recognized your country 11 minutes after it declared its independence, the first country to do so. [applause] but our special relationship is even closer. Its more personal and powerful than we might even realize. You know, this point was driven home to me last night by a very thoughtful gift from your speaker, it was a gift of a picture of a story i did not know, of an israeli Pilot Training in the city of bakersfield, california where i was born, where i was raised, where i live, where i represent. Theres a story behind this picture though. More than 75 years ago on the eve of the israeli war of independence, a female Flight Instructor and a patriot named elinore ruddnick organized a Training Program for israeli Fighter Pilots at her airfield in bakersfield, california. Now, in all there was only 13 volunteers, including two women who took this grueling course. Only three finished. Now technically, the program was illegal because israel didnt exist as a modern state and america was neutral. But why . Why did these pilots do it . What compelled them to risk their lives to help reestablish the state of israel . As we look around this room we know the answer. We all know it. It was faith and freedom. Those values are worth fighting for and even dying for and especially today. [applause] and so they took to the skies. Not knowing what the future would hold, but knowing that god and million americans were their allies in this cause. They won. Despite all odds, they won. And because they won, the state of israel was reborn. 75 years have passed since those heroes helped secure israels independence. Most only recently graduated from school. At the time the joist joys and struggles of life were just ahead of them and now while they rest in peace, their sacrifice and legacies live on in a free and independence israel and its special bond with the United States. You see, this picture tells us a deeper story. If we remain united, then the forces of freedom and democracy will always prevail. This is the foundation of our special relationship. We are the only two countries in history that were conceived in liberty and dedicated the proposition that all are equal. [applause] our values are our values. Our heritage is your heritage. Our dreams are your dreams. America is grateful for our friendship with israel. We are a better nation because of it. And we must never shy away from defending it. [applause] we have come so far in 75 years, but the promise of years ahead is just as compelling. I believe the best days for israel in an unbreakable bond are ahead of us. My greatest hope is that our special relationship can serve as a foundation for Greater Peace across the middle east. The progress towards peace in the past few years has simply been remarkable. Thanks to the Abraham Accords, could he existence and cooperation are beginning to replace conflict and intolerance. As a result of a future where your children can enjoy a just and lasting peace is not only foreseeable, it is attainable. Congress has supported the dramatic breakthroughs ever the Abraham Accords. Last week we passed a bipartisan resolution celebrating the 75th anniversary of commending the Abraham Accords as well. [applause] i towel i actually have that resolution with me here, and signed. [applause] now, it states in absolute terms that the u. S. Stands with israel, supports the Abraham Accords and upholds that israel has the right to defend itself. [applause] my friends, Congress Stands ready to work with israel to broaden and deepen those accord, working for sustainable peace with all of israels neighbors, but as we welcome peace, we cannot ignore the threats to peace in our region. Those threats have one primary cause, the rogue iranian regime. Most of the turmoil in this region of violence and instability can be traced back to that source, which continues to fund terrorism, arms its proxy militia. It wants to entrench, and the organization of hezbollah and lebanon and fueling a brutal civil war in yemen. And among all of this aggression, it seeks to encircle israel with hostile forces. We cannot allow iran regime evil campaign to succeed. To deter [applause] to deter irans dangerous behavior, our nations must continue to stand together. We, the United States, integrated israel into our Central Command and are continuing to carry out military exercises together, as long as i am speaker, america will continue to support fully funding for Security Assistance in israel. [applause] together we will defeat irans precision guided missiles, their drones [applause] their terror tunnels and cyber attacks. As we stand shoulder to shoulder against irans regional aggressions, we must always remain resolute in our commitment that iran will never acquire a nuclear weapon. [applause] if we pursue peace in this region, we must also expand the Economic Cooperation between our two countries. In our systems of innovation and creativity, our greatest allies, our greatest sources of strength, our greatest fuel for prosperity, for decades our nations have worked together on agricultural research, clean energy, new technology, Cyber Defense and so much more. To strengthen our command of the next generation of Technology Congress established a working group for bilateral military research and development in 2021. This will allow us to benefit from each others innovation, especially in military technology. Weve seen successes of technological cooperation in so many areas. Today, however, our innovation is at risk from a new threat, the Chinese Communist party. While the ccp may disguise itself as promoters of innovation, in truth, they act like thieves. We must not allow them to steal our technology. In the United States we are working to protect innovation and the prosperity with which it renews focus. You know, we have a review process called the committee of Foreign Investment in the United States as we refer to as fciyus and i look at foreign environment, particularly Chinese Investment building on the steps that you first took in 2019. If we cooperate and im confident we will meet the challenge and ensure a Brighter Future for both of our nations. And the future i want to discuss is ending efforts to delegitimize and discriminating against israel. Whether its the constant attacks of israel at the United Nations, prejudice against israel on the worlds stage is damaging and destructive. Theres no clear example than the u. N. Rights counsel, which has passed over 90 antiisraeli resolutions since 2006. Yet, they have turned a blind eye to true Human Rights Violations by iran, north korea and china. My colleagues in congress will continue to stand with israel and we will increase the pressure on the United Nations to end these outrageous attacks. [applause] as we take the next steps of enhancing and bolstering our ongoing diplomatic and security dialogs. I Want Congress and the knesset to work closer together. And as speaker, an interparliament group between america and israel. And i dont want to wait between the house of representatives and the knesset, therefore today ill establish a house knesset Parliamentarian Friendship Group to continue the strength of our bond and build Mutual Understanding as elected representatives and work Better Together democracy to democracy. We will engage more directly with the knesset, travel to israel to strengthen relationships and forge new ones. Similar well host knesset members to wish to travel to congress. And i look forward working closely with your speaker. This endeavor. [applause] now, let me close with this, the rebirth of israel is truly a miracle, peace, liberty, and prosperity are the foundations of our nations success theyre also the cornerstone of our special relationship. Our special relationship stands for freedom. It stands for safety. It stands for hope. Together, let us work to move forward towards a Brighter Future. Together, we will work to build a world in which our children live in more peace. Enjoy a more robust economic ties and are treated with the respect and fairness they deserve. This is our shared mission. I look forward to working with you as we strengthen this unique and indispensable bond. God bless you. God bless israel. God bless america and god bless our special relationship in the next 75 years. Thank you. [applause]. [applause] , [speaking foreign tongue] the u. S. Senate returns later today at 3 p. M. Eastern. Senators will vote on the confirmation of former montana solicitor general, Anthony Johnstone to be a 9th Circuit Court of appeals judge. Later in the week, lawmakers will conside several of president bidens nominations for u. S. District courts. Inew jersey and new york. Live coverage of the senate on cspan2, and you can watch all of our congressionaloverage with our free video app, cspan now or online at cspan. Org. Tuesday morning, a hearing on Supreme Court ethical standards in the wake of reports that Justice Clarence thomas accepted trips from a Republican Campaign donor and the Justice Neil Gorsuch sold land to an earn to whose law firm has cases before the high court. Watch the coverage of the Senate Judiciary hearing 10 a. M. On cspan, cspan now, a mobile video app or cspan. Org. Order your copy of the congressional directory at cspan shop. She has also served as a member of cspans advisor team, the networks periodic surveys of ranking us president s class and jean metzger on both