Rep. Howard P. "Buck" McKeon, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, released a statement Tuesday on President Obama’s decision to ask Congress to fund additions to Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system. McKeon said:
On February 14th, I coauthored a letter with Chairman Ros-Lehtiten making the case for bolstered Israeli missile defenses. I am pleased that the President now acknowledges the need to increase funding to counter a deadly threat, and I look forward to working together to identify the additional resources necessary to help defend our Israeli friends.
A senior defense official told the Free Beacon, "(The statement) is about prompting action by the Congress to identify new funding for this important capability for our Israeli allies."