1 House Republican Joins 18 Democrats in Voting Against Bill Aimed at Strengthening US-Israel Ties
A lone Republican House member voted against a resolution designed to express support of America’s relationship with Israel and encourage other nations to “normalize relations” with the Middle Eastern nation. The…
A lone Republican House member voted against a resolution designed to express support of America’s relationship with Israel and encourage other nations to “normalize relations” with the Middle Eastern nation.
The resolution passed Tuesday despite the “nay” votes of Republican Rep. Thomas Massie and 18 Democrats.
The final tally was 401-19 in favor, with 15 House members declining to vote, according to the House clerk’s website.
Of those not voting, six were Republicans and nine were Democrats.
Massie told Fox News it was his consistent opposition to Foreign aid that led to his negative vote.
“Ultimately it didn’t make sense for me to vote for a bill that praises the Foreign aid that I’ve voted against for the past ten years,” Massie told Fox.
The stated purpose of the resolution was “ncouraging the expansion and strengthening of the Abraham Accords to urge other nations to normalize relations with Israel and ensure that existing agreements reap tangible security and economic benefits for the citizens of those countries and all peoples in the region.”
The U.S. formally recognized Israel as a nation 75 years ago, in 1948.
The Abraham Accords involved peace deals between the Jewish state and four Muslim-majority nations: Bahrain, Morocco, Sudan and the United Arab Emirates.
According to Fox, the other “nay” votes came from Rep. Betty McCollum of Minnesota and 17 Democrats of the Congressional Progressive Caucus: Reps. Jamaal Bowman of New York, Cori Bush of Missouri, Andre Carson of Indiana, Mark DeSaulnier of California, Jesus Garcia of Illinois, Summer Lee of Pennsylvania, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Mark Pocan of Wisconsin, Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, Delia Ramirez of Illinois, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, and Nydia Velazquez of New York.
The full text of the House resolution follows:
118th Congress
1st Session
H. RES. 311
Encouraging the expansion and strengthening of the Abraham Accords to
urge other nations to normalize relations with Israel and ensure that
existing agreements reap tangible security and economic benefits for
the citizens of those countries and all peoples in the region.
________________________________________________________
IN THE House of Representatives
April 20, 2023
Mrs. Wagner (for herself, Ms. Manning, Mr. McCaul, and Mr. Schneider)
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee
on Foreign Affairs
________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Encouraging the expansion and strengthening of the Abraham Accords to
urge other nations to normalize relations with Israel and ensure that
existing agreements reap tangible security and economic benefits for
the citizens of those countries and all peoples in the region.
Whereas May 14, 2023, marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the
State of Israel;
Whereas, on May 14, 1948, the United States officially recognized Israel as a
State;
Whereas Israel has been designated by the United States Government as a major
non-NATO ally;
Whereas, in 2014, Congress designated Israel as a “major strategic partner”;
CORRECTION, April 27, 2023:Betty McCollum represents Minnesota in Congress. An earlier version of this article named a different state.
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.