House passes "Stand with Israel" (HR 771) as first bill under new speaker Mike Johnson
"
America Israel First"
Thomas Massie was the only Republican to vote against it.
https://twitter.com/RepThomasMassie/status/1717270096710603198
{Thomas Massie
@RepThomasMassie | 25 October 2023}
I condemn the barbaric attack on Israel and I affirm Israel’s right to defend itself.
However, I will not be voting for House Resolution 771 today because:
1) It calls for sanctions on a sovereign country. Sanctions are a prelude to war and hurt the citizens of the country more than the government of the country that’s being sanctioned. And ultimately, sanctions create laws that will be used to prosecute American citizens (who engage in trade), not citizens of the sanctioned country. In short, sanctions do not achieve their stated purposes but do breed resentment of our country abroad.
2) It asserts the necessity of foreign aid commitments which I have voted against. Our country is going bankrupt and we can’t afford to borrow money to send overseas, yet this resolution states that we should.
3) It contains an open-ended promise of military support that is so broad that it could be interpreted to commit US soldiers to the conflict. US troops should not be engaged in this conflict.
4) It tends to broaden the conflict to other countries when it would be better to keep the war contained geographically.
Here’s a link to the text of the resolution, which contains some statements I do support and some statements I cannot support.
H. RES. 771 (PDF file):
https://docs.house.gov/billsthisweek/20231023/HRes 771 as introduced.pdf
House Passes Resolution Condemning Hamas For ‘Unprovoked War On Israel’
https://dailycaller.com/2023/10/25/house-resolution-israel-first-measure-three-week-speakership/
{Arjun Singh | 25 October 2023}
The House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a resolution in support of Israel on Wednesday following terrorist attacks on the country by Hamas that began on Oct. 7.
House Resolution 771, titled “
Standing with Israel as it defends itself against the barbaric war launched by Hamas and other terrorists,” condemns Hamas for beginning an “unprovoked war on Israel” and accuses them of “slaughtering Israelis and abducting hostages in towns in southern Israel, including children and the elderly.” After the House elected Republican Rep. Mike Johnson of Louisiana’s 4th District as its speaker following a three-week deadlock over the position, the resolution was quickly brought to the floor under a motion to suspend the rules, which required a two-thirds majority to approve.
“Resolved, That the House of Representatives — (1) stands with Israel as it defends itself against the barbaric war launched by Hamas and other terrorists; (2) reaffirms Israel’s right to self-defense; (3) condemns Hamas’ brutal war against Israel; (4) calls on all countries to unequivocally condemn Hamas’ brutal war against Israel,” the resolution’s text says. An overwhelming majority of 412 members
voted in favor of the resolution, while ten voted against it, with six voting present.
NAY:
Bowman, Jamaal (D-NY)
Bush, Cori (D-MO)
Carson, André (D-IN)
Green, Al (D-TX)
Lee, Summer (D-PA)
Massie, Thomas (R-KY)
Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY)
Omar, Ihan (D-MN)
Ramirez, Delia (D-IL)
Tlaib, Rashida (D-MI)
PRESENT:
Casar, Greg (D-TX)
Castro, Joaquin (D-TX)
García, Jesús (D-IL)
Jayapal, Pramila (D-WA)
Pressley, Ayanna (D-MA)
Velázquez, Nydia (D-NY)
NOT VOTING (NV):
Correa, J. Luis (D-CA)
Gonzalez, Vicente (D-TX)
Lesko, Debbie (R-AZ)
Payne, Donald Jr. (D-NJ)
Van Orden, Derrick (R-WI)
https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2023528?RollCallNum=528&BillNum=H.RES.771