McCollum No Vote on H.Res. 311

Ms. McCOLLUM: Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.Res. 311.

All people deserve safety, justice, equality, human rights, and the right to self-determination. No child anywhere should go to bed at night fearing ongoing violence.

Israel is an important and strategic ally in the Middle East region, and our national security interests are intertwined. The United States provides $3.8 billion in security assistance to Israel’s government each year, and I support the use of these funds for security purposes such as Iron Dome. These dollars should be used to keep the Israeli people safe, but unfortunately the American people do not know how billions of this annual security assistance is being spent. That is why I have worked for years to account for the use of these funds.

Not $1 of U.S. aid should be used to commit human rights violations, demolish families’ homes, or permanently annex Palestinian lands. Peace can only be achieved when everyone’s human rights are respected, and Congress has a responsibility to not ignore the well-documented mistreatment of Palestinian children and families living under Israeli military occupation.

The resolution also fails to mention a two-state solution, for the first time ever. I echo the concerns of many of my House colleagues about this missing commitment for all parties to work together toward a peaceful future.

I join Jewish Voice for Peace, the Institute for Middle East Understanding, and many other civil society groups in opposition to this poorly written resolution.

There is a path to peace and security in the Middle East, and it requires leading with our U.S. values of democracy and equal justice for all.

Thank you, and I yield back.