McCollum Vote on H.Con.Res 58, Denouncing the Horrors of Socialism

Mr. Speaker, the House already passed an identical resolution to this last Congress. I voted against it then, as I will do again today. I expressed my serious concerns with how this resolution was written then, but nothing has changed.

Once again, the Republican majority has thrown together a poorly written, ill-conceived resolution that is so sloppy that it condemns socialism in all its forms, including democratically elected officials and governments. That includes important allies and friends of the United States that have mainstream socialist political parties like Albania, Australia, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Luxembourg, Montenegro, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, and Sweden. 

With this resolution, House Republicans are sending a message to many proud democracies, including multiple members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), that we condemn the domestic political process within their nations. As Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, I know just how crucial it is to maintain relationships with our NATO allies who have come to our aid. This resolution is an insult to them.

Mr. Speaker, it is telling that on the first week back to regular order after shutting down the House floor for seven weeks, House Republicans are continuing to waste the American public’s time with political messaging stunts like this. 

It should be rejected, and I yield back.