[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 76 Engrossed in House (EH)]
<DOC>
H. Res. 76
In the House of Representatives, U. S.,
February 2, 2023.
Whereas clause 1 of rule XXIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives
provides, ``A Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or
employee of the House shall behave at all times in a manner that shall
reflect creditably on the House'';
Whereas on February 10, 2019, Representative Ilhan Omar suggested that Jewish
people and the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) were
buying political support, saying, ``It's all about the Benjamins,
baby,'' leading to condemnation from Republicans and Democrats alike for
her use of an anti-Semitic trope;
Whereas on February 11, 2019, Congressional Democratic Leadership issued a joint
statement in response to Representative Omar, saying, ``Anti-Semitism
must be called out, confronted and condemned whenever it is encountered,
without exception'';
Whereas on February 27, 2019, Representative Omar doubled down on her stance at
a forum in Washington, DC, by saying, ``I want to talk about the
political influence in this country that says it is OK for people to
push for allegiance to a foreign country'';
Whereas then-Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs Eliot Engel condemned
Representative Omar's comments by stating ``It's unacceptable and deeply
offensive to call into question the loyalty of fellow American citizens
because of their political views, including support for the U.S.-Israel
relationship. We all take the same oath. Worse, Representative Omar's
comments leveled that charge by invoking a vile anti-Semitic slur'';
Whereas Chairman Engel went on to say that such comments have ``no place in the
Foreign Affairs Committee or the House of Representatives'';
Whereas in March 2019, Representative Omar trivialized the terrorist attacks of
September 11, 2001, that killed 2,977 people by describing it as ``some
people did something'';
Whereas on May 16, 2021, Representative Omar referred to Israel as ``an
apartheid state,'' and went on to say that those who refused such a
characterization needed to, ``get on the right side of history'';
Whereas on June 7, 2021, Representative Omar equated the United States and
Israel with Hamas and the Taliban by stating ``We must have the same
level of accountability and justice for all victims of crimes against
humanity. We have seen unthinkable atrocities committed by the U.S.,
Hamas, Israel, Afghanistan, and the Taliban'', establishing a false
equivalency between Israel--which has the right and responsibility to
protect itself and its citizens from all forms of terrorism--and Hamas,
a foreign terrorist organization actively engaged in committing war
crimes, including using civilians as human shields, which is banned
under customary international humanitarian law;
Whereas twelve Democratic members decried Representative Omar's newest round of
statements, saying: ``Equating the United States and Israel to Hamas and
the Taliban is as offensive as it is misguided'';
Whereas when asked by the media whether she regretted her comments,
Representative Omar responded, ``I don't'';
Whereas all Members--both Republicans and Democrats alike--who seek to serve on
the Committee on Foreign Affairs should be held to an equal standard of
conduct due to the international sensitivities and national security
concerns under the jurisdiction of this committee;
Whereas any Member reserves the right to bring a case before the Committee on
Ethics as grounds for an appeal to the Speaker of the House for
reconsideration of any committee removal decision;
Whereas Representative Omar, by her own words, has disqualified herself from
serving on the Committee on Foreign Affairs, a panel that is viewed by
nations around the world as speaking for Congress on matters of
international importance and national security; and
Whereas Representative Omar's comments have brought dishonor to the House of
Representatives: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the following named Member be, and is hereby, removed from
the following standing committee of the House of Representatives:
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Ms. Omar.
Attest:
Clerk.