[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 22 (Thursday, February 2, 2023)]
[House]
[Pages H643-H651]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  REMOVING A CERTAIN MEMBER FROM A CERTAIN STANDING COMMITTEE OF THE 
                                 HOUSE

  Mr. GUEST. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 83, I call up 
the resolution (H. Res. 76) removing a certain Member from a certain 
standing committee of the House, and ask for its immediate 
consideration.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 83, the 
resolution is considered read.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                               H. Res. 76

       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

[[Page H644]]

     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.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The resolution shall be debatable for 1 hour 
equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking member of the 
Committee on Ethics or their respective designees.
  The gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Guest) and the gentlewoman from 
Pennsylvania (Ms. Wild) each will control 30 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Guest).


                             General Leave

  Mr. GUEST. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on H. Res. 76.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Mississippi?
  There was no objection.

                              {time}  1100

  Mr. GUEST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I come today to the floor pursuant to the process put in 
place by the previous majority in the 117th Congress. At that time, I 
served as a member on the House Ethics Committee. Today, I serve as 
chair of that committee.
  Roughly 2 years ago, on February 4, 2021, I publicly warned of the 
dangerous precedent set by the previous majority as they put in place 
an unprecedented process to remove minority Members from their 
committee assignments.
  Two years ago, Democrats offered a resolution. That resolution, based 
on clause 1, House rule XXIII, removed a Republican Member from all 
committees and referred the matter to the House Ethics Committee.
  However, the process instituted at that time by Speaker Nancy Pelosi, 
bypassed any Ethics Committee involvement and brought the matter 
directly to the House floor for a vote.
  I, and many other Republicans, warned that this majority veto over 
the minority party's committee assignment appointments removed 
important rights of the minority party. Republican Members also warned 
that this process set a precedent that future majorities would follow 
to remove Members from committee assignments.
  Following the roadmap previously approved by the Democrat-controlled 
117th Congress, we are here today to debate and to consider H. Res. 76, 
a resolution to remove Representative Omar from serving on the 
Committee on Foreign Affairs.
  Today's resolution, as it relates to Representative Omar, details six 
statements she made as a sitting Member of Congress that, under the 
totality of the circumstances, disqualify her from serving on the 
Committee on Foreign Affairs.
  It is important to note that this resolution is very narrowly 
tailored and does not prevent Representative Omar from serving on other 
committees. H. Res. 76, instead, simply states that she cannot serve on 
a committee that receives classified briefings and is responsible for 
maintaining international diplomacy.
  The Committee on Foreign Affairs is a prestigious committee, viewed 
by nations around the world, both allies and adversaries, as speaking 
for Congress on matters of international importance and national 
security.
  All Members, both Republicans and Democrats alike, who seek to serve 
on the Committee on Foreign Affairs should be held to the highest 
standard of conduct due to the international sensitivity and national 
security concerns under the jurisdiction of this committee.
  Based upon the important mission of this committee and the precedent 
previously set to remove Members from their committee assignments, I 
support this resolution today.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. WILD. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this resolution, and I 
yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise as the ranking member of the Ethics Committee, a body that I 
am proud to have served on throughout my entire time in Congress. I 
also rise as a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, which I 
have also served on throughout my time in Congress.
  Many people don't understand the nature of the Ethics Committee. It 
is a unique body within this Congress. It consists of an equal number 
of Democrats and Republicans, and it offers a mechanism by which 
complaints against Members of Congress and high-ranking staff can be 
vetted, investigated, and adjudicated on pretty much a confidential 
basis by the members of the committee.
  I am very pleased that--and this may really surprise people to know--
that we often come to completely unanimous decisions in that very 
bipartisan committee.
  So, with that said, I am disappointed that my colleagues in the 
majority are choosing as one of their very first exercises of authority 
in this Congress to pursue vengeance over governance.
  Governance would be to allow this resolution, which has been referred 
to the Ethics Committee, to proceed through the committee's regular 
process.
  The Ethics Committee is charged with determining whether Member 
behavior violates the Code of Official Conduct and, when warranted by a 
violation, recommending that the House adopt sanctions or restrict 
certain privileges like service on committees.
  I strongly urge a return to the days of civility, which would be nice 
to see here in this body, and which I think the American people would 
very much welcome. One of the ways of doing that is to have this 
Chamber allow the Ethics Committee to do its work, so that we avoid a 
situation where every couple of years, when there is a transfer of 
power between one party to the other, we don't see these constant 
efforts to boot people from committees based on past actions.
  If a Member does something egregious that is worthy of a complaint, 
any Member can bring a complaint to the Ethics Committee, and it can be 
dealt with there.
  The majority is seeking to advance this resolution before the Ethics 
Committee, and yet, the Ethics Committee has not yet even adopted its 
rules, held an organizational meeting, or convened for the first time 
this Congress.
  I want to address the issue of due process. During the Rules 
Committee meeting leading up to today's vote, a number of concerns were 
expressed, and it has been reported in the media as well, concerns 
about due process.
  The resolution, H. Res. 76, claims that any Member reserves the right 
to

[[Page H645]]

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. Notably, that language is contained in one of the whereas 
clauses, not in the resolved clause, which is the only binding part of 
this resolution.
  By the way, it has even been conceded by Members of the GOP that the 
whereas clause, the quote is, ``merely references an existing process 
and in no way begins an appeal procedure or guarantees her committee 
seat will be reconsidered. It's nonbinding and not actionable,'' a 
senior GOP aide told Politico on Tuesday.

  Well, in fact, I agree with that quote, with the exception of where 
it says that the clause references an existing process. There is no 
such existing process. There is no due process at all afforded to the 
Member who is being sought to be removed from a committee, and that is 
not due process.
  I say that to address the many, many concerns that I have heard from 
Members on the other side of the aisle, from members of the Rules 
Committee. There is no due process in this House Resolution.
  Once the full House votes to strip a Member of a right or privilege, 
only the full House can restore that right or privilege. Allowing 
Representative Omar to appeal to the Ethics Committee after the House 
has already voted to deny her a seat on the House Foreign Affairs 
Committee would be nonsensical and it would be a defective process.
  It is the wrong order of things, and it violates how the Ethics 
Committee has operated ever since its creation as a standing committee 
of the House in 1967, where the committee recommends a sanction after a 
full investigation and adjudication, and the Member is allowed to 
present evidence and make their case, and then the full House votes on 
the committee's recommendation for sanctions.
  H. Res. 76 violates the spirit of how our unique committee, the 
House's only evenly divided, truly bipartisan standing committee 
operates.
  This is about partisanship, Mr. Speaker, not principle. This is about 
payback, not process.
  H. Res. 76 is wholly transparent for what it is, and I firmly oppose 
its passage.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GUEST. Mr. Speaker, before I yield time to the gentleman from 
Ohio, I do want to point out that H. Res. 72 of the 117th Congress, 
which is the resolution that stripped Marjorie Taylor Greene of her 
committee assignments, contained no language whatsoever relating to due 
process and set forth no appeals process for her to be able to appeal 
the ruling of the body as a whole.
  I will say that the resolution that we are debating today does 
contain language as to an appellate process. So I do believe that the 
resolution that we are debating today does contain additional rights to 
the Member that we are seeking to remove than what was offered in H. 
Res. 72 as it relates to Marjorie Taylor Greene.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 6 minutes to the gentleman from the great State 
of Ohio (Mr. Miller).
  Mr. MILLER of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from 
Mississippi for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, the House Committee on Foreign Affairs has broad 
jurisdiction over national security and foreign policy, peacekeeping 
and peace enforcement, international law, and the promotion of 
democracy, and many other critical issues that require its members to 
be both objective and credible.
  Members of the Committee on Foreign Affairs represent the United 
States abroad and are regarded as credible emissaries of American 
foreign policy. Their words have significant weight in guiding our 
relations with other countries and are relied upon by world leaders, 
most importantly, our allies such as Israel, the forever home of the 
Jewish people.
  But what happens when a committee member is no longer viewed as a 
credible emissary of our foreign policy?
  What if a Member is barred from visiting one of our allies because of 
their prejudiced comments?
  How can Members who are unable to engage with our allies in a 
constructive manner be considered credible members of the committee?
  Well, the gentlewoman's discriminatory comments disqualified her from 
traveling to Israel in 2019. Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin 
Netanyahu would not allow Representative Omar to enter, saying, ``We 
respect all political parties in the United States equally; however, we 
also respect ourselves. Whoever comes to impose boycotts on us and to 
deny the legitimacy of the State of Israel, we will not allow them 
entry.''
  Yes, the gentlewoman disqualified herself from entry into one of the 
most important countries allied with the United States.
  Over the past 75 years, Israel has been a steadfast ally of the 
United States. Israel has stood by us through the volatility in the 
Middle East, and this alliance has been critical to our own national 
security.
  How can someone not welcomed by one of our most important allies 
serve as an emissary of American foreign policy on the Foreign Affairs 
Committee?
  Given her biased comments against Israel and against the Jewish 
people, how can she serve as an objective decisionmaker on the 
committee?
  Let's take a look at some of the gentlewoman's comments.
  In February of 2019, barely more than a month after becoming a Member 
of this body, Representative Omar suggested that the Jewish people and 
the American Israel Public Affairs Committee were buying political 
support, writing on Twitter, ``It's all about the Benjamins baby,'' 
clearly amplifying an anti-Semitic stereotype about the Jewish people 
and money.
  In response, Congressional Democratic leadership, her own party, 
immediately released a statement by saying, ``Anti-Semitism must be 
called out, confronted, and condemned whenever it is encountered, 
without exception.''
  Not long after Representative Omar trivialized the terrorist attacks 
of September 11, 2001, by describing that day of infamy as ``some 
people did something.'' That is horrific.
  ``Some people did something.'' Yes, Mr. Speaker, some people did do 
something. Some people committed evil acts of terrorism and killed 
nearly 3,000 Americans, and, in response, some thousands of our fellow 
citizens, myself included, enlisted in our Armed Forces to defend the 
gentlewoman's right to make her prejudiced remarks. Many went off to 
combat and even died to defend that right.
  But they did not die fighting to have their bravery and love of 
country undermined by a member of the House Foreign Affairs committee.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no words to describe just how utterly 
unacceptable these comments are. But that is not all.
  In 2021, the gentlewoman referred to Israel, which has the absolute 
right to defend itself against terrorism and attacks on its very 
existence, as an ``apartheid state.''
  She even equated the United States and Israel, countries that have 
stood as beacons of democracy, to the Taliban and Hamas, organizations 
that impose terror on their regions and the world.
  Once again, even her Democrat colleagues swiftly condemned her 
comment. Twelve Democrat Members of this body released a statement 
which noted, ``Equating the United States and Israel to Hamas and the 
Taliban is as offensive as it is misguided. Ignoring the differences 
between democracies governed by the rule of law and contemptible 
organizations that engage in terrorism at best discredits one's 
intended argument and at worst reflects deep-seated prejudice.'' That 
is from her own party.

                              {time}  1115

  Some have decried this effort as a political game. Mr. Speaker, I 
assure you this is no political game. This resolution is not about 
engaging in a tit for tat with my colleagues on the other side of the 
aisle. This is about keeping someone with a long record of anti-Semitic 
and anti-Israel bias off the Foreign Affairs Committee, which needs 
objective emissaries for our foreign policy.
  Even the Democrat former Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs 
Committee, Eliot Engel, said that Representative Omar's anti-Semitic 
comments have ``no place in the Foreign Affairs Committee or the House 
of Representatives.''

[[Page H646]]

  That was in addition to the previously mentioned joint statement from 
12 of the gentlewoman's Democrat colleagues.
  The facts are clear: Representative Omar has espoused anti-Semitic 
and anti-Israel rhetoric time and time again. She cannot be an 
objective contributor to the work of the committee, and she has brought 
dishonor to the House of Representatives.
  This body's committee, which is viewed by nations around the world as 
speaking for Congress on matters of international importance and 
national security, should not have a seat for a Member who would bring 
such dishonor to that committee.
  I encourage all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to 
support this resolution to say with one voice that the United States 
House of Representatives does not condone hate and to reaffirm that we 
will always condemn anti-Semitism.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. WILD. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Minnesota (Mr. Phillips), also a member of the House Foreign Affairs 
Committee.
  Mr. PHILLIPS. Mr. Speaker, Ilhan Omar and I are products of 
remarkably different life experiences. Hers began by fleeing civil war 
in Somalia before emigrating to the United States after 4 years in a 
Kenyan refugee camp, an experience that few, if any, of us in this room 
could possibly imagine.
  My family came to America a century before hers seeking the same 
safety, security, and opportunity as they fled Russian pogroms 
targeting Jewish people in Eastern Europe. My life began by losing my 
father in the Vietnam war, an American tragedy that may well have been 
prevented had this very Chamber been filled with more voices like Ilhan 
Omar's.
  Now, don't get me wrong: Representative Omar and I regularly disagree 
on policy, both domestic and foreign, and she has, at times, used words 
that have caused concern, offense, and even personal pain to me and 
others.
  She and I have spoken face-to-face on those occasions, and she has 
apologized, and she continues to learn from those missteps.
  Furthermore, she has never posted a video depicting herself 
decapitating and killing fellow Members of Congress. She doesn't 
question whether a plane really smashed into the Pentagon on 9/11. She 
does not wonder if school shootings in America are staged. She has not 
propagated the absurd notion that space lasers, financed by the 
Rothschild family, are the cause of wildfires in California. She has 
never equated vaccine mandates with Adolph Hitler. She has never, ever 
expressed support for executing leaders of the United States Congress.
  Now, being a conspiracy theorist alone is not grounds for removal 
from committees. I will admit that. But depicting violence or 
supporting violence against fellow Members of Congress is grounds for 
removal, be it a Democrat or a Republican.
  But no one has accused Representative Omar of depicting or supporting 
violence against anyone in this Chamber.
  So why will 90 percent of Jewish Members of the United States House 
of Representatives vote to maintain her committee assignment?
  Quite simply because we believe in the human capacity to learn from 
mistakes, to make amends, and that atonement should be rewarded, not 
punished.
  We also believe that the most dangerous acts by elected officials in 
a democracy are to silence voices of dissent, even those with which we 
fundamentally disagree. That is what this is about, silencing and 
canceling. How ironic.
  Furthermore, this is the very weaponization of anti-Semitism that I, 
as a Jewish person, find repulsive, I find dangerous and, above else, 
shameful. Yes, shameful.
  To my friends across the aisle: If you really are sincere about 
defeating anti-Semitism in America, how about ask us. How about ask us 
what we need. And let me assure you, you might be surprised by the 
answer.
  Mr. GUEST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Tennessee (Mr. Kustoff).
  Mr. KUSTOFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the resolution 
to remove Congresswoman Omar from the House Foreign Affairs Committee 
for her anti-Semitic speech, comments, and rhetoric.
  No doubt, words have meaning. When a Member of Congress stands in 
this Chamber or at home or in their district, the Nation and the world 
pays attention to what they say and how they say it.
  When a Member of Congress makes hateful and anti-Semitic remarks, 
they are amplified. They are magnified even more so when that Member 
sits on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, the committee tasked with 
helping set policy and providing oversight over our Nation's 
relationship with Israel and with Jewish communities around the world.
  It is imperative that this body not only speaks against anti-Semitism 
but also holds accountable those who spread such hateful beliefs.
  As our Nation's leaders, we have the ability and the responsibility 
to help combat anti-Semitism and ensure that our children, tomorrow's 
leaders, are taught that such rhetoric is unacceptable.
  Let's be clear: Anti-Semitism has no place in the Halls of Congress 
nor in our national conversation.
  I stand here today, in solidarity with the Jewish community, to send 
a strong message that the United States House of Representatives does 
not tolerate such behavior.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the resolution.
  Ms. WILD. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from 
Massachusetts (Ms. Clark), the minority whip.
  Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from 
Pennsylvania for yielding.
  The Speaker of the House wrote this week that removing Democrats from 
their committees was motivated by integrity.
  Integrity? Is that the quality of honesty and acting with moral 
principle?
  There is no integrity here.
  Congresswoman Omar is a committed, hardworking, and highly valued 
member of the Foreign Affairs Committee. A refugee and a survivor of 
war, she knows firsthand how much is at stake in its work. It is too 
serious of a subject to be subjected to partisan games by the 
Republican majority. But that is how the GOP has decided to govern: not 
with solutions, but with political stunts.
  How can my colleagues across the aisle talk about integrity and honor 
as they empower the most extreme voices in their party? As they claim 
due process has been added in when there is none? As they promote 
conspiracy theories?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentlewoman has expired.
  Ms. WILD. Mr. Speaker, I yield the gentlewoman from Massachusetts an 
additional 30 seconds.
  Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, as they stack some of our 
most critical committees with election deniers?
  It is too late to inject integrity into this sham process, but we, as 
Members, can inject our own by voting ``no'' on this resolution.
  Mr. GUEST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from New 
York (Ms. Malliotakis).
  Ms. MALLIOTAKIS. Mr. Speaker, we have heard from my colleagues the 
reasons why Representative Omar should be removed from this committee, 
but I feel like all the reasons have not just yet been stated, which is 
why I rise to add to the Record.
  We have heard about the comments that were made regarding anti-
Semitism and anti-Israeli views, but I rise to add to the Record that 
as a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, I have sat there and 
heard the Representative actually spew anti-American rhetoric, as well.
  I have been in that committee room where the Representative equates 
Israel and the United States to Hamas and the Taliban. Absolutely 
unacceptable for a member of that committee.
  I have also heard the Representative equate that it is the United 
States' fault that there is turmoil in Venezuela; that it is not 
because of the oppressive socialism and communism that has spread 
throughout Central and South America and Venezuela at the hands of the 
Maduro and Hugo Chavez regimes. That is unacceptable.

[[Page H647]]

  As a New York Representative, to hear the Representative belittle, to 
try to diminish the worst terrorist attack on United States soil on 
September 11, 2001, as ``some people did something,'' that is 
unacceptable, as well.
  And I hold the same standard for this side of the aisle that I do the 
other, because when another colleague on my side said something about 
9/11, I also voted to have her removed from the Committee on Education 
and Labor, because I thought that was inappropriate.
  So I am being consistent here, and I hope my colleagues will do the 
same, to show that this is about consistency and accountability. 
Because we should not have an individual with those views on the 
committee that is tasked with representing our country and our Congress 
to foreign nations.
  Ms. WILD. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from 
Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), the former majority leader.
  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to make the point: The two individuals 
that we removed from committees were not removed for their speech. They 
were removed because they made threats against other Members.
  This one was made before the Representative came. Mr. Gosar's, of 
course, was made during, but both were removed because of the threat 
they posed to three of our colleagues; not because of their speech but 
because of their threat with an AK-47 or AR-15--I am not sure which 
that gun is--and promoting themselves as the biggest nightmare to three 
of our colleagues, and Mr. Gosar portraying the murder of one of our 
colleagues.
  There is no equivalency here. We believe in free speech, however 
hateful that speech is. I will tell you, I take a back seat to no one 
in this Chamber in my support of Israel and against anti-Semitism, to 
no one, and my record reflects that.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
  Ms. WILD. Mr. Speaker, I yield the gentleman from Maryland an 
additional 30 seconds.
  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, the equivalency that has been made here is 
absolutely without merit, and you go down a terrible road.
  I do not agree with the statements that were made. I oppose them. I 
said on this floor that I opposed them.
  But by golly, there are a whole lot of your folks over there that I 
disagree with vehemently who rationalized insurrection and that would 
be a reason for me to vote for having them off a committee. But that is 
not how we operate.
  But if a Member threatens another Member, that is a different kettle 
of fish altogether.
  Mr. Speaker, I oppose this resolution and urge its rejection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Members are reminded to direct their remarks 
to the Chair.
  Mr. GUEST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Indiana (Mrs. Spartz).
  Mrs. SPARTZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise to comment on this resolution.
  Our country was founded on the principle of protecting the rights of 
the minority. It is considered a republic for a reason because our 
Founding Fathers understood that majority rule can lead to tyranny from 
the majority, mob rule, and dictatorship.
  Last Congress, Speaker Pelosi and the Democrat majority took 
unprecedented actions removing minority party Members from committees. 
They also made a resolution of inquiry, which they used against the 
Republican administration, and also eliminated the ability for the 
minority party.

                              {time}  1130

  It was very disappointing. What I ask--you know, I want to 
differentiate this resolution for Speaker McCarthy. He added explicitly 
to this resolution to make sure that we apply the same standard not 
just to Democrats but also to Republicans--and it is actually stated in 
this resolution--and also added that, you know, we might look into a 
process of appeal.
  I agree with the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania that we didn't have 
any due process because it was unprecedented what was done by her 
party. So maybe at least the committee could have the ability to look 
if there is a way to look at the process if that is going to be 
continued.
  I hope maybe we can reconcile it and have better collaboration as two 
parties, as we were talking today at the prayer breakfast, on a 
bipartisan basis. I think it is important for us to really look at us 
as a body and start respecting the minority.
  Unfortunately, the other party started this unprecedented action when 
they were in the majority, and we have to work on that; how we can 
reconcile.
  Ms. WILD. Madam Speaker, I completely concur with the gentlewoman 
from Indiana that we need a better process, and one that affords due 
process, but this resolution does not.
  Madam Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. 
Meeks), the ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, the 
former chairman.
  Mr. MEEKS. Madam Speaker, it is undeniable that Representative Omar 
has made what has been considered to be offensive anti-Semitic comments 
in the past. It is also undeniable that Representative Omar has 
apologized, learned, and been a reliable and productive member of the 
Foreign Affairs Committee. I have watched her work with her colleagues 
on both sides of the aisle. She cares about her country. She cares 
about our national security. She cares about diplomacy.
  Her perspective is invaluable to the House Foreign Affairs Committee. 
She is a refugee, and the only African-born Muslim member of the 
Foreign Affairs Committee. We know that diverse perspectives strengthen 
our policymaking and national security. Losing Representative Omar's 
voice on the committee to extremist politics would be a shameful mark 
on this body, harmful to the interest of the American people and our 
image abroad, and damage to democracy itself.
  I also know the sheer hypocrisy of Speaker McCarthy and Members of 
his party looking to deny Representative Omar's seat on the Foreign 
Affairs Committee is rich.
  This resolution is not about addressing dishonor or respect for the 
House. This resolution is not about addressing anti-Semitism. If it 
were, there would be other Members named in this resolution.
  For example, in October of 2018, a Republican Member tweeted: We 
cannot allow Soros, Steyer, and Bloomberg to buy this election. Get out 
and vote for Republicans on November 6. MAGA. That was the Speaker of 
the House.
  The tweet included a video featuring that Member discussing George 
Soros, Tom Steyer, and former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, all 
Jewish men who are significant donors of the Democratic campaigns and 
causes. Were these the only wealthy Democratic donors he could choose 
from?
  Jewish money buying elections is a stereotype about the Jewish faith 
popular among the alt-right. I recall no apology--unlike Representative 
Omar--to or for this tweet. This is far from the only example of the 
hypocrisy.
  Representatives on the Republican side have defended and agreed with 
well-known white supremacist and anti-Semite Nick Fuentes, and spoke at 
Fuentes' events.
  Other Republican Members have claimed that Zionist supremacists are 
conspiring to flood Europe with migrants in order to replace the White 
populations there.
  My Republican colleagues have quoted Adolf Hitler in congressional 
remarks, promoted the ``Great Replacement Theory,'' and invited a 
Holocaust denier to the State of the Union.
  Finally, when the Congress moved a House resolution condemning anti-
Semitism, there was only one Member that voted against it--and it 
wasn't a Democrat.
  Why is this Member being targeted today?
  We do not have time to go through the entire list of objectionable 
remarks that the other side has made. The point is, none of these 
comments caused any of the Members who made them to be removed from 
committees; not removed from the Education and Labor Committee, not 
removed from the Judiciary Committee, not removed from the Armed 
Services Committee, not removed from the Homeland Security Committee. A 
blatant double standard is being applied here.
  Something just doesn't add up. What is the difference between 
Representative Omar and these Members?

[[Page H648]]

  Could it be the way that she looks? Could it be her religious 
practices?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms. Malliotakis). The time of the gentleman 
has expired.
  Ms. WILD. Madam Speaker, I yield an additional 15 seconds to the 
gentleman from New York.
  Mr. MEEKS. Madam Speaker, it is clear, if she were on the other side 
of the aisle, we would not be having this debate today. That is 
absolutely clear.
  The GOP was not outraged when Donald Trump broke bread with the anti-
Semitic Holocaust deniers at his Florida mansion. There was no outrage 
when Donald Trump's tweets deployed images of the Star of David and 
stacks of currency. We need to vote ``no'' and stand up for democracy. 
Representative Omar needs to remain and be productive on the House 
Foreign Affairs Committee.
  Mr. GUEST. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Lawler).
  Mr. LAWLER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak in support of H. 
Res. 76. This is not about vengeance or retribution; it is about 
accountability.
  I represent New York's 17th Congressional District, home to one of 
the largest Jewish populations in the country. Between Westchester, 
Rockland, Putnam, and Dutchess counties, I represent almost 100,000 
constituents that practice the Jewish faith.
  I take the scourge of anti-Semitism very seriously. It is something 
that must be rooted out in our society, as well as in the Halls of 
Congress.
  No one who peddles in anti-Semitic activity, behavior, or language 
should have any right to serve on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, 
which has an incredibly important role to play in partnering with our 
strongest ally, the State of Israel.
  Two of my predecessors, Ben Gilman and Eliot Engel, served as chairs 
of this important committee. Israel's continued existence as a beacon 
of liberty, democracy, and peace in the Middle East serves as a model 
for other nations in the region and is something we should be 
celebrating, not demeaning.
  Comments made by Members of this body about support for Israel being 
``all about the Benjamins,'' or that the State of Israel is engaging in 
apartheid are appalling, wrong, and disqualifying.
  Additionally, those who dismiss 9/11 as some people who did 
something, are you kidding me? It was a terrorist attack. It wasn't 
some people doing something. Or to equate the United States and Israel, 
both democratic nations, to the Taliban and Hamas, and those who 
promote the anti-Semitic BDS movement--you are damn right they need to 
be held accountable.
  As a Member that represents a district that suffered greatly due to 
9/11, and still has constituents grappling with the effects of that 
horrific, tragic day, dying of 9/11 health-related situations, I find 
those remarks jarring, alarming, and insulting.
  To be clear, the Representative can say whatever the heck she wants, 
but we don't have to accept it or embrace it. Individuals who hold such 
hateful views should rightly be barred from that type of committee. We 
cannot let the poisonous ideology of anti-Semitism permeate into policy 
decisions that impact the lives of millions of Jews around the world.
  I will stand up to anti-Semitism and defend Israel's right to exist 
and the right of Jews everywhere to practice their faith peacefully and 
safely. This is not about silencing anyone. The rise in anti-Semitism 
is significant, and these hate crimes have not been prosecuted.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
  Mr. GUEST. Madam Speaker, I yield an additional 15 seconds to the 
gentleman from New York.
  Mr. LAWLER. Madam Speaker, words matter. Rhetoric matters. It leads 
to harm. The Congresswoman is being held accountable for her words and 
her actions, and that is why I support this resolution.
  Ms. WILD. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from New 
York (Ms. Ocasio-Cortez).
  Ms. OCASIO-CORTEZ. Madam Speaker, as a fellow New Yorker, I think one 
of the things that we should talk about here is also one of the 
disgusting legacies after 9/11, which has been the targeting and racism 
against Muslim-Americans throughout the United States of America. This 
is an extension of that legacy.
  Consistency? There is nothing consistent with the Republican Party's 
continued attack, except for the racism and incitement of violence 
against women of color in this body.
  I had a Member of the Republican Caucus threaten my life, and the 
Republican Caucus rewarded him with one of the most prestigious 
committee assignments in this Congress. Don't tell me this is about 
consistency.
  Don't tell me that this is about a condemnation of anti-Semitic 
remarks when you have a Member of the Republican Caucus who has talked 
about Jewish space lasers and an entire amount of tropes, and also 
elevated her to some of the highest committee assignments in this body.
  This is about targeting women of color in the United States of 
America. Don't tell me--because I didn't get a single apology when my 
life was threatened.
  Mr. GUEST. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. WILD. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from 
Massachusetts (Ms. Pressley).
  Ms. PRESSLEY. Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to the rhetoric and 
resolution from across the aisle; our colleagues, who, once again, seek 
to make history for all the wrong reasons.
  I rise on behalf of every little girl who sees herself in the 
leadership of Congresswoman Omar. She is a mother, daughter, refugee, 
advocate, skilled policymaker, a duly and decisively elected third-term 
Member to the U.S. House of Representatives.
  I have spent time in the Minnesota Fifth. I have seen her pull her 
community through grief and loss. I have seen her stand arm-in-arm on 
picket lines with our educators and our nurses. I have seen her pass 
historic legislation to feed our babies in our schools.
  She has built coalitions, given constituents in crisis a sense of 
agency and centered the most marginalized in word and deed.
  No matter how embattled, no matter how racially profiled, no matter 
how targeted, she has pressed on for peace over militarization, human 
rights at home and abroad, a world where an education is a fundamental 
right and where gender equity is recognized. I want to live in that 
world. Let me make it plain: Congresswoman Ilhan Omar is right where 
she belongs. Her work in Congress is needed.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentlewoman has expired.
  Mr. GUEST. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from 
Florida, (Mr. Gimenez), my friend.
  Mr. GIMENEZ. Madam Speaker, anti-Semitism has no place on the Foreign 
Affairs Committee. I will say it again: Anti-Semitism has no place on 
the Foreign Affairs Committee.
  That is why Representative Omar has no place specifically on the 
Foreign Affairs Committee, where Israel's security is one of the issues 
of critical importance.
  Without a doubt, the democratic Jewish State of Israel is America's 
strongest ally in the Middle East and has a fundamental right to exist.
  Representative Omar has repeated anti-Semitic canards and perpetuated 
hateful tropes against the Jewish community. Her comments have 
compromised the ability of the House Foreign Affairs Committee to 
conduct its official business.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote in the affirmative to 
remove Representative Omar from the Foreign Affairs Committee.

                              {time}  1145

  Ms. WILD. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from 
Missouri (Ms. Bush).
  Ms. BUSH. Madam Speaker, St. Louis and I rise in support of 
Congresswoman Ilhan Omar. I have been to her district. I have spoken 
with her constituents. We visited marginalized communities globally 
together. This institution is better because of her leadership, and the 
Foreign Affairs Committee benefits from her perspective.
  Let's talk about what is really happening. Republicans are waging a 
blatantly Islamophobic and racist attack on Congresswoman Omar.
  I have said it before, and I will say it again: The white supremacy 
happening is unbelievable. This is despicable.

[[Page H649]]

  It is Congresswoman Omar who has been harassed at her job for simply 
existing as a Muslim woman in Congress. It is she who has been attacked 
by a Member of this body, ridiculing her as a potential terrorist for 
simply existing as a Muslim woman in this Congress.
  Rather than bring actual accountability, any accountability, to 
Congress, they bring this offensive resolution to the floor. This is 
just a bunch of racist gaslighting. We all know it. Vote ``no.''
  Mr. GUEST. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. WILD. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Swalwell).
  Mr. SWALWELL. Madam Speaker, when I heard that we are going to remove 
a Member of this House from their committee for anti-Semitism, I raced 
down here because I thought, finally--finally--in this Chamber there is 
going to be some accountability, some accountability from this 
Conference that continues to allow its members to root for rioters, to 
show sympathy for the insurrection, a Conference that harbors a wanted 
international criminal and has members who choose violence over voting 
every single day. Finally.
  I thought that if we were going to hold someone accountable for anti-
Semitism, surely it is the author of this tweet: ``Kanye. Elon. 
Trump.'' October 6, written by Chairman   Jim Jordan.
  October 8, what does Kanye say? That he is going to declare ``death 
con 3'' on the Jews.
  So, surely, this tweet came down, that it was deleted? No. Two more 
months it was kept up.
  Don't come here looking at us for anti-Semitism. Look in your own 
damn mirror before you ever come over here.
  Mr. GUEST. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. WILD. How much time is remaining, Madam Speaker?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentlewoman from Pennsylvania has 10\1/
4\ minutes remaining.
  Ms. WILD. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from the 
State of Washington (Ms. Jayapal).
  Ms. JAYAPAL. Madam Speaker, this is a revenge resolution.
  It is a revenge resolution that seeks to remove Representative Ilhan 
Omar's strong and necessary voice from the Foreign Affairs Committee.
  It is an attempt to silence her simply because you do not agree with 
her views and you cannot begin to understand her lived experience as a 
war survivor, as a refugee, and as somebody who brings an experience to 
this body that you are not even trying to understand.
  We have previously voted, in a bipartisan manner, to remove 
individuals from their committee assignments because of their violent 
actions that endanger the safety of their colleagues.
  That is not what today is about. Today is about revenge. It is also 
about the fact that Republicans want to distract the American people 
from the fact that they have absolutely no legislation to bring to the 
floor that is actually about helping the American people with their 
costs, with dealing with inflation.
  You don't have any solutions, so you are trying to distract with 
these inane, insulting, absurd--absolutely absurd--resolutions.
  Vote ``no.''
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Members are reminded to direct their remarks 
to the Chair.
  Mr. GUEST. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. WILD. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Schiff).
  Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to this 
resolution.
  First, as to the false pretext, two members of the Republican 
Conference were removed from committees for inciting violence and 
encouraging violence against their colleagues. There is nothing at all 
at issue like that here.
  If you want to introduce a resolution to condemn someone for inciting 
violence against a colleague or against people here in Congress, 
introduce a resolution against Donald J. Trump. No one has incited more 
violence against this Chamber than Donald Trump.
  Now, let me talk about anti-Semitism.
  Do not insult our intelligence by suggesting this is about anti-
Semitism. If you want to introduce a resolution against someone guilty 
of anti-Semitism, then introduce a resolution against someone dining 
with anti-Semites, someone dining with white nationalists, members of 
your Conference who are speaking at white nationalist rallies.
  Introduce a resolution against Donald J. Trump, Marjorie Taylor 
Greene, Paul Gosar, and others, but do not--do not--insult our 
intelligence by saying this is about anti-Semitism.
  Vote ``no'' on this resolution.
  Mr. GUEST. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. WILD. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from 
Wisconsin (Mr. Pocan).
  Mr. POCAN. Madam Speaker, this is a new low.
  The majority party uplifts and seats on committees a Member who has a 
history of pathological lying but wants to remove someone who even 
Republican Members of Congress admit is a talented member of the 
Foreign Affairs Committee.

  Madam Speaker, do you want to oust people for what they said?
  How about a member of the majority party who has said that Jewish 
space lasers set forest fires in California? No. She is seated on a 
committee.
  Multiple Republican Members have said that prominent Jewish Democrats 
essentially bought control of Congress. They are not only given full 
congressional privileges, but the majority elects them to GOP 
leadership.
  Republicans only draw a line when an incredibly productive member of 
a committee says something that she has apologized for. That doesn't 
add up.
  This clearly isn't about what Ilhan Omar said as much as who she is.
  Being a smart, outspoken Black woman of the Muslim faith is 
apparently the issue, and some Republicans can't handle that, so they 
are going to kick her off the committee.
  This is unbelievable bigotry. Shame on them.
  Mr. GUEST. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. WILD. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from 
Illinois (Ms. Schakowsky).
  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, I stand before my colleagues as a 
proud Jew and a proud friend and colleague of Ilhan Omar.
  I don't need any of you to defend me against anti-Semitism. My 
friend, Ilhan Omar, and I have worked together on the values that I 
treasure as an American Jew and that she treasures as an American 
Islamic woman, the only one on the Foreign Affairs Committee. That is 
the third largest religion in the United States of America.
  I am just furious. We have seen all kinds of anti-Semitism from the 
other side of the aisle.
  As Americans, we should be welcoming differences. Vote ``no'' on 
this. We need to defend our values as Americans and my values as a Jew.
  Mr. GUEST. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. WILD. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from 
Michigan (Ms. Tlaib).
  Ms. TLAIB. Desperation--so desperate to distract the American people 
from their total inability to govern, the GOP is now doing what it is 
best at: weaponizing hate against a Black, beautiful, Muslim woman.
  Congresswoman Omar's lived experience as a refugee and a childhood 
survivor of war should be welcomed on this committee. It is needed.
  Madam Speaker, when you can't pass any bills that actually improve 
the people's lives, then they turn Congress into a place of 
fearmongering hate.
  It is so painful to watch. How ironic that the so-called lovers of 
personal freedom are now moving to censor Congresswoman Omar in the 
same week they introduced a bill to ban Federal employees from engaging 
in censorship.
  Where are the free speech warriors today? The hypocrisy is obvious to 
the American people. The majority is showing who they are.
  I know Congresswoman Omar will not be silenced.
  I say to Congresswoman Omar: I am so sorry that our country is 
failing you today through this Chamber.

[[Page H650]]

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentlewoman's time has expired. The 
gentlewoman is no longer recognized.
  Mr. GUEST. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. WILD. Madam Speaker, how much time remains on my side of the 
aisle?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentlewoman from Pennsylvania has 5\1/4\ 
minutes remaining.
  Ms. WILD. Madam Speaker, for the purpose of closing, I yield the 
balance of my time to the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. Omar).
  Ms. OMAR. Madam Speaker, this debate today is about who gets to be an 
American. What opinions do we have to have to be counted as Americans?
  This is what this debate is about, Madam Speaker.
  There is this idea that you are suspect if you are an immigrant or if 
you are from certain parts of the world or a certain skin tone or a 
Muslim.
  It is no accident that members of the Republican Party accused the 
first Black President, Barack Obama, of being a secret Muslim. It is no 
accident that former President Donald Trump led a birther movement that 
falsely claimed he was born in Kenya because, to them, falsely labeling 
the first and only Black President of the United States of America a 
Muslim and an African immigrant somehow made him less American.
  Well, I am Muslim. I am an immigrant and, interestingly, from Africa. 
Is anyone surprised that I am being targeted? Is anyone surprised that 
I am somehow deemed unworthy to speak about American foreign policy, or 
that they see me as a powerful voice that needs to be silenced?
  Frankly, it is expected because when you push power, power pushes 
back.
  Representation matters. Continuing to expand our ideas of who is 
American and who can partake in the American experiment is a good 
thing.
  I am an American, an American who was sent here by her constituents 
to represent them in Congress, a refugee who survived the horrors of a 
civil war, someone who spent her childhood in a refugee camp. I am 
someone who knows what it means to have a shot at a better life here in 
the United States. I am someone who believes in the American Dream, the 
American possibility, and the promise and the ability to participate in 
the democratic process.
  That is what this debate is about.
  There is an idea out there that I do not have objective 
decisionmaking because of who I am, where I come from, and my 
perspective, but I reject that.
  We say there is nothing objective about policymaking. We all inject 
our perspectives, our points of view, our lived experiences, and the 
voices of our constituents. That is what democracy is about.
  What is the work of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Madam Speaker? It 
is not to cosign the stated foreign policy of whatever administration 
is in power. It is about oversight. It is to critique and to advocate 
for a better path forward. Most importantly, it is to make the myth 
that American foreign policy is intrinsically moral, a reality.
  I will continue to speak up because representation matters. I will 
continue to speak up for little kids who wonder who is speaking up for 
them. I will continue to speak up for families around the world who are 
seeking justice whether they are displaced in refugee camps or hiding 
under their beds somewhere, as I was, waiting for the bullets to stop 
because this child survivor of war would have wanted that.
  The 9-year-old me would be disappointed if I didn't talk about the 
victims of conflict on behalf of those who are experiencing unjust 
wars, atrocities, ethnic cleansing, occupation, or displacement, as I 
did.

                              {time}  1200

  They are looking to the international community and the United 
States, asking for help. They look to us because the international 
community and the United States profess the values of protecting human 
rights and upholding international law. We owe it to them not to make 
this a myth but a reality.
  I didn't come to Congress to be silent. I came to Congress to be 
their voice, and my leadership and voice will not be diminished if I am 
not on this committee for one term. My voice will get louder and 
stronger, and my leadership will be celebrated around the world, as it 
has been.
  So take your vote or not, I am here to stay, and I am here to be a 
voice against the harms around the world and advocate for a better 
world.
  Ms. WILD. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. GUEST. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to 
close.
  Madam Speaker, I adopt the comments that were made by the then-
chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Eliot Engel.
  In late February 2019, after a third anti-Semitic statement in just 
over 2 weeks--17 days, to be exact--then-chairman of the Foreign 
Affairs Committee Eliot Engel said these words: ``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.' ''
  I agree with the statements made by Chairman Engel.
  Not only do Representative Omar's comments have no place in the 
Foreign Affairs Committee, I hold that anyone who makes such statements 
has no place serving on the Foreign Affairs Committee.
  I ask all Members to support this resolution removing Ms. Omar from 
the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise to oppose H. Res. 76, the 
motion to remove Congresswoman Ilhan Omar from the House Foreign 
Affairs Committee.
  Let's be frank. This is not about antisemitism. If we're going to 
have a conversation about antisemitism, let's start with Donald Trump 
inviting vile antisemites and neo-Nazis like Nick Fuentes to dine with 
him.
  This vote today is a partisan, baseless attack of political vengeance 
and nothing more.
  I want to make very clear what this country would lose without 
Congresswoman Omar's representation on the Foreign Affairs Committee.
  Ilhan, who I've had the pleasure of getting to know well over the 
years, is an experienced, dedicated, talented legislator and public 
servant. She is a survivor of war who knows first-hand the trauma of 
conflict and life in a refugee camp. And she would be the first 
African-born member to serve as a Ranking Member of the Africa 
Subcommittee.
  Republicans are taking this action at the same moment that we are 
working to rebuild relationships with the people of Africa--at the same 
time that China emerges as a powerful force on the continent. By 
treating Congresswoman Omar this way, we are silencing the voice of a 
woman who knows firsthand what is needed to repair our relationships on 
the African continent and allow it to thrive, as opposed to castigating 
African nations as ``S-hole'' countries like the former president and 
leader of the Republican party shamefully did.
  Stripping her from this committee is not only undemocratic. It is a 
shame, a disgrace, and a profound loss for the people of the United 
States. I urge my colleagues to do the right thing, to stand with 
Ilhan, and to vote against this bigoted resolution.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. All time for debate has expired.
  Pursuant to House Resolution 83, the previous question is ordered on 
the resolution and the preamble.
  The question is on adoption of the resolution.
  The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that 
the ayes appeared to have it.
  Mr. GUEST. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Members will record their votes by 
electronic device.
  Pursuant to clause 9 of rule XX, this 15-minute vote on the adoption 
of the resolution will be followed by a 5-minute vote on adoption of H. 
Con. Res. 9.
  The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--yeas 218, 
nays 211, answered ``present'' 1, not voting 4, as follows:

                             [Roll No. 105]

                               YEAS--218

     Aderholt
     Alford
     Allen
     Amodei
     Armstrong
     Arrington
     Babin
     Bacon
     Baird
     Balderson
     Banks
     Barr
     Bean (FL)
     Bentz
     Bergman

[[Page H651]]


     Bice
     Biggs
     Bilirakis
     Bishop (NC)
     Boebert
     Bost
     Brecheen
     Buchanan
     Buck
     Bucshon
     Burchett
     Burgess
     Burlison
     Calvert
     Cammack
     Carey
     Carl
     Carter (GA)
     Carter (TX)
     Chavez-DeRemer
     Ciscomani
     Cline
     Cloud
     Clyde
     Cole
     Collins
     Comer
     Crane
     Crawford
     Crenshaw
     Curtis
     D'Esposito
     Davidson
     De La Cruz
     DesJarlais
     Diaz-Balart
     Donalds
     Duarte
     Duncan
     Dunn (FL)
     Edwards
     Ellzey
     Emmer
     Estes
     Ezell
     Fallon
     Feenstra
     Ferguson
     Finstad
     Fischbach
     Fitzgerald
     Fitzpatrick
     Fleischmann
     Flood
     Foxx
     Franklin, C. Scott
     Fry
     Fulcher
     Gaetz
     Gallagher
     Garbarino
     Garcia, Mike
     Gimenez
     Gonzales, Tony
     Good (VA)
     Gooden (TX)
     Gosar
     Granger
     Graves (LA)
     Graves (MO)
     Green (TN)
     Greene (GA)
     Griffith
     Grothman
     Guest
     Guthrie
     Hageman
     Harris
     Harshbarger
     Hern
     Higgins (LA)
     Hill
     Hinson
     Houchin
     Hudson
     Huizenga
     Issa
     Jackson (TX)
     James
     Johnson (LA)
     Johnson (OH)
     Johnson (SD)
     Jordan
     Joyce (PA)
     Kean (NJ)
     Kelly (MS)
     Kelly (PA)
     Kiggans (VA)
     Kiley
     Kim (CA)
     Kustoff
     LaHood
     LaLota
     LaMalfa
     Lamborn
     Langworthy
     Latta
     LaTurner
     Lawler
     Lee (FL)
     Lesko
     Letlow
     Loudermilk
     Lucas
     Luetkemeyer
     Luna
     Luttrell
     Mace
     Malliotakis
     Mann
     Massie
     Mast
     McCarthy
     McCaul
     McClain
     McClintock
     McCormick
     McHenry
     Meuser
     Miller (IL)
     Miller (OH)
     Miller (WV)
     Miller-Meeks
     Mills
     Molinaro
     Moolenaar
     Mooney
     Moore (AL)
     Moore (UT)
     Moran
     Murphy
     Nehls
     Newhouse
     Norman
     Nunn (IA)
     Obernolte
     Ogles
     Owens
     Palmer
     Perry
     Pfluger
     Posey
     Reschenthaler
     Rodgers (WA)
     Rogers (AL)
     Rogers (KY)
     Rose
     Rosendale
     Rouzer
     Roy
     Rutherford
     Salazar
     Santos
     Scalise
     Schweikert
     Scott, Austin
     Self
     Sessions
     Simpson
     Smith (MO)
     Smith (NE)
     Smith (NJ)
     Smucker
     Spartz
     Stauber
     Steel
     Stefanik
     Steil
     Stewart
     Strong
     Tenney
     Thompson (PA)
     Tiffany
     Timmons
     Turner
     Valadao
     Van Drew
     Van Duyne
     Van Orden
     Wagner
     Walberg
     Waltz
     Weber (TX)
     Webster (FL)
     Wenstrup
     Westerman
     Williams (NY)
     Williams (TX)
     Wilson (SC)
     Wittman
     Womack
     Yakym
     Zinke

                               NAYS--211

     Adams
     Aguilar
     Allred
     Auchincloss
     Balint
     Barragan
     Beatty
     Bera
     Beyer
     Bishop (GA)
     Blumenauer
     Blunt Rochester
     Bonamici
     Bowman
     Boyle (PA)
     Brown
     Brownley
     Budzinski
     Bush
     Caraveo
     Carbajal
     Cardenas
     Carson
     Carter (LA)
     Cartwright
     Casar
     Case
     Casten
     Castor (FL)
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                        ANSWERED ``PRESENT''--1

       
     Joyce (OH)
       

                             NOT VOTING--4

     Cohen
     Hunt
     Pence
     Steube

                              {time}  1227

  Ms. BUDZINSKI, Mrs. PELTOLA, Ms. KUSTER, Mr. VICENTE GONZALEZ of 
Texas, and Ms. ESHOO changed their votes from ``yea'' to ``nay.''
  So the resolution was agreed to.
  The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________