[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 22 (Friday, January 30, 2026)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E85]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             REINTRODUCTION OF THE JUSTICE FOR SHIREEN ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ANDRE CARSON

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, January 30, 2026

  Mr. CARSON. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to reintroduce the Justice for 
Shireen Act today. I thank my House Colleagues who joined me in calling 
for a report to Congress from the FBI and State Department, in 
consultation with the Attorney General, Secretary of Defense and 
Director of National Intelligence, on the death of American-Palestinian 
Journalist, Shireen Abu Akleh. I send my deep condolences to the Abu 
Akleh family for this terrible killing and continue to stand with them 
to demand justice and accountability.
  Shireen Abu Akleh, an American-Palestinian Journalist, was killed on 
May 11, 2022. She was killed while wearing a clearly marked press vest 
on assignment, reporting on a military raid that took place in the 
Israeli occupied city of Jenin. Shortly after her death, I led a 
letter, signed by 58 Members of Congress, to the FBI and State 
Department calling for an independent and open investigation led by her 
home country, the United States, and 24 Senators have echoed this 
request. More than three years later, and we still do not have answers. 
It is imperative that Congress receives the information needed to 
conduct the necessary oversight. We must ensure no taxpayer dollars 
contribute to human rights violations or anyone's death--most 
especially an American abroad.
  As an American, Ms. Abu Akleh was entitled to the full protections 
afforded to U.S. citizens living abroad. As Members of Congress, we 
need to uphold the values that our nation was founded on, including 
human rights, equality for all, freedom of speech, and freedom of the 
press. As Members of Congress, we have a duty to protect Americans 
reporting abroad. An Israeli investigation was concluded, finding that 
it was indeed an Israel Solider who shot Ms. Abu Akleh in her line of 
duty. It is the responsibility of the U.S. to learn all the unanswered 
questions leading up to, during and after the fatal shot that killed 
Ms. Abu Akleh. Additionally, this bill requires an identification of 
any United States defense materials or services that were implicated in 
the death of Ms. Abu Akleh. No U.S. weapons or military services by the 
U.S. should be used to kill Americans on foreign soil. American 
taxpayers should not be paying for any violation of human rights 
abroad.
  Mr. Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join me in calling for justice 
and accountability for Shireen Abu Akleh.

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