Dear [salutation],
I wanted to reach out to provide you with more insight on bills passing through Congress and developments in the Middle East as I have been keeping you updated. As we consider vital pieces of legislation that affect not just the United States but millions of people abroad, I wanted to take some time to explain my votes on several bills the House considered this week.
After Iran’s attack on Israel over the past weekend, there have been many concerns regarding a potential widening of the existing conflict into the broader Middle East region. It is critical that we take necessary measures to de-escalate tensions between Israel, Iran, and other regional actors that could lead to a wider war and further loss of life.
Bills I supported:
Just days ago, Americans watched as the United States and other allied nations helped defend Israel against Iranian aggression, and today, I voted in favor of H.R. 8034 – Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024, as part of a wider funding package called the national security supplemental. Following those attacks and as regional tensions increase in the Middle East, the package supplies substantial and life-saving defensive weapons systems – including the Iron Dome and David’s Sling - to Israel, ensuring its ability to defend itself not only against Hamas and Iran but also against Hezbollah and Iran’s terroristic proxies. It also increases counterterrorism operations in the region and replenishes the United States’ domestic weaponry stockpiles. Also included in this package, and critically important to me, is $9.2 billion in desperately needed humanitarian aid – including for Gaza and other war-torn countries, where famine is ravaging civilian populations.
But my support for the Israel package comes with my continued calls on the Administration to use its leverage with Israel to allow more life-saving humanitarian aid to enter Gaza, and to hold the Netanyahu government accountable for any violations of international humanitarian law or NSM-20.
I want El Pasoans to know that I spent a significant amount of time both in a classified setting and in a number of meetings and conversations with my staff as well as experts inside and outside of Washington about the aid to Israel. I had tough questions for the Administration, especially given my concerns about Netanyahu’s execution of this war.
Additionally, following an unprecedented drone and missile attack from Iran on Israel, I voted for H.Res. 1143 which condemns Iran’s actions. This attack reaffirmed our commitment to our closest ally in the Middle East and Israel’s right to self-defense. The resolution calls on all countries to unequivocally condemn Iran’s attack and urges full enforcement of American sanctions and export controls against Iran as it seeks to re-establish deterrence against it and its proxies.
I also voted in support of:
H.Res.288 – a resolution that urges the European Union to quickly designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization. It also calls on the Biden Administration to make this EU designation a diplomatic priority in engagements with the organization.
Additionally, I voted for several bills to strengthen sanctions on terror organizations and the manufacturing of illicit drugs around the globe. H.R. 5917 – Strengthening Tools to Counter the Use of Human Shields Act and H.R. 4681 – Illicit Captagon Trafficking Suppression Act extend sanctions on Hamas and on organizations that manufacture the synthetic drug Captagon in Syria, and H.R. 3033 – Solidify Iran Sanctions Act of 2023 requires the President to impose sanctions on certain individuals or entities related to Iran's energy sector or its efforts to acquire or develop certain weapons.
Bills I could not fully support:
Throughout the week, I also voted against a number of bills concerning our economic and foreign relationship with Iran. The President is the individual charged with reacting to the ever-changing foreign relations landscape, deploying his cabinet to execute diplomatic efforts to serve our national security interests. The flexibility of this role is ever more important amidst Republican infighting, which has prevented Congress from thoughtfully deliberating on these matters at a time of global uncertainty. We have repeatedly seen the dysfunction of the Republican majority effectively freeze the House of Representatives for weeks at a time. I could not vote in favor of legislation that I believe creates unnecessary hurdles for the Administration to nimbly react to problems abroad.
I voted against:
H.R. 4691 – The Iran Sanctions Relief Review Act, H.R. 5947 - to provide for the rescission of certain waivers and licenses relating to Iran, and for other purposes, and H.R. 6323 – Iran Counterterrorism Act. Despite the misleading titles, these bills would severely undercut the President’s ability to negotiate effectively, deescalate tensions, and use longstanding executive authorities, significantly slowing our ability to respond to international crises.
H.R. 6046 – Standing Against Houthi Aggression Act – this bill would designate the Amsarallah (Houthis), a political and religious minority in the country of Yemen, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. The Houthis are currently designated as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) group, and the change in designation by this bill would make it impossible to facilitate humanitarian aid from reaching innocent and starving Yemeni people not involved in illegal or terroristic activity.
H.R. 5826 – No Paydays to Hostage Takers Act – prohibits certain Iranian diplomats from traveling to New York City to attend a meeting at the United Nations. This would be a violation of US agreements to host the UN, and impose restrictions on American citizens visiting Iran, which would disproportionately harm the Iranian-American community.
I also wanted to share my reason for voting against H.Res. 883, which condemns the slogan “from the river to the sea,” as antisemitic. I have heard from members of our local Jewish community who were disappointed by my vote, including through an open letter.
For constituents who are interested in the historical context of this phrase, the Associated Press and the Washington Post published articles last year that you might find helpful.
This slogan is deeply hurtful to the Jewish community, and they hear it as a call for the eradication of Jews in Israel. I have been deeply troubled by the unacceptable increase in antisemitism that includes the use of the slogan, especially after the brutal and horrific attack on October 7. To be clear, my “no” vote was not a signal that I support the use of the slogan or that I am unsympathetic to the pain it causes. And not only do I believe that anyone who uses this slogan as a call for the eradication of Jews isn’t just being hurtful or antisemitic, but reckless and dangerous as well. I hope that members of the community who have come to know me over my 18 years in public service know that I would never condone hate speech and am very sensitive to the pain it causes.
As I have said about many issues, two things can be true at once. Just as this slogan is deeply painful for some in our community, it has a different meaning for others (as mentioned in the AP and Washington Post articles).
Here at home, there are young El Pasoans for whom this slogan does not mean they want to see the eradication of Jews in Israel and who are as profoundly distressed as I am by the devastating loss of life on October 7th and the tens of thousands of innocent civilian lives in Gaza – mostly children and women. They cannot look away from the desperation created by the Netanyahu government’s blockade of aid and the resulting famine Gazans now face. These young El Pasoans, whom I also represent, see the slogan as a cry for peaceful co-existence.
I do want to make clear: there should be no disagreement that words have power. El Pasoans understand this, especially after the August 3 attack on our community by a white supremacist who targeted people in our community for being part of a “Hispanic invasion.”
I call out my Republican colleagues for their incessant use of the word “invasion” because it, too, causes pain and helped fuel deadly violence against our community. Even the Republican sponsor of this resolution condemning the “river to the sea” slogan as antisemitic frequently uses the hateful term “invasion.”
In the spirit of understanding that is so sorely lacking in many of today’s policy debates, I do want those who use the “river to the sea” slogan to be aware of the pain it causes members of our Jewish community. Our nation is already facing deep divisions words have power. These times call for mutual understanding and compassion.
As unrest continues in the region, I remain committed to using my platform as your representative to seek a peaceful resolution to the Israel-Hamas war that includes the return of hostages, an end to the bloodshed, and a two-state solution to grant Israelis and Palestinians lasting security and peace. I also remain committed to ensuring you have accurate information about my positions as this conflict continues to evolve.
