The California chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CA) today commended the 21 California representatives who voted to oppose $3.3 billion in new funding for the Israeli government and strongly condemned the state’s representatives who voted to maintain the funding.
Earlier today, the House of Representatives voted on Amendment No. 8 to H.R. 8595— introduced by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY)—which would have prohibited funds appropriated under the bill from being used for Israel and reduced the Foreign Military Financing Program account by $3.3 billion.
Although the House ultimately failed to pass the amendment in a 104–314 vote, a record number of representatives voted against the funding, including a majority of Democrats.
The California representatives who opposed the funding are Reps. Nanette Barragán, Julia Brownley, Salud Carbajal, Judy Chu, Mark DeSaulnier, Laura Friedman, John Garamendi, Robert Garcia, Josh Harder, Sara Jacobs, Sydney Kamlager-Dove, Ro Khanna, Zoe Lofgren, Doris Matsui, Dave Min, Kevin Mullin, Nancy Pelosi, Lateefah Simon, Mark Takano, Derek Tran, and Maxine Waters.
In a statement, CAIR-CA CEO Hussam Ayloush said:
“We commend the principled California representatives who voted to stop wasting American taxpayer dollars on the Israeli government’s crimes, and we strongly condemn the representatives who voted to continue our nation’s complicity in genocide.
“Although the amendment to end $3.3 billion in taxpayer funding for the Israeli apartheid government did not pass, more members of Congress than ever before—including a majority of Democrats—voted to stop enabling Israeli war crimes that have killed tens of thousands of innocent people, many of them children, and caused a severe humanitarian catastrophe.
“Lawmakers are gradually catching up to the American public, which does not want elected officials to spend their taxpayer dollars on killing children and families across the Middle East. Americans across the political spectrum have engaged their representatives and demanded support for advancing their interests and values, not the whims of the Israeli government.
“The movement for justice must continue until U.S. policy reflects the principles of human rights, equal protection under the law, and respect for international humanitarian rights for all, including the Palestinian people.”
CAIR-CA is the California chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACT: CAIR-LA Communications Manager Enjy El-Kadi, (714) 851-4851 or eelkadi@cair.com; CAIR-LA Senior Communications Coordinator Madi Hameed, mmorse-hameed@cair.com
