On the recordOctober 25, 2023
I want to make it clear: I have condemned Hamas for their heinous attacks on civilians and call for an immediate release of the Israeli hostages. I continue to call for the safety of all civilians in the Middle East. Unfortunately, today's resolution H. Res. 771 is horribly one-sided. By failing to acknowledge the growing loss of Palestinian lives or that all Palestinians are not Hamas, this resolution creates further division and spurs harmful rhetoric. We must defend our Jewish brothers and sisters from Antisemitism. Muslims must also be defended from Islamophobia, and not have their patriotism questioned because they believe in justice for Palestinians. As a senior Member of the Intelligence Committee and through my work on the Counterterrorism, Counterintelligence, and Counterproliferation Subcommittee--and having spent many years working in law enforcement--I am concerned that these kinds of one-sided resolutions have become and will continue to be recruitment tools for extremists. This is why I am co-leading H. Res. 786, the Ceasefire Now Resolution, which I believe is the best way to prevent further tragic loss of life to Palestinian civilians and simultaneously ensure the safe return of hostages. Only then can we begin to move towards a long- term, two-state solution that includes both Palestinians and Israelis living in peace and liberation, side by side. This resolution rightly mourns the nearly 1,400 Israelis and Americans killed and wounded.…





