Rashida Tlaib: “This amendment is to discuss whether or not, again, our body, the United States House of Representatives, is standing…”

“This amendment is to discuss whether or not, again, our body, the United States House of Representatives, is standing and making sure that we don't undermine international law and the institutions that work to uphold it, especially the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court. I think it is incredibly harmful to allow many of my colleagues to take great lengths right here to protect war criminals, apartheid regimes, folks that continue to commit war crimes in targeting civilians including tent communities, schools, and hospitals. This bill undermines the international legal system for seeking to hold various officials, again, countries that are violating crimes against humanity. Again, it is really important. My amendment basically allows us to include countries that are currently under investigation or their leaders have been convicted or have an arrest warrant out for the fact that they have committed violation of international human rights laws. I know when it comes to Russia or China, my colleagues like to talk about rule-based international order. When it comes to governments like the government of Israel, my colleagues are willing to throw international law in the shredder. Their actions consistently undermine the principle of equal justice under law when they protect perpetrators of the most horrific crimes against humanity. I wish my colleagues would see what is happening.…”