Washington, D.C. | adc.org | May 24, 2023 – On May 5th, Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-04) reintroduced the Defending the Human Rights of Palestinian Children and Families Living Under Israeli Military Occupation Act, H.R. 3103. The bill prohibits Israel’s government from using U.S. taxpayer dollars in the Occupied West Bank for the military detention, abuse, or ill treatment of Palestinian children in Israeli military detention; the seizure and destruction of Palestinian property and homes in violation of international humanitarian law; or any assistance or support for unilateral annexation of Palestinian lands in violation of international humanitarian law. This should be an uncontroversial piece of legislation, every member of the House should support human rights.
The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) is a proud organizational sponsor of H.R. 3103 and urges its supporters to tell their members of Congress to join with Rep. McCollum by co-sponsoring it. Make sure that your elected representative knows that you are not only supporting this bill, but that you expect them to as well.
In reintroducing the bill Rep. McCollum said, “Not $1 of U.S. aid should be used to commit human rights violations, demolish families’ homes, or permanently annex Palestinian lands”. This is a sentiment that everyone should agree with. The actions and atrocities committed by the Israelis are not up for debate, they are a matter of fact affirmed and confirmed by every major human rights organization in the world. The only question now is what the U.S. will do to hold Israel accountable.
Currently, Reps. Don Beyer (VA-08), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Rashida Tlaib (MI-13), Donald Payne Jr. (NJ-10), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Raúl Grijalva (AZ-03), Jamaal Bowman (NY-16), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Cori Bush (MO-01), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Jesus “Chuy” Garcia (IL-04), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Barbara Lee (CA-12), Summer Lee (PA-12), Dwight Evans (PA-03), Judy Chu (CA-28), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-At Large), and Paul Tonko (NY-20) have all signed on as co-sponsors. If you live in one of their districts, it is still important that you make your voice heard by thanking them for their support.
Tell Your Representative That Palestinian Human Rights Are Non-Negotiable!