Washington, D.C. | February 1, 2023 – House Republicans are on the cusp of making a serious misstep by proposing to oust from the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Rep. Ilhan Omar over her past comments critical of Israel.
Removing Rep. Omar from her position as a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee sends a disturbing message to Americans: That it is acceptable to punish elected officials based on their views rather than on merit and consistency with our nation’s values.
Take Action now! Tell congress to Stand up for Rep. Omar
As a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Rep. Omar has often been vocal in her advocacy for human rights and international law, and holding countries like Israel accountable for their abuses of and violations of human rights. She consistently stands firm in insisting that the US should protect vulnerable populations around the world. Given her unwavering commitment to these principles, it is difficult to accept any reasoning that Rep. Omar’s voice should be removed at this critical time in history.
ADC Communications Manager Jasmine Hawamdeh said, “Representative Omar is constantly breaking barriers, and is unfairly targeted as the first Somali-American, African immigrant and woman of color to be elected to Congress from Minnesota. She has earned an equal platform so that we can continue hearing her voice on matters of international importance, such as human rights protections around the globe.”
Last Friday, Congresswoman Omar’s office issued a press release stating that she had been appointed to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, in addition to the Education and the Workforce Committee. Bloomberg media reports that House Democrats last week voted by “unanimous consent during a closed-door meeting last week to allow Omar to remain on the committee.”