February 2, 2023.  

Whereas clause 1 of rule XXIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives provides, “A Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee of the House shall behave at all times in a manner that shall reflect creditably on the House”;

Whereas on February 10, 2019, Representative Ilhan Omar suggested that Jewish people and the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) were buying political support, saying, “It’s all about the Benjamins, baby,” leading to condemnation from Republicans and Democrats alike for her use of an anti-Semitic trope;

Whereas on February 11, 2019, Congressional Democratic Leadership issued a joint statement in response to Representative Omar, saying, “Anti-Semitism must be called out, confronted and condemned whenever it is encountered, without exception”;

Whereas on February 27, 2019, Representative Omar doubled down on her stance at a forum in Washington, DC, by saying, “I want to talk about the political influence in this country that says it is OK for people to push for allegiance to a foreign country”;

Whereas then-Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs Eliot Engel condemned Representative Omar’s comments by stating “It’s unacceptable and deeply offensive to call into question the loyalty of fellow American citizens because of their political views, including support for the U.S.-Israel relationship. We all take the same oath. Worse, Representative Omar’s comments leveled that charge by invoking a vile anti-Semitic slur”;

Whereas Chairman Engel went on to say that such comments have “no place in the Foreign Affairs Committee or the House of Representatives”;

Whereas in March 2019, Representative Omar trivialized the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, that killed 2,977 people by describing it as “some people did something”;

Whereas on May 16, 2021, Representative Omar referred to Israel as “an apartheid state,” and went on to say that those who refused such a characterization needed to, “get on the right side of history”;

Whereas on June 7, 2021, Representative Omar equated the United States and Israel with Hamas and the Taliban by stating “We must have the same level of accountability and justice for all victims of crimes against humanity. We have seen unthinkable atrocities committed by the U.S., Hamas, Israel, Afghanistan, and the Taliban”, establishing a false equivalency between Israel—which has the right and responsibility to protect itself and its citizens from all forms of terrorism—and Hamas, a foreign terrorist organization actively engaged in committing war crimes, including using civilians as human shields, which is banned under customary international humanitarian law;

Whereas twelve Democratic members decried Representative Omar’s newest round of statements, saying: “Equating the United States and Israel to Hamas and the Taliban is as offensive as it is misguided”;

Whereas when asked by the media whether she regretted her comments, Representative Omar responded, “I don't”;

Whereas all Members—both Republicans and Democrats alike—who seek to serve on the Committee on Foreign Affairs should be held to an equal standard of conduct due to the international sensitivities and national security concerns under the jurisdiction of this committee;

Whereas any Member reserves the right to bring a case before the Committee on Ethics as grounds for an appeal to the Speaker of the House for reconsideration of any committee removal decision;

Whereas Representative Omar, by her own words, has disqualified herself from serving on the Committee on Foreign Affairs, a panel that is viewed by nations around the world as speaking for Congress on matters of international importance and national security; and

Whereas Representative Omar’s comments have brought dishonor to the House of Representatives: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved,

Attest:

Clerk.