What This Bill Does
This resolution removes Representative Ilhan Omar from the Committee on Foreign Affairs. The bill states that Representative Omar's comments have brought dishonor to the House of Representatives and that she has disqualified herself from serving on this committee.
Who It Affects
Representative Ilhan Omar
Key Provisions
• Representative Ilhan Omar is removed from the Committee on Foreign Affairs (Resolution clause)
What Changes
Representative Ilhan Omar is no longer a member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs. The bill notes that members may appeal a committee removal decision to the Speaker of the House through the Committee on Ethics.
Important Definitions
None defined
Effective Date
Not specified in bill text
H. Res. 76
In the House of Representatives, U. S.,
February 2, 2023.
Whereas clause 1 of rule XXIII of the Rules of the House
of Representatives provides, ‘‘A Member, Delegate, Resi-
dent 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 Demo-
crats alike for her use of an anti-Semitic trope;
Whereas on February 11, 2019, Congressional Democratic
Leadership issued a joint statement in response to Rep-
resentative Omar, saying, ‘‘Anti-Semitism must be called
out, confronted and condemned whenever it is encoun-
tered, without exception’’;
Whereas on February 27, 2019, Representative Omar dou-
bled 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 al-
legiance to a foreign country’’;
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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 be-
cause 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’’, es-
tablishing a false equivalency between Israel—which has
the right and responsibility to protect itself and its citi-
zens 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;
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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 be-
fore 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 dis-
qualified herself from serving on the Committee on For-
eign Affairs, a panel that is viewed by nations around the
world as speaking for Congress on matters of inter-
national importance and national security; and
Whereas Representative Omar’s comments have brought dis-
honor to the House of Representatives: Now, therefore,
be it
Resolved, That the following named Member be, and is
hereby, removed from the following standing committee of the
House of Representatives:
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COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS: Ms. Omar.
Attest:
Clerk.