The California chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CA) today thanked the seven California Representatives who voted against a bill that would send an additional $17 billion in security assistance to Israel to fund its genocide in Gaza.
SEE:
- US House passes $95 billion Ukraine, Israel aid package, sends to Senate
- These 37 House Democrats and 21 Republicans voted against Israel aid
The House of Representatives voted to approve the package sending $17 billion in military aid to Israel on Saturday, April 20, in a 366-58 vote. It is part of a larger $95 billion legislative package to provide security assistance to Ukraine and Taiwan in addition to Israel. The bill is now set to begin consideration on the Senate floor.
The seven California House members who voted against the bill were Rep. Judy Chu, Rep. Mark DeSaulnier, Rep. John Garamendi, Rep. Ro Khanna, Rep. Barbara Lee, Rep. Mark Takano, and Rep. Maxine Waters.
In a statement, CAIR-LA Senior Policy and Advocacy Manager Monica Candal Rahim said:
“We thank representatives Chu, DeSaulnier, Garamendi, Khanna, Lee, Takano, and Waters for their principled stance against the United States sending an additional $17 billion in military aid in support of Israel’s genocide in Gaza.
“Americans across the nation are demanding an end to U.S. funding for Israel, yet the 366 House lawmakers who approved the package continue to disregard their voices. American taxpayers deserve their hard-earned tax dollars be invested in their own communities, not in funding genocide and war crimes. We echo the call of the overwhelming majority of Americans who support of a permanent ceasefire and demand that the Biden administration immediately stop all U.S. military aid to Israel.”
Since Israel’s ongoing assault on Gaza began on Oct. 7, it has destroyed entire residential neighborhoods and critical infrastructure, displaced over one million people, and killed more than 34,000 civilians, including more than 14,000 children. Human rights organizations and advocates from all over the world have stated that Israel’s cutting off of food, water, electricity, and medicine while it also indiscriminately drops bombs homes, hospitals, bakeries, schools, mosques, churches, and even refugee camps in Gaza, amounts to war crimes.
CAIR-LA is Southern California’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACT: CAIR-LA Digital Communications Manager Enjy El-Kadi, (714) 851-4851 or eelkadi@cair.com; CAIR-LA Communications Coordinator Madi Hameed, mmorse-hameed@cair.com