The bill, introduced by Rep. Tom McClintock, a Republican from Pennsylvania, aimed to expand the existing U.S. ban on Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) officers to encompass all PLO members, including those associated with Hamas. Notably, the legislation sought to deny entry to individuals involved in the October 7 attack on Israel and subsequent assaults initiated by Hamas.
The overwhelming support for the bill, with 422 members voting in favor, reflected a bipartisan stance on restricting immigration benefits for those with connections to Hamas. However, the two representatives who dissented were part of the so-called “Squad”: Rep. Cori Bush from Missouri and Rep. Rashida Tlaib from Michigan.
While 422 members of the House voted to pass the bill, three far-left members voted either against the bill or voted present.
Bush and Tlaib voted against the bill while Rep. Delia Ramirez, D-Ill., voted present.
In a press release, Tlaib said that the bill was “just another” Republican bill used to “incite” hatred.
“H.R. 6679 is unnecessary because it is redundant with already existing federal law,” Tlaib said. “It’s just another GOP messaging bill being used to incite anti-Arab, anti-Palestinian, and anti-Muslim hatred that makes communities like ours unsafe,” the Democrat representative said.
Rep. Ramirez said that she voted present because she is “done with political games.”
“I voted present because I am done with political games,” Ramirez said. “The majority is wasting time bringing a bill that is already current law. There are already no immigration benefits for Hamas terrorists.
After participating for 15 hours of a sham impeachment, I could not stomach another bill only introduced to score cheap political points, politicize immigration, and divide our communities. Like the Republican’s sham impeachment, this bill does not meaningfully address border security nor further protect our communities. H.R.6679 is unnecessary,” Ramirez said. “It’s a waste of resources and time. And I’m not playing along.”
Tlaib and Bush are among a small but vocal minority of Democrats critical of Israel in the ongoing conflict.
Tlaib was among the first to condemn Israel for the now-discredited claim that it struck a hospital in Gaza with an airstrike and killed some 500 people.
U.S. intelligence said that the blast originated from a rocket fired by militants in Gaza that fell short.
The bill’s passage highlights the increasing polarization within Congress regarding matters related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. While the majority of representatives saw HR 6679 as a necessary step to strengthen restrictions against individuals associated with Hamas, dissenting voices, particularly from the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, criticized it as redundant and accused Republicans of exploiting the issue for political purposes.
Rep. Tlaib’s assertion that the bill is redundant with existing federal law raises questions about the legislative landscape surrounding immigration and terrorism-related activities. Critics argue that the bill may not provide substantial changes to the current legal framework but serves as a symbolic measure with potential political ramifications.
The decision of Rep. Delia Ramirez to vote present signals frustration with what she perceives as political maneuvering rather than addressing substantive issues. Her reference to the previous “sham impeachment” reflects a broader discontent with the partisan nature of certain legislative initiatives.
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