Congresswoman McCollum Votes Present on Massie Amendment

ASHINGTON, D.C. - Congresswoman McCollum, the Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, issued the following statement after voting against the Massie amendment, which would strike all $3.3 billion in Foreign Military Financing to Israel.

"I have long been a vocal opponent of the way the United States provides a blank check to the Netanyahu government. For the last nine years, I have carried a bill to put limits on how all US dollars to Israel may be used, which would ensure that not one penny of taxpayer dollars is used by Israel to violate the human rights of Palestinian children. I am also a cosponsor on legislation like the Block the Bombs Act, which also places limits on US assistance to Israel

"However, I cannot support Mr. Massie's amendment as I have serious concerns that with the way it is so broadly written. As drafted, other foreign assistance-including vital assistance to Palestinians-could be cut off as well. For many of my colleagues in the majority, this amendment is just another way for them to carry out President Trump's isolationist agenda to limit and, in some cases completely cease, US foreign assistance."

Read more Congresswoman McCollum's bill The Defending the Human Rights of Palestinian Children and Families Living Under Israeli Military Occupation Act.