Congressman Mo Brooks, R-Huntsville, signed the discharge petition for H.R. 336, the Strengthening America’s Security in the Middle East Act of 2019 on Thursday.
Brooks said Democrats have been advocating and pushing for a “boycott, divestment and sanctions” against Israel. H.R. 336 opposes the proposed boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel.
If 218 U.S. House of Representatives members sign the discharge petition, there will be a House floor vote on H.R. 336.
“As a strong supporter of Israel, I seek a House vote on H.R. 336, a bill that prevents Socialist Democrats from forcing a ‘boycott, divestment and sanctions’ effort against Israel,” Brooks said. “Simply stated, this proposed boycott, divestment and sanctions effort against Israel is anti-Semitic and a Palestinian-led effort to destroy Israel. Israel is the only democracy and America’s strongest reliable ally in the Middle East. America must stand with Israel against these groundless and vicious BDS attacks.”
“Companion legislation to H.R. 336 passed the U.S. Senate in February by an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote of 77-23. Yet, Socialist Democrats in the House, so far, refuse to hold a vote on H.R. 336,” Brooks added. “Socialist Democrat opposition confirms a growing concern, that Socialist Democrats are more and more often becoming openly anti-Semitic and anti-Israel. I’m hopeful the H.R. 336 discharge petition will garner 218 signatures so Speaker Nancy Pelosi will be forced to hold a vote on this important bill.”
H.R. 336 is sponsored by Congressman Michael McCaul, R-Texas.
“One of the first bills I introduced in January as the Lead Republican on the Foreign Affairs Committee was this legislation,” McCaul said. “We had a companion bill that was introduced in the Senate that had such a high priority it was the first bill that they passed, S.1. McConnell made it such a priority, and 77 senators voted for it, as the leader said, including Chuck Schumer.”
“Frankly, I thought this bill would have been marked up months ago out of the Foreign Affairs Committee,” McCaul added. “But, sadly, that has not happened. And I think, as was stated about the attacks on Israel, over 600 rocket attacks in the last two weeks against Israel. This bill is about BDS, but it’s also about a lot more – it’s about our Israeli assistance and security package, over $30 billion over the next 10 years to support the State of Israel, our longtime ally.”
Brooks is serving his fifth term representing Alabama’s Fifth Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.
