WASHINGTON, D.C. – Ohio Congresswoman Shontel Brown (OH-11) (pictured) on Tuesday voted No on H.R. 7217, a multi- billion dollar funding bill for Israel hastily brought to the floor by House Republican leaders as they backed out of a previously announced framework requested by Republicans – to tie $7.6 billion in security funding for Israel and funding for Taiwan and Ukraine to a border security bill.
President Biden had promised to veto passage of the bill by congress, saying that singling out Israel for funding is unfair, unreasonable, and bad public policy.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, failed to get approval to advance the standalone bill amid opposition from some of his fellow Republicans, and Democrats across the aisle.
Elected to congress with the president's public endorsement, Brown is a Biden ally who campaigned on a promise to support the president if elected as as a federal lawmaker, and the congresswoman has supported him on key White House issues, including against a House GOP-pushed impeachment inquiry.
A Warrensvillle Hts. Democrat who's heavily Democratic 11th congressional district includes Cleveland, Congresswoman Shontel Brown released the following statement to
"Let's be clear about what is happening. In response to human suffering, Republican leaders rejected our obligation to provide aid. Instead, they saw an opportunity to chase clicks and cameras. I support Israel's right to defend itself and hold the Hamas terror organization accountable. I support humanitarian aid to innocent Palestinian civilians who are suffering. And I support aid to our other allies, including Ukraine in their fight against Putin's illegal invasion, Brown said. "But House Republicans have shown they are unreliable, not serious, and unable to do what's right."
The Black congresswoman, one of three Black women from Ohio in congress alongside Reps. Emilia Sykes of Akron and Joyce Beatty of Columbus, said that humanitarian concerns are among her priorities on the controversial matter as partisan conflicts continue in D.C. over aid to Israel and Ukraine, and border security. The issues have become fodder for the 2024 presidential election and Ohio's closely watched race for the U.S. Senate.
Ohio' s primary is March 19 as former President Trump remains the front-runner for the Republican nomination and President Biden, a Democrat, seeks reelection with widespread support from Democrats nationwide.
Congresswoman Brown said that Speaker Johnson is grandstanding and answering to extremists instead of pushing a substantive and effective bipartisan funding bill.
"We need to provide humanitarian aid to civilians affected by these conflicts and supplemental security assistance to our allies. But that is not what Speaker Johnson and the extremists he answers to are interested in,he" said Rep, Brown. "They are interested in political stunts and grandstanding. A responsible bipartisan bill would pass the House easily and it's time for the speaker and House Republicans to do what is right."
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