2023: Fitzpatrick Voted Against Ending The Declared National Emergency
From October 27, 2006, Which Imposed Sanctions Due To The Conflict In
The Democratic Republic Of The Congo. In July 2023, according to
Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted against a resolution that
would "terminate the national emergency declared by the president on
Oct. 27, 2006, with respect to sanctions due to the conflict in the
Democratic Republic of the Congo." The vote was on passage. The House
rejected the resolution by a vote of 27 to 381. [House Vote 333,
7/18/23; Congressional
Quarterly, 7/18/23;
Congressional Actions, H.J. Res.
68]
Republicans And Democrats Warned That Terminating The Declared
Emergencies Would Unfreeze Assets Of Militia Leaders And War
Criminals While Also Rejecting Compensation To American Victims Of
Terrorism. According to Reuters, "The House overwhelmingly
rejected the resolutions in a series of votes, after mainstream
Republicans and Democrats warned that ending the emergencies would
unfreeze the assets of militia leaders, arms dealers and accused war
criminals, while denying compensation to U.S. victims of terrorism."
[Reuters,
7/18/23]
The Far-Right Republicans Who Sponsored The Resolutions Argued The
Emergency Declarations Were Old And Were Examples Of The "Deep
State." According to Reuters, "The hardliners said the emergency
declarations, dating back to the presidencies of Republican
George W. Bush and Democrat Barack Obama, were out-of-date and had
become examples of the 'deep state,' former President Donald
Trump's conspiratorial term for Washington officials who opposed
his will." [Reuters,
7/18/23]
The Resolutions Sought To Terminate 5 Presidential Emergency
Declarations That Have Permitted Sanctions Against U.S. Enemies In
The Middle East And Africa, Including Syria, Yemen, Iraq, Libya And
The Congo. According to Reuters, "The Republican-controlled U.S.
House of Representatives on Tuesday turned back a bid by hardline
conservatives to end five presidential emergency declarations that
allow for sanctions against America's enemies in the Middle East
and Africa. Four Republican Representatives - Lauren Boebert, Matt
Gaetz, Paul Gosar and Eli Crane - used separate measures known as
privileged resolutions to require votes on whether to end
longstanding emergency declarations involving Syria, Yemen, Iraq,
Libya and Democratic Republic of Congo." [Reuters,
7/18/23]