2023: Fitzpatrick Voted To Create The Position Of Special Envoy For
The Abraham Accords Within The State Department, Tasked With Encouraging
Diplomatic Relations With Israel, Expanding Relationships Between Israel
And Muslim Countries, And Supporting Integration Into Cooperative
Regional Security Efforts. In June 2023, according to Congressional
Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted for the Special Envoy for the Abraham
Accords Act, which would "create the position of special envoy for the
Abraham Accords within the State Department. It would specify that the
envoy's duties would include encouraging countries to establish
diplomatic relations with Israel, expanding existing relationships
between Israel and Muslim-majority countries, and providing diplomatic
support for Israel's integration into cooperative regional security
efforts. The bill would specify that the special envoy would have the
rank of ambassador and require Senate confirmation. It would require the
special envoy, within one year of Senate confirmation and annually
thereafter, to submit to Congress an unclassified report describing all
U.S. efforts to expand the Abraham Accords." The vote was on passage.
The House passed the bill by a vote of 413 to 13, thus the bill was sent
to the Senate. [House Vote 251,
6/13/23; Congressional
Quarterly, 6/13/23;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
3099]
2024: Fitzpatrick Voted To Require The Biden Administration To Send
Withheld Aid And Weapons. In May 2024, Fitzpatrick voted for ,
according to Congressional Quarterly, "the bill that would prohibit the
use of funds to withhold military aid to Israel, and require the Biden
administration to certify to Congress that any withheld aid has been
sent. It also would condemn the Biden administration's decision to
pause certain arms transfers to Israel. It would withhold funding for
the 'Operation and Maintenance, Defense-Wide' account within the Office
of the Secretary of Defense, for the 'Diplomatic Programs' account
within the Office of the Secretary of State, and for the National
Security Council and Homeland Security Council in the White House until
the secretaries of Defense and State and the president have certified to
the congressional appropriations committees that the withheld funds have
been sent to Israel. It also would prohibit the use of funds to pay for
the salaries or expenses of any Defense or State department official who
takes any action to prevent the provision of such defense articles or
services to Israel." The House passed the bill by a vote 224 to 187.
[House Vote 217,
5/16/24; Congressional
Quarterly, 5/16/24;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
8369]
2019: Fitzpatrick Voted For Opposing All BDS Activities Against
Israel. In July 2019, Fitzpatrick voted for a resolution that would,
according to Congressional Quarterly, "state that the House of
Representatives opposes all efforts to 'delegitimize' Israel, including
the global boycott, divestment, and sanctions movement targeting Israel.
It would express support for a negotiated solution to the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict, state that the BDS movement undermines the
possibility for such a solution, and encourage ongoing U.S.-Israel
cooperation on civilian science and technology initiatives to counter
the effects of the movement." The vote was on a motion to agree to the
resolution. The House agreed to the resolution by a vote of 398-17.
[House Vote 497,
7/23/19; Congressional
Quarterly, 7/23/19;
Congressional Actions,
H.Res.246]
2024: Fitzpatrick Voted To Condemn A Pro-Palestine Slogan As
Anti-Semitic. In April 2024, Fitzpatrick voted for , according to
Congressional Quarterly, "the resolution (H Res 883) that would express
a sense of the House of Representatives that the slogan, 'from the river
to the sea, Palestine will be free'' is antisemitic and its use must be
condemned." The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote
of 377 to 44. [House Vote 134,
4/16/24; Congressional
Quarterly, 4/16/24;
Congressional Actions, H.Res.
883]
2023: Fitzpatrick Voted To Condemn Support Of Hamas, Hezbollah, And
Other Terrorist Organizations At Institutions Of Higher Education. In
November 2023, according to Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted
for the "motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as
amended, that would state that the House of Representatives condemns the
support of Hamas, Hezbollah and other terrorist organizations at higher
education institutions. It would urge enforcement of federal civil
rights laws to protect Jewish students from antisemitism. It would also
call on campus administrators to condemn all forms of antisemitism on
college campuses and ensure Jewish faculty, students, and guests can
exercise the same free speech rights as are guaranteed to all others
without fear of intimidation." The vote was on the adoption of the
resolution. The House agreed to the resolution by a vote of 396 to 23.
[House Vote 578,
11/2/23; Congressional
Quarterly, 11/2/23;
Congressional Actions, H.Res.
798]
2021: Fitzpatrick Voted To Authorize $300 Million To Israel For
Cooperative Programs. In December 2021, Fitzpatrick voted for the
National Defense Authorization Act For FY 2022 which would, according to
Congressional Quarterly, "authorize $300 million for cooperative
programs with Israel; $345 million for a cooperative threat reduction
program assisting former Soviet Union countries; and $300 million in
security assistance to Ukraine." The vote was on passage. The House
passed the bill by a vote of 363-70. The bill was sent to President
Biden and it ultimately became law. [House Vote 405,
12/7/21; Congressional
Quarterly, 12/7/21;
Congressional Actions, S.
1605]
2023: Fitzpatrick Voted To Demand That Hamas Release Hostages Taken
During October 2023. In November 2023, according to Congressional
Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted for the "motion to suspend the rules and
pass the bill that would state that the House demands that Hamas
immediately release all hostages taken during the October 2023 attacks
on Israel and return them to safety. It would condemn Hamas for
attacking Israel, taking hostages and making threats against hostages.
It would also recognize that taking hostages is a violation of
international humanitarian law and would express sympathy to hostages,
wounded, deceased and their families." The vote was on passage. The
House passed the resolution by a vote 414 to 0. [House Vote 676,
11/28/23; Congressional
Quarterly, 11/28/23;
Congressional Actions, H.Res. 793]
2024: Fitzpatrick Voted Against Funding The Joint Logistics
Over-The-Shore Capability In Gaza. In June 2024, Fitzpatrick voted for
, according to Congressional Quarterly, "amendment no. 72 that would
prohibit the use of funds provided by the bill to support the Defense
Department's Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore capability in the Gaza
Strip." The vote was on the amendment. The underlying legislation was
the FY 2025 State-Foreign Operations Appropriations. The House adopted
the amendment by a vote of 209 to 200. [House Vote 321,
6/27/24; Congressional
Quarterly, 6/27/24;
Congressional Actions,
H.Amdt.1065;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
8771]
2021: Fitzpatrick Voted For Providing $1 Billion In Assistance To The
Israeli Government For The Procurement Of The Iron Dome Defense System
Through September 30th, 2024. In September 2021, Fitzpatrick voted for
the Iron Dome Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2022 which would,
according to Congressional Quarterly, "provide $1 billion in emergency
funding for the Defense Department to provide assistance to the
government of Israel for the procurement of the Iron Dome defense system
to counter short-range rocket threats. The funding would remain
available through Sept. 30, 2024." The vote was on passage. The House
passed the bill by a vote of 420-9. [House Vote 275,
9/23/21; Congressional
Quarterly, 9/23/21;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
5323]
2023: Fitzpatrick Voted Fo The FY 2024 Israel Security Supplemental
Appropriations Act. In November 2023, according to Congressional
Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted for "passage of the bill that would provide
$14.3 billion in security assistance for fiscal 2024 for Israel to
defend itself in its war with Hamas. It would provide $9.2 billion for
the Defense Department to replenish Israeli weapons stocks; $1.35
billion for defense research and development, including $1.2 billion
for continued work on Israel's 'Iron Beam' missile defense system; and
$3.5 billion for State Department foreign military financing. The bill
would also provide approximately $150 million to enhance security at
U.S. diplomatic facilities in Israel and other nations in the Middle
East and provide $50 million for emergency evacuation of U.S.
government personnel and citizens in Israel, as well as surrounding
countries impacted by the war. It would offset funding by rescinding an
equal amount of IRS funding provided in 2022 under the Inflation
Reduction Act (PL 117-169)." The vote was on passage. The House rejected
the amendment by a vote of 226 to 196. [House Vote 577,
11/2/23; Congressional
Quarterly, 11/2/23;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
6126]
2019: Fitzpatrick Effectively Voted For The FY 2020 National Defense
Authorization Act (NDAA), Which Authorized $500 Million For Cooperative
Programs With Israel. In December 2019, Fitzpatrick effectively voted
for the FY 2020 NDAA. According to Congressional Quarterly, "The
agreement authorizes the president's request of $500 million for
cooperative programs with Israel and authorizes the Defense secretary to
carry out joint research, development, test, and evaluation to establish
capabilities for countering unmanned aerial systems that threaten the
United States or Israel." The vote was on adoption of the conference
report to accompany the bill. The House adopted the conference report by
a vote of 377-48. The bill was later passed by the Senate and signed
into law by the President. [House Vote 672,
12/11/19; Congressional
Quarterly,
12/17/19;
Congressional Actions,
S.1790]
2019: Fitzpatrick Voted For An Omnibus Spending Proposal Preventing
Another Government Shutdown And Providing $3.3 Billion For Military
Assistance For Israel. In February 2019, Fitzpatrick voted for the FY
2019 consolidated appropriations bill. According to Congressional
Quarterly, "This Conference Summary describes the agreement on H J Res
31, Consolidated Appropriations Act for FY 2019, which provides
detailed, full-year funding for all seven remaining FY 2019 spending
bills ---thereby completing the FY 2019 appropriations process. The
centerpiece, Homeland Security, provides $1.375 billion for new and
replacement barriers along the U.S. border with Mexico, including 55
miles of new fencing, along with an increase of $1.5 billion in other
border security funding --- such as for new technology at ports of entry
and additional Customs officers. Outside of the Homeland bill, it
includes another $1.6 billion for border security, as well as a 1.9%
pay increase for federal civilian employees." The vote was on passage.
The House passed the bill by a vote of 300 to 128. The bill was later
signed into law by the president. [House Vote 87,
2/14/19; Congressional
Quarterly, 2/14/19; Congressional
Actions, H. J. Res.
31]
2024: Fitzpatrick Was Absent During A Vote On Prohibiting The Use Of
FY 2025 Defense Funds To Transport Palestinian Refugees To The United
States. In June 2024, Fitzpatrick missed a vote on, according to
Congressional Quarterly, "amendment no. 8 that would prohibit the use of
funds authorized by the bill or otherwise made available to the Defense
Department for the operation of any DOD aircraft to transport
Palestinian refugees to the United States." The vote was on the
amendment. The underlying legislation was the FY 2025 National Defense
Authorization Act. The House adopted the amendment by a vote of 204 to
199. [House Vote 253,
6/12/24; Congressional
Quarterly, 6/12/24;
Congressional Actions,
H.Amdt.963;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
8070]
2024: Fitzpatrick Voted To Require All Products Made In Israel, Gaza,
Or The West Bank To Be Labeled As Such. In September 2024, Fitzpatrick
voted for , according to Congressional Quarterly, "the bill that would
codify a 2020 U.S. Customs and Border Protection notice which provides
instructions for the country of origin labeling of goods made in Israel,
Gaza and the West Bank. The notice would require goods made in parts of
the West Bank under Israeli control to be labeled 'Made in Israel' or
with a similar phrase. It also would require products to also be labeled
as a 'Product of West Bank' or a 'Product of Gaza' when appropriate. It
also would ban the use of 'West Bank/Gaza' to label goods. The bill also
would prohibit the State Department or the CBP from using federal funds
to reverse or change the rule." The vote was on passage. The House
passed the bill by a vote of 231 to 189. [House Vote 428,
9/18/24; Congressional
Quarterly, 9/18/24;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
5179]
2024: Fitzpatrick Voted To Prohibit Funding For A Deferred Departure
Program For Palestinian Refugees. In June 2024, Fitzpatrick voted for
according to Congressional Quarterly, "amendment no. 45 that would
prohibit the use of funds in the bill to administer, implement or
enforce the 2024 'Memorandum on the Deferred Enforced Departure for
Certain Palestinians' issued by the president." The adopted was on the
amendment. The underlying legislation was the FY 2025 Homeland Security
Appropriations. The House rejected the amendment by a vote of 204 to
203. [House Vote 291,
6/26/24; Congressional
Quarterly, 6/26/24;
Congressional Actions,
H.Amdt.1018;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
8752]
2024: Fitzpatrick Voted To Prohibit Funding For A Deferred Departure
Program For Palestinian Refugees. In June 2024, Fitzpatrick voted for
according to Congressional Quarterly, "amendment no. 45 that would
prohibit the use of funds in the bill to administer, implement or
enforce the 2024 'Memorandum on the Deferred Enforced Departure for
Certain Palestinians' issued by the president." The vote was on the
amendment. The underlying legislation was the FY 2025 Homeland security
Appropriations. The House rejected the amendment by a vote of 206 to
208. [House Vote 290,
6/26/24; Congressional
Quarterly, 6/26/24;
Congressional Actions,
H.Amdt.1018;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
8752]
2023: Fitzpatrick Voted To Reaffirm Israel's Right To Exist. In
November 2023, according to Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted
for the "motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill that would state
that the House reaffirms the State of Israel's right to exist. It would
also recognize that denying Israel's right to exist is a form of
antisemitism, reject calls for Israel's destruction and the elimination
of the only Jewish State, and condemn the Hamas-led terrorist attack on
Israel." The vote was on passage. The House passed the resolution by a
vote of 412 to 1. [House Vote 677,
11/28/23; Congressional
Quarterly, 11/28/23;
Congressional Actions, H.Res.
888]
2023: Fitzpatrick Voted To Express That Israel Is Not Racist Or An
Apartheid State And Voted Explicitly Support Israel. In July 2023,
according to Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted for a resolution
that would "express the sense of Congress that Israel is not a racist or
apartheid state. It would also state that Congress rejects antisemitism
and xenophobia and that the U.S. will always be a staunch supporter of
Israel." The vote was on passage. The House passed the resolution by a
vote of 412 to 9. [House Vote 338,
7/18/23; Congressional
Quarterly, 7/18/23;
Congressional Actions, H.Con.Res.
57]
The Resolution Was Introduced In Response To Comments Made By
Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (D), Which Accused Israel Of Being A
Racist State. According to Congressional Quarterly, "The
resolution was introduced on Monday by Rep. August Pfluger, R-Texas,
in response to weekend comments made --- and partially retracted ---
by the chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, Pramila
Jayapal, D-Wash., who called Israel a 'racist state' at a conference
of progressive political activists. Jayapal voted in favor of the
resolution on Tuesday." [Congressional Quarterly,
7/19/23]
Several International Human Rights Organizations Concluded That
Worsening Living Conditions And Rights In "Palestinian Territories
Have Come To Constitute Apartheid." According to Congressional
Quarterly, "Major international human rights organizations such as
Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch as well as Israel's
leading human rights group, B'Tselem, have concluded the
deteriorating living conditions and rights situation in the
Palestinian territories have come to constitute apartheid. Still,
the use of the word 'apartheid' to characterize the Israeli
government's treatment of the Palestinians remains deeply toxic on
Capitol Hill." [Congressional Quarterly,
7/19/23]
Israel Policies Included Major Expansions In The West Bank, Raids
And Air Strikes By The Israeli Military, Heightened Attacks By
Ultranationalist Israelis Against Palestinians, And The Gaza Strip's
Blockade Since 2007. According to Congressional Quarterly, "The
Israeli policies include major settlement expansions in the West
Bank, raids and air strikes by the Israeli military that result in
Palestinian civilian casualties, increasing attacks by
ultranationalist Israeli settlers on Palestinians, and the blockade
since 2007 of the Gaza Strip." [Congressional Quarterly,
7/19/23]
2022: Fitzpatrick Voted To Require The State Department To Develop A
Strategy To Strengthen Normalization And Encourage Normalization Between
Israel And Its Neighboring States. In March 2022, according to
Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted for the first portion of the
Fiscal 2022 Omnibus Appropriations, which would "require the State
Department to develop a strategy and regularly report to Congress on its
efforts to strengthen normalization agreements and promote normalization
of relations between Israel and its neighboring states." The vote was on
the motion to concur in the Senate amendment with a House amendment. The
bill was divided and this vote was the first portion of the bill. The
House concurred with the Senate by a vote of 361-69. After resolving
differences, the bill was sent to the President and became law. [House
Vote 65, 3/9/22;
Congressional Quarterly, 3/9/22;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
2471]
The Bill Required The State Department To Create A Strategy To
Strengthen Normalization Agreements Between Israel And Arab Neighbor
States To Support Economic And Security Cooperation, Encourage A
Two-State Solution And Combat Antisemitism. According to
Congressional Quarterly, "The measure requires the State Department,
within 90 days of enactment, to submit to Congress a strategy to
expand and strengthen normalization agreements between Israel and
its Arab neighbor states that help promote economic and security
cooperation, promote a negotiated two-state solution to the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and combat antisemitism."
[Congressional Quarterly,
3/9/22]
The Strategy Must Incorporate Opportunities To Encourage Bilateral
And Multilateral Cooperation Between Israel, Arab States And Other
Nations, The Likelihood Of Normalizing Relations And How The
Agreements With Israel Could Advance Peace Between Israelis And
Palestinians. According to Congressional Quarterly, "The strategy
must include assessments of opportunities to promote bilateral and
multilateral cooperation between Israel, Arab states, and other
relevant countries; the likelihood of additional Arab and other
relevant countries to normalize relations with Israel; and how
normalization agreements with Israel can advanced prospects for
peace between Israelis and Palestinians. It must also include a
description of how the U.S. government can encourage normalization,
economic development, and people-to-people programming."
[Congressional Quarterly,
3/9/22]
2023: Fitzpatrick Voted To Encourage The U.S. And Israel To Continue
To Expand Bilateral Cooperation And Support Security Assistance To
Israel . In April 2023, according to Congressional Quarterly,
Fitzpatrick voted for a resolution that would "state that the House of
Representatives encourages the United States and Israel to continue to
'deepen and expand' bilateral cooperation across economic, security and
civilian issues. It would encourage the expansion and strengthening of
the 2020 Abraham Accords to urge other nations to normalize relations
with Israel and 'ensure that existing agreements reap tangible security
and economic benefits.' It would also express continued support for
security assistance to Israel as outlined in a 2016 U.S.-Israel
memorandum of understanding related to military and security assistance
to support Israeli self-defense and international engagement aligned
with the U.S.-Israeli partnership." The vote was on passage. The House
adopted the resolution by a vote of 401 to 19. [House Vote 194,
4/25/23; Congressional
Quarterly, 4/25/23;
Congressional Actions, H.Res.
311]
2018: Fitzpatrick Voted For The $1.3 Trillion FY 2018 Omnibus
Spending Deal Which Raised Spending By $138 Billion Over FY 2017
Levels, Including Legislation Limiting Economic Assistance To The
Palestinian Authority Until It Ceases To Support Convicted Terrorists
And Their Families. In March 2018, Fitzpatrick voted for the FY 2018
Omnibus spending bill. According to Congressional Quarterly, "Combined,
the spending measures would provide about $1.3 trillion in
discretionary spending, with $1.2 trillion subject to discretionary
spending caps, and $78.1 billion designated as Overseas Contingency
Operations funds. The measure's spending levels are consistent with the
increased defense and non-defense budget caps set by the two-year budget
deal agreed to last month. That agreement increased the FY 2018 defense
cap by $80 billion and the non-defense cap by $63 billion. Given that
the previous caps were set to reduce overall discretionary spending by
$5 billion, the net increase provided by the omnibus is $138 billion
over the FY 2017 level." The vote was on the motion to concur in the
Senate Amendment with an Amendment. The House agreed to the motion,
thereby passing the bill, by a vote of 256 to 167. The Senate later
agreed to the legislation, sending it to the president, who signed it
into law. [House Vote 127,
3/22/18; Congressional
Quarterly, 3/22/18; Congressional
Actions, H.R.
1625]
2017: Fitzpatrick Voted For A Resolution Criticizing The United
Nations Security Council For Condemning Israeli's Settlement
Construction In The West Bank And East Jerusalem. In January 2017,
Fitzpatrick voted for a resolution responding to the UN Security
Council's December 2016 resolution condemning Israel. According to
Congressional Quarterly, "Congress is seeking to punish the United
Nations and the Palestinian Authority for the U.N. Security Council vote
last month condemning Israel's settlement construction in the occupied
West Bank and East Jerusalem. On Thursday, the House is expected to vote
on a bipartisan resolution (H Res 11) that criticizes the Security
Council vote and the Obama administration's decision not to use its veto
power to kill the measure." The vote was on the resolution. The House
agreed to the resolution by a vote of 342 to 80. [House Vote 11,
1/5/17; Congressional
Quarterly, 1/4/17;
Congressional Actions, H. Res.
11]