Vote Explainer - The Censure of Rep. Tlaib

Transparency is vital to democracy. Below please find explainers for key votes I took in the 118th Congress.

Vote Explainer: H.R. 845 – Censuring Rashida Tlaib

On Tuesday, November 7, I voted against censuring Representative Rashida Tlaib. That does not mean I agree with her. Representative Tlaib has made statements related to the Israel-Hamas conflict that are offensive, inflammatory, factually inaccurate, and antisemitic. “From the river to the sea” is shorthand for eliminating the state of Israel. Hamas’s horrific terrorism is not “resistance”. Her statements about Israel bombing Al-Ahli Hospital were factually inaccurate and not supported by American intelligence. 

However, censure is a tool that should be primarily used for actions, not words. In 236 years, Congress has only invoked the censure for speech on three occasions, and each involved speech which violated the first amendment or directly impeded the functioning of Congress.  

I disagree with Representative Tlaib and I find her comments reprehensible. But I also believe that free speech is core to who we are as Americans and essential to our ability to do our jobs in Congress. It is not right to censure a member because I disagree with what she says, no matter how strongly. This censure sets a dangerous precedent of restricting the speech of members of Congress when the majority disagrees. I am not proud of Rep. Tlaib’s comments, but I will defend all Americans’ rights under the Constitution.