Anti-Bds Labeling Act

Floor Speech

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to oppose H.R. 5179, the so-called Anti-BDS Labeling Act.

Let me start with an observation. Since October 7, President Biden, the United States Congress, and the United States people have overwhelmingly stood in support of Israel as they fight an existential war on multiple fronts. President Biden has stood with Israel longer than any U.S. President in a time of war throughout Israel's 76-year history.

Let me also be clear that the BDS movement is inherently anti- Semitic. It is a harmful, discriminatory effort aimed at delegitimizing Israel, the democratic Jewish State of Israel, and undermining Israel's right to exist as a Jewish and democratic state.

I will agree with my colleague Chairman Smith, when he says there is no place for harassment or intimidation of Jewish students or, for that matter, any students on campus for what they believe in.

The protesters are loud. They scream. They yell. They have yelled outside my house in the middle of the night. Being loud does not make them right. It just means they are loud.

So while this body here, Republicans and Democrats, stands united in opposing BDS, today's debate is much less about genuine support of Israel and much more about political posture.

I have consistently opposed BDS and worked to ensure U.S. policy does not endorse discriminatory aims. However, H.R. 5179 is a symbolic gesture with no real path forward in the Senate.

It does little to combat the global BDS effort and distracts from the meaningful action required to strengthen our partnership with Israel and promote a peaceful future for the region and all the people in the region.

This issue isn't just about geopolitics or trade. It is about consumer transparency. Americans want to know under what conditions their products are made.

Whether it is Israeli law in a settlement, Palestinian Authority control, or formerly Hamas-controlled Gaza, consumers deserve to understand the governance and standards behind the products they buy.

The lack of clarity of the current framework does not meet their demand for nuanced information about environment, labor, human rights, or the quality of inspections of their purchases on products from anywhere around the world including within Israel.

H.R. 5179 fails to address these concerns. It is a short-term political move that ignores the complexity of the region and the demand for thoughtful policies.

This bill won't help consumers make informed decisions, nor will it move the needle on the broader challenges facing Israel. More broadly, it doesn't help dismantle Hamas or rescue the hostages and restore a political horizon for a two-state solution.

While I share the goal with my colleagues of countering BDS, H.R. 5179 does not achieve that. It is about showmanship, not about substance. We need real bipartisan solutions that reflect the region's complexities and offer the transparency consumers demand.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' and focus on actions that will make a real difference.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source