The legislative push comes as progressives had been already calling for Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) to be faraway from her committee assignments after she advised lately that Omar was probably a suicide bomber. The House invoice was voted out of the Foreign Affairs Committee final week as stress was constructing on GOP leaders to condemn Boebert’s remarks.
The Minnesota Democrat has often been the goal of Islamophobic assaults, together with from Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), who has repeatedly referred to as Omar a member of the “Jihad Squad.” Omar has been a vocal critic of Israel’s authorities, and has at occasions been accused of anti-Semitism, even by members of her personal celebration.
House Democratic leaders, together with Speaker Nancy Pelosi, have referred to as on Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy to take punitive actions towards Boebert and others for his or her rhetoric.
The Omar-led invoice would set up an workplace inside the State Department, led by a presidential appointee, to monitor and report Islamophobia worldwide — modeled on an analogous State Department workplace that combats anti-Semitism globally. It cleared the chamber on celebration traces, 219-212, with all Democrats voting in favor and all Republicans opposing.
“Until everyone is free to practice their religion, no one is,” Omar mentioned on the House flooring.
Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas, the highest Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, mentioned he helps the “spirit and intent” of the invoice. But he raised issues that it might empower govt department officers to crack down on protected speech as a result of the phrase “Islamophobia” isn’t outlined within the laws.
“It’s so vague and subjective that it could be used against legitimate speech for partisan purposes,” McCaul mentioned on the House flooring.
President Joe Biden helps the laws, the White House mentioned earlier Tuesday. It’s unclear if the invoice will get a vote within the Senate, the place it’s doubtless to be the goal of a GOP filibuster.
Sarah Ferris contributed to this report.
