U.S. House Dems pass anti-Islamophobia bill, condemn Boebert remarks
The U.S. House following a vitriolic debate passed a bill along party lines Tuesday night to create a State Department office that would counter Islamophobia worldwide.
Democrats said a conflict much closer to home showed the need to confront anti-Muslim bigotry.
The bill sponsored by Rep. Ilhan Omar, (D-Minn.), picked up momentum after Colorado Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert suggested Omar, who is Muslim, was a terrorist. Democrats, including Colorado’s Ed Perlmutter and Joe Neguse, criticized Boebert in declaring their support for the measure.
The vote, on likely the last day the House is in session this year, appears to be the only action the chamber will take for now related to the ongoing dispute between the two lawmakers. The legislation passed 219-212. Georgia’s congressional delegation voted along party lines.
A group of progressives, led by Massachusetts’ Ayanna Pressley, introduced a measure last week to strip Boebert of her committee assignments. It has not been taken up by the House and House Democratic leaders have declined to say when they will act on it, pointing to Republican leaders as the ones responsible for their member’s comments.
Read more: https://georgiarecorder.com/2021/12/15/u-s-house-dems-pass-anti-islamophobia-bill-condemn-boebert-remarks/