“No matter how embattled, no matter how racially profiled, no matter how targeted, she has pressed on. For peace over militarization. Human rights at home and abroad. A world where an education is a fundamental right. Where gender equity is recognized. I want to live in that world.”

“Let me make it plain: Congresswoman Omar is right where she belongs.”

Video (YouTube)

WASHINGTON – Today, in a House floor speech, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) affirmed Congresswoman Ilhan Omar (MN-05)’s place on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and highlighted her impactful contributions as a Congresswoman and member of the Committee.

The speech comes ahead of a vote on a resolution to strip Rep. Omar of her assignment on the Committee by Speaker Kevin McCarthy and House Republicans.

A full transcript of floor remarks is available below and the full video is available here. 

Transcript: Pressley Affirms Omar’s Place on the House Foreign Affairs Committee
U.S. House of Representatives
February 2, 2023

Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to the rhetoric and resolution from across the aisle.

Our colleagues who once again, who seek to make history for all the wrong reasons.

I rise on behalf of every little girl who sees herself in the leadership of Congresswoman Omar.

She is a mother, daughter, refugee, advocate, skilled policy maker, a duly and decisively elected third term member to the U.S. House of Representatives.

I have spent time in the Minnesota 5th. I have seen her pull her community through grief and loss.

I have seen her stand arm in arm on picket lines with our educators and our nurses.

I have seen her pass historic legislation to feed our babies in our schools.

She has built coalitions, given constituents in crisis a sense of agency and centered the most marginalized in word and deed.

No matter how embattled, no matter how racially profiled, no matter how targeted, she has pressed on.

For peace over militarization. Human rights at home and abroad.

A world where an education is a fundamental right. Where gender equity is recognized.

I want to live in that world.

Let me make it plain: Congresswoman Omar is right where she belongs.

Her work in Congress is needed on the Foreign Affairs Committee.

Her clarity, conviction, and truth.

I urge my colleagues to vote NO.

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