On Tuesday, January 16, 2024, the U.S. Senate defeated a resolution introduced by Sen. Bernie Sanders to investigate Israel’s indiscriminate bombing and siege of Gaza. This bill would have required a report on Israel’s human rights practices under Section 502B of the Foreign Assistance Act and U.S. efforts to address them. U.S. law mandates that recipients of U.S. assistance comply with international humanitarian law.
Only 11 Senators voted in support of this resolution, but it’s historic that this vote even took place at all. The fight isn’t over yet, so now is a key opportunity to press lawmakers to work to end this war. The louder we are, the more powerful signal we send about the need for a decisive move toward peace.
12 Senators held on to their principles, despite strong pressure from the White House and Israel-aligned groups, and they deserve our support:
Senators Bernie Sanders (I-VT); Laphonza Butler (D-CA); Martin Heinrich (D-NM); Mazie Hirono (D-HI); Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM); Ed Markey (D-MA); Jeff Merkley (D-OR); Rand Paul (R-KY); Chris Van Hollen (D-MD); Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Peter Welch (D-VT). Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI), as well, indicated he would have voted with the Sanders resolution had he been able to make the vote.
Please call your Senators thanking them for supporting Bernie’s resolution, and express your disappointment to your Senators who didn’t support the measure.
INSTRUCTIONS
Step 1: Pick a time before 5pm ET/2 pm PT to call.
Step 2: Dial 844-ACT-NIAC or (844-228-6422) and ask to be connected with your local representative’s office.
Step 3: When you connect with the office, whether with a person or the voicemail, make sure to say your name, that you are a constituent, and your zip code.
Step 4: Here is a sample script you can use, but you are encouraged to share your reasons for wanting your Senators to support the Sen. Sanders resolution.
Script for calling senators who voted the RIGHT way:
Hi, my name is ____ [your name], and I live in ____ [your city/town]. I’m calling to thank your boss for voting for S.Res.504, introduced by Sen. Sanders. This is a vital step that should be required of any country receiving U.S. support and weaponry, and was a step toward accountability and ending mass human rights abuses and stopping a war from spreading across the region. Thank you again for your boss’ principled and critical vote.
Script for calling senators who voted the WRONG way:
Back to top
Hi, my name is ____ [your name], and I live in ____ [your city/town]. I’m calling to express my profound disappointment that your boss voted against S.Res.504, introduced by Sen. Sanders. There is no credible argument for failing to ask for a report on human rights abuses that may be perpetrated with U.S. support and weaponry. Rather than provide a blank check as abuses are committed and the U.S. moves closer to a regional war, the Senator must find his courage and moral center and demand a permanent ceasefire.