Rep. Betty McCollum introduces H.R. 4391
H.R. 4391 was introduced into Congress by Representative Betty McCollum (D-MN) and has twenty-one co-sponsors. The bill is aimed at ensuring that U.S. financial aid to Israel is not used to fund the Israeli military’s systematic detention of Palestinian children. The legislation leaves financial assistance already committed in place.
H.R. 4391 prohibits U.S. tax dollars from supporting human rights violations like torture and ill-treatment against Palestinian children during the course of Israeli military detention.
H.R. 4391 requires the Secretary of State to certify annually that no funds given to Israel have been used to support the ill-treatment of Palestinian children detained by Israeli forces from the occupied West Bank.
More about the legislation:
Given that the Israeli government receives billions of dollars in assistance from the United States, Congress must work to ensure that American taxpayer dollars never support the Israeli military’s detention or abuse of Palestinian children. Congresswoman McCollum’s legislation, the Promoting Human Rights by Ending Israeli Military Detention of Palestinian Children Act, requires that the Secretary of State certify that American funds do not support Israel’s military detention, interrogation, abuse, or ill-treatment of Palestinian children.
Joining Congresswoman McCollum as original co-sponsors of the Promoting Human Rights by Ending Israeli Military Detention of Palestinian Children Act are Representatives Mark Pocan, Earl Blumenauer, André Carson, John Conyers, Jr., Danny K. Davis, Peter A. DeFazio, Raul Grijalva, Luis V. Gutiérrez, and Chellie Pingree.
The Promoting Human Rights by Ending Israeli Military Detention of Palestinian Children Act has been endorsed by the American Friends Service Committee, Amnesty International USA, Arab American Institute, Center for Constitutional Rights, Church World Service, Churches for Middle East Peace, Defense for Children International – Palestine, Friends Committee on National Legislation, Global Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and United Church of Christ, Jewish Voice for Peace, Mennonite Central Committee, Presbyterian Church (USA), the U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights, United Methodists for Kairos Response (UMKR), and United Methodist General Board of Church and Society. Read more about the legislation HERE.
No Way to Treat a Child Campaign
Is a year-long campaign to pass into federal law H.R. 4391, the “Promoting Human Rights by Ending Israeli Military Detention of Palestinian Children Act.” No Way to Treat a Child is part of an international effort initiated by the American Friends Service Committee and Defense of Children International.
You can learn more about the No Way to Treat a Child campaign HERE.
Become a citizen co-sponsor of the bill on the No Way to Treat a Child campaign HERE.