With strong support from the Florida delegation, on Tuesday, the U.S. House passed U.S. Rep. Rep. Doug Lamborn’s, R-Col., “Taylor Force Act” cutting off American funding to the Palestinian Authority if it continues to financially support terrorists and their families.
The House passed the bill, which was named after an American Air Force veteran killed by a Palestinian terrorist, on voice vote. The Palestinian Authority has financially helping the family of Force’s killer.
Most members of the Florida delegation cosponsored the bill including U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen who chairs the U.S. House Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee and U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch, D-Fla., the ranking Democrat on that subcommittee. U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla., was an early cosponsor of the bill.
Other members of the Florida delegation cosponsoring the bill include Republican U.S. Reps. Gus Bilirakis, Vern Buchanan, Carlos Curbelo, Ron DeSantis, Neal Dunn, Matt Gaetz, Brian Mast, Francis Rooney, Dennis Ross, Dan Webster and Ted Yoho and Democrats U.S. Reps. Lois Frankel, Alcee Hastings and Debbie Wasserman Schultz.
Diaz-Balart weighed in after the bill cleared the House.
“While the Palestinian Authority continues to incentivize violence and aggression against Israeli and U.S. citizens, the House of Representatives has made it clear it will not tolerate these activities,” Diaz-Balart said. “Israel continues to be the best partner for peace, freedom, and democracy in the Middle East, and I am a proud ally of Israel. I am committed to ensuring peace in the region, and I believe this bill will help us achieve that goal by requiring the Palestinian Authority to commit to ending this violence.”
Deutch took to the House floor to support the bill.
“We need trusted partners for peace in the Palestinian Authority,” Deutch said. “That starts by ending the subsidy program for acts of terrorism. I’m proud that Congress came together to produce a strong bipartisan bill to finally pressure the Palestinian Authority to stop their ‘pay for slay’ practice. Rather than encouraging violence against Israelis, the Palestinian leadership should rally the Palestinian people toward peace with Israel by resuming direct negotiations.”
Now the bill heads to the U.S. Senate where U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-SC, is the sponsor. U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., is cosponsoring Graham's bill which is before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
READ MORE FROM SUNSHINE STATE NEWS
Bill to Cut Off Funds to Palestinian Authority Over Supporting Terrorists Builds Steam
