(ATLANTA, GA – 7/14/2017) The Georgia chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations today thanked the members of Georgia’s U.S. House delegation who voted against an anti-Muslim bill proposed by Rep. Trent Franks. In a narrow vote of 208 “Yes” to 217 “No,” 27 Republicans and 190 Democrats voted against the amendment with no Democrats voting in support.
SEE: Final Vote Results For Rep. Franks’ Amendment Number 13
Franks’ amendment would have required the Department of Defense to conduct two strategic assessments, one to be conducted by government employees and the other by non-governmental “experts” on the “use of violent or unorthodox Islam to support extremist or terrorist messaging.”
Representatives John Lewis, David Scott, Hank Johnson, and Sanford Bishop, all Democrats, voted against the amendment. Representatives Buddy Carter, Drew Ferguson, Karen Handel, Rob Woodall, Austin Scott, Doug Collins, Jody Hice, Barry Loudermilk, Rick Allen, and Tom Graves, all Republicans, voted for it.
Congressional opposition against the amendment was led Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee Adam Smith (D-WA). Last night the amendment was debated on the House floor with Rep. Franks in support and Representatives Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Keith Ellison (D-MN), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), and Jamie Raskin (D-MD) opposing.