'Fear Mongering, Punishing, And Silencing': Delia Ramirez Condemns GOP's Bill To Sanction The ICC

3 months ago

During debate on the House floor, Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-IL) spoke in staunch opposition to HR 8282, the Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act.

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Transcript

00:00Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition of H.R. 8282.

00:06I've realized a pattern here. When my Republican colleagues can't legislate,

00:10they decide that they're going to score cheap points in three primary tools.

00:15Fear mongering, punishing, and silencing.

00:18So I want to break down a little bit of this bill today.

00:21Fear mongering. The bill invokes the protection of United States military personnel.

00:25Now, let me clarify. The U.S. military personnel is not subject to the ICC

00:31because the United States is not a party to the Rome Statue, which I find shameful.

00:37Punishing, because the bill would impose sanctions against anyone who aids the ICC

00:42in investigating, in detaining, in arresting, or prosecuting anyone

00:47who has not consented to the court's jurisdiction.

00:50Let me clarify. Let me do that point of clarification here.

00:53The bill would weaponize sanctions against major U.S. allies who support the court.

00:59Allies like Germany, France, the U.K., Japan, and countless others.

01:03Silencing, how? If enacted, no funding may be used for the International Criminal Court.

01:09Another point of clarification. Those efforts would weaken the ICC, and that makes us all less safe.

01:15It's important we remember why the ICC exists, as defined by the Rome Statute.

01:19Mindful that during the sanctuary, millions of children, women, and men

01:23have been victims of unimaginable atrocity that deeply shocked the conscience of humanity.

01:29It recognizes that such grave crimes threaten the peace, the security, and the well-being of the world.

01:35And determined to put an end to impunity for the perpetrators of these crimes,

01:40and thus contribute to the prevention of such crimes.

01:43I stand in opposition of this resolution because we need the ICC.

01:48In the last 241 days, thousands, thousands have been victims of unimaginable atrocities.

01:54And Netanyahu's violations of international law have threatened the peace of the world.

01:59I'm determined to put an end to impunity for the perpetrators of these crimes, and I urge a no vote.

02:05With that, I yield back.

'Fear Mongering, Punishing, And Silencing': Delia Ramirez Condemns GOP's Bill To Sanction The ICC

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