WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Mark Pocan (WI-02) released the following statement after he voted present on a House Republican resolution “condemning and denouncing the drastic rise of antisemitism in the United States and around the world” (H.Res. 894):
“I strongly condemn in no uncertain terms the significant rise of antisemitism and Islamophobia plaguing our country. Just last month, a group of neo-Nazis marched in my district, and I unequivocally denounced this hateful act.
“However, today’s House vote on this partisan resolution is meaningless in that it does nothing to address antisemitism in a real and tangible way, but rather is a bad faith attempt by the Republican majority to use the Jewish community for political gain.
“The day that House Republicans condemn Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene for her anti-Semitic comments, including on ‘Jewish Space Lasers’ causing forest fires, will be the day I start taking this House majority seriously in their rhetoric on antisemitism. Until then, because there is no button on the House floor for me to vote ‘this is in lieu of Republicans being able to govern,’ the closest option I have is to vote ‘present’ on this meaningless resolution, while we can’t even pass Appropriations bills.
“I stand with the Jewish community in South Central Wisconsin and across the globe. I urge my Republican colleagues to end this partisan charade and actually bring legislation to the floor that will help address the immediate and present threat of antisemitism.”