{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cleavers-statement-rep-massies-amendment-gop-foreign-aid", "Congressman Cleaver\u2019s Statement on Rep. Massie's Amendment to GOP Foreign Aid Budget Bill & Policy in the Middle East", "2026-07-16", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "MO", "Emanuel Cleaver", "C001061", "cleaver.house.gov", "cleaver", "https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "(Washington, D.C.) \u2013 Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO), released the following statement on his vote on Rep. Thomas Massie\u2019s amendment to the Fiscal Year 2027 State Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act.\n\n\u201cThis Republican foreign aid bill debated yesterday decimates needed humanitarian aid and undercuts American diplomacy around the world. Republicans included an amendment to the bill by Rep. Massie that could block all foreign aid to Israel, including programs I strongly support that are focused on peacebuilding and humanitarian aid. I voted no on Rep. Massie\u2019s amendment because I ardently believe in peacebuilding programs which are working daily to bring people together, rather than divide them.\n\n\u201cDespite its title and messaging, the amendment was drafted in such a broad way that it leaves the Trump Administration, who will implement it, with wide discretion to decide which funding accounts should be blocked. This creates the false impression that Congress had ended their support. That\u2019s not honest policymaking, and it\u2019s not how we should approach an issue with such profound humanitarian consequences.\n\n\u201cIsrael has the right to exist and the right to defend their people, and I believe the U.S. should continue to have a strong strategic alliance with Israel. However, the status quo is not tenable; not for the Israeli people long term, not for the Palestinians trying to live in an ever-shrinking territory in the West Bank, and certainly not for the people still suffering in Gaza.\n\n\u201cIt is outrageous that this Republican bill provided no aid for the Palestinian people continuing to suffer in Gaza.\n\n\u201cIf Congress is serious about examining and changing U.S. policy, then we should debate and vote on legislation that actually does what it claims to do.\u201d\n\n###\n\nEmanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Greenwood, Blue Springs, North Kansas City, Gladstone, and Claycomo. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance.", 1, "2026-07-17T07:15:58Z", "2026-07-17T07:17:05Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cleavers-statement-rep-massies-amendment-gop-foreign-aid"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.6033179126679897, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}