Congresswoman Luz Rivas Statement on Massie Amendment to Republican State, Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill

July 15, 2026 Press Release WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Luz Rivas (CA-29) released the following statement on Republican Amendment #8 to the National Security, Department of State and Related Programs Appropriations Act: “Foreign policy, especially issues involving the Middle East, should be considered by lawmakers in a thoughtful and strategic approach. Unfortunately, while I disagree with many of the actions of far-right Netanyahu, the Republican amendment is a poorly drafted and hyper-partisan amendment. More specifically, this amendment endangers the delivery of crucial humanitarian aid. Our country was in a different position when President Barack Obama entered the United States into a 10-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in 2016. With the expiration of this MOU imminent, I believe change to our Middle East policy must happen to ensure the safety and security of both Israelis and Palestinians. These changes cannot come from a disgruntled Republican Member’s amendment that aims to divide Democrats and only allows for ten minutes of debate on the House Floor. For these reasons, I voted ‘no’ on this amendment, and will continue working with my colleagues to address the needs of both the Israeli and Palestinian people.” ###