Ilhan Omar Bill Would Let Congress Restrict President’s Power on Sanctions, National Emergencies

One of the first bills in the package similarly appears to have a singular target: the nation of Israel. The “Stop Arming Human Rights Abusers Act” would set up “red lines” for foreign nations based on “international humanitarian law,” and any violation would “automatically [trigger] a prohibition on security aid of any kind, arms sales including those controlled by the Commerce Dept. (tear gas, etc.).” While Israel itself is not mentioned in the bill, Omar’s overwhelming discussion of international “human rights” has focused on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Last year, when she was denied entry to the Jewish nation, she suggested that the U.S. should “leverage” its annual $3 billion in aid to Israel to “ensure full rights for Palestinians.”

Another bill redirects defense spending – something Omar refers to as “military intimidation and coercion” – and gives it to the State Department.

“[The] Global Peace Building Act… would authorize a one-time transfer of $5 billion dollars from the Pentagon’s Overseas Contingency Operation budget to the State Department to create a new multi-lateral peacebuilding fund,” she said.

Her press release does not specify this entity’s relationship to the United States Institute of Peace, created in 1984 and funded annually by Congress. The institute describes its work as ” a vital investment in reducing violent international conflicts that threaten U.S. national security” in its latest budget justification letter sent to Congress.

Two more bills would require the United States to cede authority and sovereignty to global institutions.

Omar called it an “international embarrassment” that the United States has not signed onto the controversial United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

However, that agreement would severely undermine U.S. sovereignty, as explained in a legal white paper from Americans United for Life in 2010:

Under Article VI of the United States Constitution, all treaties made “shall be the supreme Law of the Land.” Therefore, ratification of the UNCRC will make the document binding under American law and it would supersede any relevant, existing federal or state laws. This will also ultimately limit United States sovereignty by placing American family law and parental rights under international regulation and scrutiny.

Omar also called on the United States to join the International Criminal Court, a global entity that President Donald Trump blocked from launching an investigation into alleged atrocities committing during the war between 2003 and 2004, including by U.S. troops, Afghan forces, and the Taliban. 

“Trump has denounced the ICC, the world’s only permanent war crimes court, for its ‘broad, unaccountable, prosecutorial powers,’” Reuters reported. “Washington revoked travel visas for ICC personnel in response to its work on Afghanistan.”

Omar’s press release touts support for the bills from left-wing heavyweights like Ben Rhodes, former deputy national security advisor to Barack Obama.

“Congresswoman Omar is putting forward an ambitious and comprehensive package that outlines progressive approaches to some of the most important issues facing the United States and our world today,” Rhodes said.

Human Rights Watch’s Andrea Prasow praised Omar as a leader on the subject: ” With an administration that’s a no-show on human rights, it’s important that Congress press forward with resolutions in support of the most vulnerable, including children, migrants, and victims of atrocity crimes.”