Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) reintroduced a measure to censure Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) over her comments related to Israel, altering the bill’s original language in an attempt to win over some House Republicans who previously voted to table the measure.
Greene announced the resolution on Monday, seeking to punish Tlaib for “antisemitic” behavior and “sympathizing with terrorist organizations” related to the Michigan Democrat’s recent comments on the conflict in Israel and her calls for a ceasefire in Gaza. The move comes one week after the House voted to table her initial censure resolution, with a handful of Republicans citing concerns with the bill’s language.
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Part of the censure resolution last week accused Tlaib of displaying "antisemitic activity" by "leading an insurrection" at the Capitol, referring to a demonstration last month in which pro-Palestinian protesters rallied outside members' offices to call for a ceasefire in Gaza. However, some members, such as Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX), said he disagreed with the use of the term “insurrection,” especially in the context of the Jan. 6 riot.
A total of 23 Republicans joined all Democrats in voting to table the measure, effectively killing it before it could be considered for a vote. Greene later vowed to reintroduce the measure, changing the term “insurrection” to read “illegal occupation” instead.
"No one came and said they had a problem with any of the language," Greene told reporters after filing her resolution. "They just voted to table it with the Democrats and then went out and made their excuses. ... I had to do a little work since none of them actually came and talked to me themselves. I had to listen to what their statements were to the press and what they said on social media. And that was their only problem was the insurrection language."
The legislation was also updated to include the latest backlash toward Tlaib over the weekend after she posted a video in which she accused President Joe Biden of supporting “the genocide of the Palestinian people.” The video features pro-Palestinian protesters marching in cities across the country chanting “From the river to the sea,” referring to the land between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River that includes Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories.
"I added in that tweet that she put out on Nov. 3, 'From the river to the sea.' She called it 'aspirational.' So, she's actually calling for genocide," Greene said.
Some Democrats have pointed to instances in which anti-Israel organizations, such as Hamas, have used the phrase to advocate the dismantling of the Jewish state.
“As the only Jewish member of MI’s congressional delegation, I have worked to reach out to Arab & Muslim constituents who I know are feeling fear and anguish right now, & I have tried to reflect that empathy in my approach to this crisis. I ask the same of [Tlaib],” Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) said in a post on X. “The phrase 'from the river to the sea' is one of division & violence, & it is counterproductive to promoting peace. None of us, especially elected leaders, should amplify language that inflames a tense situation & makes it harder for our communities to find common ground.”
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Greene filed the motion as a privileged resolution, which forces House leaders to schedule a vote on the bill within two legislative days. Just minutes before Greene reintroduced her resolution, fellow Georgia Rep. Rich McCormick (R-GA) announced he would file a similar resolution to censure Tlaib. McCormick voted against Greene's resolution last week due to the "insurrection" language, arguing it "inappropriately described her actions."
It’s not yet clear whether Greene's updated language will be enough to win over GOP holdouts or if Republicans will choose to advance McCormick's resolution to the floor instead.