By: Maureen Dowd
This Mon Oct.16 I was present for the Foreign and Military Affairs Committee. Chairman Bacon started by presenting two bills to be discussed for this session. These two bills were the Ukraine Security and Empowerment Act and the Protecting America's Farmlands Act.
Chairman Bacon explained the Ukraine Security and Empowerment which was an act that would send weapons to our allies and give direct funding for Ukraine. Representative Crenshaw said that this Act would cost 1.5 billion dollars and would supply more arms and power to Ukraine. After Representative Crenshaw and his witness spoke in favor of the Act, Chairman Bacon declared every member two minutes to ask questions on the Bill. Pretty straightforward don’t you think? Rep. Omar didn’t think so as she interrupted Chairman Bacon a minute into her questioning of the witness. Rep. Omar was lightly reprimanded, and we continued forward.
We continued the two minute questioning in alphabetical order and it was there that I noticed the lack of Rep. Lauren Boebert. Was she presenting her bill to another committee, or did she have other matters to attend to? Rep. Jeffries and Rep. Buck were in support of the bill however Rep. Buck questioned the excessive spending that this bill would need and commented that it was too excessive. Rep. Peltola and Rep. Jackson yield their time and don't ask any questions. Rep. Salazar comments on a mistake on the bill by pointing out the lack of statistics. Rep. Thanedar continues Rep. Buck’s question by asking about if excessive spending is necessary.
At this point it was almost 1:00pm and the committee still had another bill to speak about. Rep. Khanna makes a motion to table the bill for the time being and Chairman Bacon calls for a recess. I personally think that that time could’ve been better spent marking up the Ukraine Security and Empowerment Act or discussing the Protecting America's Farmlands Act, but what do I know?
During recess Rep. Thanedar and Rep. Omar started replying to the Capitol Chronicle twitter and interacting with the press. While I won’t get into specifics in what they said, let’s just say it included eye rolls and smug grins.
After a brief recess, the committee members start marking up the Ukraine Security and Empowerment Act. Rep. Thanedar and Rep. Omar seem to be as disinterested as ever as they seem more focused on their phones than the bill. Both representatives seem to be in their own little world as they laugh to who knows what with Rep. Peltola joining in.
After a few quick mark ups Chairman Bacon agrees to table the bill and move on to the Protecting America's Farmlands Act. The Protecting America's Farmlands Act is a bill that ensures that American farmers are protected against the Chinese Communist Party and prohibits foreign investment from CCP. Rep Johnson and Kim continue their explanation of a bill by saying the dangers of China, how China is the biggest threat, suspicious, and has ill-intent.
From there every member is given their two minutes to ask questions. Chairman Bacon expresses his love for farming and American farmers. As the witness answers questions, Rep. Omar is seen on his phone, with Rep. Thanedar glaring at me as I take a picture.
Rep. Omar later responds to this picture.
Newsflash Rep. Omar the American people want a Representative not a Kardashian. Though honestly, she might have at least pretended to be invested, unlike you. She at least passed the Baby Bar exam.
Rep. Foxx ends her day with a bang as she says, "The Chinese should get out of America” (Chloe Marmaud).
It seems being completely isolated from the rest of her colleagues has confused Rep. Omar as she looks confused when her name is called on.
Overall, if this meeting shows how the rest of the congressional session is going to go, all I can say is. Yikes!
P.S. This is a statement that all Americans can agree with. Rep. Omar, get off your damn phone!
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