July 15, 2026 Story by: Publisher
The Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) split nearly down the middle Wednesday, July 15, as the United States House of Representatives overwhelmingly rejected an amendment that would have eliminated U.S. military assistance to Israel. The vote underscores the growing divide among Black lawmakers over the Israel war and U.S. foreign policy.
The United States House of Representatives rejected the amendment in a 314-104 vote, with 104 members voting in favor, 314 against and 10 voting ‘Present’ to defeat an amendment offered by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) that would have eliminated approximately $3.3 billion in annual military assistance to Israel from the State Department appropriations bill.
While the proposal failed, it drew support from 103 Democrats and Massie, reflecting one of the largest intraparty breaks on U.S. policy toward Israel in recent years.
Among CBC members, 28 voted in favor of the amendment, 24 opposed it, two members voting present and two members did not vote, illustrating the differing views within the caucus on continued U.S. military support for Israel amid the ongoing war in Gaza.
Congressional Black Caucus members voting :
“Aye” (In Favor): Reps. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (Calif.), Lateefah Simon (Calif.), Maxine Waters (Calif.); Joe Neguse (Colo.); Jahana Hayes (Conn.); Maxwell Frost (Fla.), Hank Johnson (Ga.); Danny K. Davis (Ill.), Jonathan Jackson (Ill.), Robin Kelly (Ill.), Lauren Underwood (Ill.); André Carson (Ind.); Troy Carter (La.); Glenn Ivey (Md.); Ayanna Pressley (Mass.); Ilhan Omar (Minn.); Bennie Thompson (Miss.); Steven Horsford (Nev.); LaMonica McIver (N.J.), Bonnie Watson Coleman (N.J.); Valerie Foushee (N.C.); Dwight Evans (Pa.), Summer Lee (Pa.); Gabe Amo (R.I.); Jasmine Crockett (Texas), Al Green (Texas), Christian Menefee (Texas); Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (Va.); Gwen Moore (WI)
“No”(Against): Reps. Shomari Figures (Ala.), Terri Sewell (Ala.); Eleanor Holmes Norton (D.C.); Frederica Wilson (Fla.); Sanford Bishop Jr. (Ga.), Lucy McBath (Ga.), Nikema Williams (Ga.); Cleo Fields (La.); Kweisi Mfume (Md.); Wesley Bell (Mo.), Emanuel Cleaver (Mo.); Herb Conaway (N.J.); Yvette Clarke (N.Y.), Adriano Espaillat (N.Y.), Hakeem Jeffries (N.Y.), Gregory Meeks (N.Y.), Richie Torres (N.Y.); Alma Adams (N.C.); Joyce Beatty (Ohio), Emilia Sykes (Ohio); James Clyburn (S.C.); Mark Veasey (Texas); Jennifer McClellan (Va.); Marilyn Strickland (Wash.)
Non-voting: (Rep. Don Davis (N.C.) and Del. Stacey Plaskett (U.S. Virgin Islands).
“Present” vote: Shontel Brown (Ohio) and Janelle Bynum (Oregon).
Questionable leadership:
The vote also highlighted divisions among House Democratic leadership. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries opposed the amendment, arguing it was too broad because it could also affect humanitarian assistance and other U.S. programs related to Israel and Gaza.
Democratic Whip Katherine Clark, however, supported the amendment while criticizing the Israeli government’s conduct in Gaza and saying the status quo was “not tenable.” Leadership ultimately allowed members to vote their conscience rather than whipping the caucus to a unified position.
“For the good of the Israeli people and the Palestinian people, it clear that U.S. policy must change” to attain “a just and lasting peace in the Middle East,” Pelosi said.
“The United States must be a force for security and stability. The American people are rightly demanding an end to a perpetual cycle of war, and the Netanyahu government cannot maintain its current course. Therefore, while this amendment is ill-conceived, I vote yes for the message that it sends,” Pelosi said.
The amendment became a proxy for the broader debate within the Democratic Party over continued military assistance to Israel.
Progressive lawmakers argued U.S. military aid should not continue without greater accountability for Israel’s military operations in Gaza, while opponents of the amendment contended that Massie’s proposal was overly broad because it would have eliminated all forms of assistance rather than targeting offensive military aid alone.
Although the amendment was defeated, the level of Democratic support marked a significant shift in congressional politics.
More than half of House Democrats ultimately voted in favor of ending the military assistance package, reflecting increasing pressure within the party to reconsider long-standing U.S. policy toward Israel as civilian casualties and humanitarian conditions in Gaza remain central issues in the debate.
Source: Axios / House of Representative / Politico/ Reuters / The Guardian / The Hill
