Ramirez Statement on the Imminent NSM-20 Deadline

Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03)released the following statement on the impending May 8th congressional reporting deadline required by President Biden’s National Security Memorandum 20 (NSM-20) on foreign governments’ use of U.S. arms:

“This morning, we awoke to news that Israel had begun its incursion into Rafah. An incursion that the Biden Administration and the international community opposed. Repeatedly, the Netanyahu Administration demonstrates flagrant disregard for international law, human rights, and the counsel of his ‘allies.’ 

And, repeatedly, the United States government gives them a pass. Today, those passes have resulted in 35,000 Palestinian lives lost, credible reports of famine across Gaza, and journalists and aid workers murdered while trying to cover a humanitarian disaster of staggering proportions. 

Given what we have witnessed over the last 213 days, how can we trust Israel’s official assurances that they are complying with international law? How can we be expected to ignore the violations of international law and interference with the delivery of humanitarian assistance we have witnessed, in real time? The Biden Administration must consider other credible sources of information and fulfill its reporting obligations TOMORROW. We are paying attention! 

I expect that THIS country will demonstrate our commitment to international law, human rights, and congressional oversight. If the Administration is paying attention, they will enforce both our laws through NSM-20 and Section 620I of the Foreign Assistance Act, and also international law, and withhold security assistance to Israel. Anything less undermines our own credibility and is a stain on the legacy of our country’s leadership.”