"It
is unusual that legislation addressing a topic of such importance would
be brought up without giving members of Congress any prior notice. The
bill was introduced at 12:04 pm. The resolution was “agreed without
objection” by 12:05 pm. “There was no notice, no committee hearing,
no discussion and no debate. In such a fashion, we achieve unanimity on
great matters related to the Middle East,” said Kucinich. Concerning this abnormal set of
circumstances and addressing the tragic violence in Israel and the Gaza
Strip, Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) today released the following
statement. “I object to H.Res.813, an unfortunately and unnecessarily one-sided resolution that was brought up on Friday, November 16th
for consideration without any advance notice to members of Congress and
which was completed in about a minute without any discussion. The hasty
nature in which this resolution of such significance was considered
undermines the unspoken, but operationally essential understanding, that
bills of great importance will not be quietly tiptoed through Congress.
A loss of Members’ confidence in Leadership results when House floor
procedures are conducted in a manner frustrating to good faith. Such
conduct can only add to the hyperpartisanship and the breakdown of
comity in Congress that Americans find objectionable. “Members must be given the opportunity to debate U.S. support of a
military operation that is likely to be of significant consequence in
talks between Israel and the Palestinians. This impacts the region and
the world."