CONDEMNING TROOP WITHDRAWAL FROM SYRIA:

Voting 354 for and 60 against, the House on Oct. 16 adopted a nonbinding resolution (HJ Res 77) condemning President Trump’s decision to abruptly remove U.S. troops from Syria. The measure also called on Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, to halt his country’s attacks on Kurdish forces that began after American forces stood down in northeastern Syria following Trump’s Oct. 6 phone call with Erdogan. The resolution was backed by all 225 Democrats who voted and by 129 of the 189 Republicans who voted. Four members answered “present,” which indicates they participated in the roll call without taking a stand. They are Republicans Bob Gibbs of Ohio, Jody Hice of Georgia and Chip Roy of Texas and independent Justin Amash of Michigan.

Jason Crow, D-Colo., said the message sent by Trump’s decision “is that the American handshake doesn’t matter. Our withdrawal is an abdication of our moral responsibility to the Kurds and undermines the belief that America is a resolute partner. It has also led to our adversaries like Russia, Iran, the Assad regime and ISIS exerting greater influence in the region.”

Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., said, “The blood of America’s patriots is among our nation’s most sacred currency, and it must be spent only when absolutely vital to protect American interests. We are not the world’s police force. We are not the world’s piggy bank. I support an America-first foreign policy, and I oppose this resolution.”

A yes vote was to send the resolution to the Senate.

ARKANSAS

Voting yes: Bruce Westerman, R-4

TEXAS

Voting yes: John Ratcliffe, R-4

Voting no: Louie Gohmert, R-1