In the first session of the 118th Congress, House Representatives voted on House Res.9. The bill's main focus was to denounce" the horrors of socialism."
Of the 434 voting members of the House of Representatives, 328 voted “Yea”, with 86 members voting “Nay”, 14 members voting “Present”, and 6 electing not to vote.
It would appear that the “Nays” did not have it, with the bill ultimately passing. However, it is those same “Nays” that have been causing an uproar among Republicans.
Texas Representative Randy Weber (R) tweeted in response to the voting saying, “Socialism is one of the most destructive ideologies in world history & has no place in the U.S. I will vote to condemn socialism. @HouseGOP will continue to fight to uphold American values and the Founding Father’s belief in life, liberty, & the pursuit of happiness.”
Socialism is one of the most destructive ideologies in world history & has no place in the U.S. I will vote to condemn socialism.@HouseGOP will continue to fight to uphold American values and the Founding Fathers’ belief in life, liberty, & the pursuit of happiness.
— Randy Weber (@TXRandy14) February 2, 2023
Rep. Weber (R) wasn’t alone in his disappointment. Texas Representative Dan Crenshaw (R), similarly, expressed his ire, stating, “86 Democrats just voted against denouncing the horrors of socialism. The ideology that has led to the deaths of more than 100,000,000 people around the globe. This shouldn’t be controversial.”
86 Democrats just voted against denouncing the horrors of socialism.
The ideology that has led to the deaths of more than 100,000,000 people around the globe.
This shouldn’t be controversial.
— Rep. Dan Crenshaw (@RepDanCrenshaw) February 2, 2023
Rep/ Crenshaw continued to vent his frustrations with the bill's opposition, stating, “This vote wasn’t meant to be some Republican ‘trick.’ The resolution was focused on past socialist regimes and denouncing those failed, murderous policies here in the US. It shouldn’t be controversial.”
The bill summary primarily lists the infamous failures of socialist leaders, stating, “Whereas many of the greatest crimes in history were committed by socialist ideologues, including Vladimir Lenin, Joseph Stalin, Mao Zedong, Fidel Castro, Pol Pot, Kim Jong Il, Kim Jong Un, Daniel Ortega, Hugo Chavez, and Nicolás Maduro”.
H.Con.Res.9 bill concludes by referencing several of the early presidents of the United States, including James Madison who stated, “that it “is not a just government, nor is property secure under it, where the property which a man has in his personal safety and personal liberty, is violated by arbitrary seizures of one class of citizens for the service of the rest”.
There have been several calls for bipartisanship over the last few years, yet the two parties have recently disagreed on subjects regarding school curriculum, border security, and other current issues. However, the bill did, in fact, get 109 Democrat votes—which may be a start in the quest for political togetherness.
