The House voted overwhelmingly Tuesday evening to block President Trump from spending any federal cash to withdraw from NATO and to set a proper coverage that the U.S. will “remain a member in good standing.”
“This department of presidency absolutely helps the alliance, the collective protection of our allies, and peace throughout the North Atlantic area,” House Foreign Affairs Chairman Eliot Engel, D-N.Y., stated throughout a flooring debate.
The invoice handed simply in a 357-22 vote — all of the “no” votes got here from Republicans
Rep. Jimmy Panetta, D-Calif., launched the NATO Support Act final week, simply days after a New York Times report said President Trump has “privately said he wanted to withdraw from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.”
The laws reiterates the help of Congress for NATO and denounces any effort to withdraw or “indirectly withdraw” by a reduce in U.S. commitments to the alliance. It would additionally deny funding to implement such a call by the president.
“NATO is our greatest strategic advantage, one built over time and at great sacrifice,” Engel stated. “We simply cannot cede such an advantage. Past and future generations alike would never forgive the squandering of something so precious.”