Republican-led House Votes to Keep U.S. Soldiers in Somalia

WASHINGTON—In what could be seen as an inexplicable legislative move, the House of Representatives voted and failed to pass Rep. Matt Gaetz’s “War Powers Resolution” that called on President Joe Biden to pull all U.S. Military personnel from Somalia within the next calendar year.

The total vote count was 102 votes in favor of the resolution and 321 against the measure. There were 11 members that did not vote.

The Florida Congressional delegation was split, with 10 Republicans voting against the resolution. Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R) was the only member not to vote.

The ‘Yes’ votes were:

Reps. Matt Gaetz, Cory Mills, Byron Donalds, Anna Paulina Luna, Kat Cammack, Aaron Bean, Bill Posey, Maxwell Frost (D), and Greg Steube.

The ‘No’ votes were:

Reps. Gus Bilirakis, Vern Buchanan, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Kathy Castor, Mario Diaz-Balart, Lois Frankel, Neal Dunn, Franklin Scott, Carlos Gimenez, Laurel Lee, Brian Mast, Jared Moskowitz, John Rutherford, Darren Soto, Michael Waltz, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Daniel Webster, and Frederica Wilson.

“By a large margin Congress supports keeping US troops in Somalia. I do not. Most voters probably don’t either,” stated Rep. Gaetz.

Our goal is to be protectionists. Protectionists of the Constitutional rights, our sovereignty, and the American people, said Rep. Mills. “That is our role.”