A toothless resolution

In the Aug. 9 letters section, Tienaya Godes congratulated Cathy McMorris Rogers for co-sponsoring H.Res. 277 (“Thank you, Cathy,” Aug. 9). Arguing that “The U.S. must condemn attacks on schools, hold perpetrators accountable, and take tangible action to protect and restore education for children affected by conflict,” author Godes implies that Cathy McMorris Rodgers has done something important by co-sponsoring the resolution. However, this simple resolution is not a proposal for legislation, and will never have the force of law. It says the U.S. House of Representatives “affirms the importance of access to safe, quality education, including protection from attacks on education, for children in conflict settings.”

This resolution is certainly desirable, but is not, unfortunately, about U.S. children facing attacks on their schools; it concerns our hopes for children throughout the world who are in settings where armed conflict affects them, such as many children hoping to seek asylum in the United States. The resolution is under consideration by the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

If Rep. McMorris Rodgers really cared about violence that threatens our schools, she would have voted for HR 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019, which passed the house 240 to 190, and is being stymied by Mitch McConnell in the Senate.

Bill Fassett

Spokane