Through a bipartisan vote, the House denounced socialism.
109 Democratic lawmakers joined Republicans to bring the vote in favor of the law to 336 votes, 86 lawmakers voted against the resolution, while 14 voted “present.”
The three-page measure asserts that “socialist ideology” required power to be central and that such leadership “has time and time again collapsed into Communist regimes, totalitarian rule, and brutal dictatorships.”
The measure also explained that “many of the greatest crimes in history were committed by socialist ideologues.”
The measure listed socialist regime atrocities and mentioned socialist leaders like Kim Jong Il, Kim Jong Un, Fidel Castro, Hugo Chavez, Vladimir Lenin, Nicolás Maduro, Daniel Ortega, Pot Pot, and Joseph Stalin.
The measure by Congress stated that it “denounces socialism in all its forms,” adding that it is opposing “the implementation of socialist policies” in the United States
One of the sponsors of the measure Rep. María Elvira Salazar’s (R-Fla.) office, released a statement saying the passage of the measure “would make a bold statement that the [lawmakers] unequivocally denounce this cruel and unjust ideology.”
Salazar’s office added that the measure’s passing ensures the U.S. shows its commitment to “never begin [nor] normalize the implementation of socialist policies” which it highlighted “that inevitably lead to economic ruin and political authoritarianism.”
Democrats who voted against the proposal expressed their concern that the measure could threaten the security of Medicare and Social Security.
Justifying their reservations, they pointed to Republicans rejecting Democratic Rep. Mark Takano’s (CA.) proposed amendment that socialist policies wouldn’t include federal programs like Medicare and Social Security.
