CAIR Action Calls Stevens, Thanedar Votes to Maintain $3.3 Billion for Israeli Military 'Disqualifying and Despicable'
(DETROIT, MI - 7/15/2026) — CAIR Action, a leading Muslim 501(c)(4) political organization, today strongly condemns Reps. Haley Stevens and Shri Thanedar, calling them complicit in genocide for voting to maintain $3.3 billion in taxpayer funding for the Israeli military's war crimes against innocent men, women, and children in Gaza and elsewhere.
CAIR Action calls their votes "disqualifying and despicable" and urges Michigan voters to unite against their candidacies in the state's upcoming primary elections.
Michigan community and civil rights leaders plan to hold a press conference on Friday, July 17, to address these developments; details regarding the time and location will be announced tomorrow.
In a statement, CAIR Action Executive Director Basim Elkarra said:
"We commend Rep. Tlaib for voting to stop the waste of American taxpayer dollars on the Israeli government's crimes, and we strongly condemn Haley Stevens, Shri Thanedar, and the members of Michigan's congressional delegation who voted to continue our nation's complicity in genocide.
"By voting to send billions more in American taxpayer dollars to Benjamin Netanyahu, Haley Stevens and Shri Thanedar have thumbed their noses at Michigan voters and once again made clear that they answer to AIPAC, not the American people. If they are willing to let Israel use American taxpayer dollars to kill Palestinian children during the middle of a heated primary, there is no doubt they would continue funding these war crimes if they win their upcoming elections.
"We call on every Democratic primary voter in Michigan who wants their tax dollars spent here at home, not on murdering children in Gaza, to turn out to vote and unite against Haley Stevens and Shri Thanedar in the state's primaries on Aug. 4. No one can afford to sit out this election, especially now. Michigan must send a message to Haley Stevens, Shri Thanedar and other members of Congress: we are done letting corrupt elected officials waste our money on war crimes overseas."
Democrats voting to maintain the funding were: Reps. Hillary Scholten, Kristen McDonald Rivet, Rep. Haley Stevens, and Shri Thanedar.
Republicans voting to maintain the funding were: Reps. Jack Bergman, John Moolenaar, Bill Huizenga, Tim Walberg, Tom Barrett, Lisa McClain, John James.
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CONTACT: Basim Elkarra, Executive Director, CAIR Action, belkarra@cairaction.org; CAIR Action Communications, media@cairaction.org