Members of Congress rarely work a full, five-day week, but the schedule on Capitol Hill this week was even more truncated than usual: Bipartisan groups of lawmakers from both chambers were poised to travel abroad as part of the celebrations of the D-Day anniversary. This was, among other things, an opportunity for policymakers in the United States to demonstrate to our allies that there are still some core principles and values that American officials embrace and share with our partners abroad.
What struck me as notable, however, is that 46 House Republicans, each of whom surely knew the measure would fail, nevertheless wanted to go on record in support of the extremist congresswoman’s gambit. Yes, Rep. French Hill of Arkansas, one of the 46, later said he voted for the amendment by accident.