SE Valley Times

The House of Representatives has passed H.R. 23, known as the Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act. The bill was introduced by Congressman Chip Roy from Texas and Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast from Florida. It aims to impose sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) if it takes actions such as investigating, arresting, detaining, or prosecuting any protected person from the United States and its allies, including Israel. Congressman Andy Biggs is one of the original cosponsors of this legislation.

In May 2024, the ICC announced arrest warrant applications for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant. In response to this development, Congressman Biggs introduced a resolution emphasizing that neither the United States nor Israel are parties to the Rome Statute—the treaty establishing the ICC—and therefore do not recognize its jurisdiction or legitimacy.

Congressman Biggs's resolution language was incorporated into H.R. 23's final text. He stated, "The ICC seeks to exercise authority it does not have, in jurisdiction from which it is excluded."

Biggs also noted his unique position in Congress regarding this matter: "As the only member of Congress who was in attendance at the Rome Conference where the ICC document originated, I can witness that the ICC is anti-America and anti-Israel."

He expressed satisfaction with his contribution to H.R. 23 and his support for imposing sanctions against the ICC: "I am pleased to have contributed language to H.R. 23 and to vote yes on sanctions against the ICC."