Vice Ranking Member Amo Leads 125 Democrats Calling on Secretary Rubio to Provide Robust American Leadership to Feed Palestinian Civilians

WASHINGTON, DC – TODAY, Congressman Gabe Amo (D-RI) led 125 colleagues calling on Secretary of State Marco Rubio to ensure desperately needed humanitarian aid reaches Gazan civilians. Nearly one month into the ceasefire agreement, there are still no details from the Trump administration on what aid is allowed into Gaza and what role the United States will play in aid delivery.

The lawmakers write:

“Two years after Hamas’ brutal attack on Israel on October 7, we are encouraged by the ceasefire announced on October 8, 2025, and urge all parties to embrace this opportunity to create lasting peace and security in the region. While we welcome the news that humanitarian aid is entering Gaza after the October 8 ceasefire agreement, we seek clarity on your plan to ensure desperately needed humanitarian aid reaches Palestinian civilians in Gaza.”

“After over two years, there remains an insufficient supply of food, water, baby formula, medicine, and other essential humanitarian supplies needed to support life for Palestinian civilians in Gaza. People are dying of starvation, including over 100 children since the start of the war, with an additional 320,000 children at risk of acute malnutrition.”

“We are encouraged that more aid is being delivered following the recent ceasefire agreement, and we urge that aid distribution to be conducted by reputable international institutions. We hope that amidst the challenges of maintaining the ceasefire, there remains a robust commitment to all parties involved to continuing the flow of aid into Gaza. However, several questions remain about the implementation of this ceasefire and the State Department’s plan to increase humanitarian aid into Gaza for civilians.”

“How will the State Department ensure that there is not only a sufficient amount but also a proper combination of humanitarian aid, such as food, water, baby formula, medicine, and housing supplies, to meet the needs of Palestinian civilians in Gaza? 

Read the full text of the letter HERE.

The following Members of Congress have signed the letter: 

Alma Adams, Gabe Amo, Yassamin Ansari, Becca Balint, Nanette Barragán, Ami Bera, Donald Beyer, Suzanne Bonamici, Brendan Boyle, Shontel Brown, Julia Brownley, Nikki Budzinski, Salud Carbajal, André Carson, Troy Carter, Greg Casar, Ed Case, Sean Casten, Kathy Castor, Joaquin Castro, Judy Chu, Yvette Clarke, Emanuel Cleaver, James Clyburn, Steve Cohen, Herbert Conaway, Joe Courtney, Angie Craig, Jason Crow, Sharice Davids, Danny Davis, Madeleine Dean, Diana DeGette, Rosa DeLauro, Christopher Deluzio, Mark DeSaulnier, Maxine Dexter, Debbie Dingell, Lloyd Doggett, Sarah Elfreth, Veronica Escobar, Dwight Evans, Cleo Fields, Shomari Figures, Lizzie Fletcher, Valerie Foushee, Laura Friedman, Maxwell Frost, John Garamendi, Jesús García, Robert Garcia, Sylvia Garcia, Dan Goldman, Jimmy Gomez, Maggie Goodlander, Al Green, Jahana Hayes, Pablo Hernández, Val Hoyle, Jared Huffman, Jonathan Jackson, Sara Jacobs, Pramila Jayapal, Henry Johnson, Julie Johnson, Sydney Kamlager-Dove, William Keating, Robin Kelly, Ro Khanna, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Rick Larsen, John Larson, Teresa Leger Fernandez, Sam Liccardo, Zoe Lofgren, Stephen Lynch, Seth Magaziner, Doris Matsui, April McClain Delaney, Jennifer McClellan, Betty McCollum, Kristen McDonald Rivet, Morgan McGarvey, James McGovern, LaMonica McIver, Kweisi Mfume, Dave Min, Gwen Moore, Kelly Morrison, Seth Moulton, Kevin Mullin, Jerrold Nadler, Eleanor Norton, Chris Pappas, Nancy Pelosi, Chellie Pingree, Mark Pocan, Mike Quigley, Emily Randall, Jamie Raskin, Luz Rivas, Deborah Ross, Raul Ruiz, Andrea Salinas, Linda Sánchez, Janice Schakowsky, Robert Scott, Terri Sewell, Lateefah Simon, Eric Sorensen, Melanie Stansbury, Eric Swalwell, Mark Takano, Bennie Thompson, Mike Thompson, Dina Titus, Jill Tokuda, Paul Tonko, Norma Torres, Lori Trahan, Derek Tran, Nydia Velázquez, James Walkinshaw, Maxine Waters, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Nikema Williams

Background

As the Vice Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Congressman Amo has fought to strengthen and protect America’s foreign aid initiatives.

In July, Amo led a letter with 51 colleagues opposing Secretary Rubio’s decision to withhold and subsequently incinerate nearly 500 metric tons of emergency food.

In May, Amo questioned Secretary Rubio in the House Foreign Affairs Committee about the Trump Administration’s destruction of America’s foreign aid enterprise and failure to deliver Rhode Island-made Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food aid to those in need. 

In July 2024, Amo sent a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. Agency for International Development Administrator Samantha Power in support of dedicated funding for Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food to address acute malnutrition in Gaza, Sudan, and elsewhere throughout the world. 

In May of 2024, Amo spoke about the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza to allow for the humanitarian aid and Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods to flow to Palestinian civilians.

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