Keep Factually independent
Whether you agree or disagree with our analysis, these conversations matter for democracy. We don't take money from political groups - even a $5 donation helps us keep it that way.
What are the notable policy priorities and committee assignments of Muslim members of Congress?
Executive summary
As of the 119th Congress (2025–2027) there are four Muslim members serving in the U.S. House — André Carson (D‑IN), Ilhan Omar (D‑MN), Rashida Tlaib (D‑MI) and Lateefah Simon (D‑CA) — and reporting highlights their focus on civil rights, social justice, and foreign‑policy debates such as U.S. policy on Israel/Palestine; Pew counts one Muslim among the 2025 newcomers and CAIR frames congressional engagement around civil‑rights priorities [1] [2] [3]. Available sources do not provide a single, unified list of each member’s committee assignments in the 119th Congress; reporting and advocacy groups emphasize legislative priorities rather than a consolidated committee table [4] [2].
1. Who the Muslim members are and how many they represent
Four Muslims are reported in the 119th Congress, all in the House: André Carson, Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, and newcomer Lateefah Simon; Pew’s religion‑on‑the‑Hill analysis specifically lists one Muslim first‑term member, Lateefah Simon, among the non‑Christian newcomers [1]. Wikipedia and CAIR also list the same group and note that Muslim representation has been rising since Keith Ellison became the first Muslim member in 2007 [4] [3].
2. Common policy priorities emphasized by Muslim members
Advocacy groups and news coverage consistently identify civil rights, social justice, and anti‑Islamophobia efforts as central priorities tied to Muslim lawmakers’ agendas; CAIR’s materials frame engagement around “protections for civil rights, social justice, and advocacy for peace” and their congressional scorecard tracks votes on Muslim‑related civil‑rights bills [2] [3]. Reporting on individual members also highlights strong engagement on U.S. foreign‑policy debates — notably criticism of U.S. military support for Israel during the Gaza conflict — as a defining area for some members like Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib [5].
3. Where legislative focus and advocacy intersect
Civil‑rights organizations such as CAIR not only celebrate electoral gains but also push for specific legislation and scorecards that identify key votes: examples include recognition of Muslim Heritage Month, the Combating International Islamophobia Act, and ceasefire resolutions — all items CAIR flags as part of its congressional policy priorities for Muslim constituents [2]. CAIR’s public statements about new members stress collaboration to advance these priorities, indicating an organized advocacy ecosystem seeking to channel Muslim lawmakers’ influence on such measures [3] [2].
4. Foreign policy as a flashpoint and a policy priority
Multiple sources note that Muslim members have been influential voices in debates over U.S. policy toward Israel and Gaza; news coverage of the 2024/2025 election cycle emphasized that Omar and Tlaib have been “staunch critics of U.S. military support for Israel,” positioning foreign policy as both a legislative focus and a political flashpoint for these members [5]. Advocacy organizations frame peace and restraint in military engagement as part of a broader social‑justice agenda they want Congress to adopt [2].
5. Committee assignments: what the available sources say (and don’t say)
Available reporting and reference pages in this set do not provide a consolidated, cited list of each Muslim member’s committee assignments for the 119th Congress; Wikipedia’s list of Muslim members names individuals but does not function here as a verified committee roster in the provided snippets, and Pew’s faith‑on‑the‑Hill piece catalogs religious composition rather than committee placements [4] [1]. Therefore: not found in current reporting — a definitive table of 119th‑Congress committee assignments for these members is not present in the supplied sources [4] [1].
6. Legislative controversies and competing viewpoints
The supplied sources show competing perspectives: civil‑rights groups like CAIR portray Muslim members’ priorities as advancing inclusion and justice [3] [2], while other congressional activity — such as bills seeking to designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization — indicates a countervailing current in Congress focused on national‑security and counterterrorism measures that can intersect with debates about Muslim communities and foreign actors [6] [7] [8]. The presence of such bills makes clear that Muslim members operate in an environment where advocacy for civil rights and national‑security legislation are often in tension [6] [7] [8].
7. What to watch next
Advocacy scorecards and legislative lists from CAIR and official congressional trackers (e.g., Congress.gov entries for resolutions and bills) will be the primary sources to watch for tracking how Muslim members vote and which committees shape the bills they prioritize; CAIR already signals it will monitor and engage on items like the Combating International Islamophobia Act and resolutions recognizing Muslim heritage and holy days [2] [9]. For committee assignments and bill sponsorship details, future queries should consult the official congressional record or members’ House webpages, since those specific details are not contained in the current set of sources [1] [4].