After 366 petition signatures and months of constituent pressure, Rep. Ryan said he's "getting there" on HR 3565 but declined to commit — despite 47 Democratic colleagues already co-sponsoring the Block the Bombs Act.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. Pat Ryan told Hudson Valley constituents on September 10 that he is "getting there" on co-sponsoring the Block the Bombs Act but refused to commit to a timeline, despite 366 petition signatures delivered to his office — 210 from his own district — and 47 Democratic colleagues already supporting the legislation at that time.
Key Takeaways
- Ryan said "I'm getting there" when asked directly about co-sponsoring HR 3565
- 366 petition signatures delivered, including 210 confirmed NY-18 constituents
- 47 House Democrats had co-sponsored HR 3565 by September 10 (now 55)
- Ryan's staff claimed no availability for scheduled meeting despite advance notice
- No response to constituent follow-up email one week after the confrontation
The Hallway Confrontation
The exchange occurred during an unscheduled hallway conversation outside Ryan's congressional office after his staff declined to meet with members of Doctors Against Genocide, a national physicians' organization conducting monthly advocacy visits to Capitol Hill.
Doctors Against Genocide had met with Ryan's staff two or three times over the previous seven months regarding HR 3565, accompanied by local Hudson Valley constituents. Staff consistently responded that Ryan needed to hear from more constituents before taking a position.
Local peace advocacy groups mobilized to collect petition signatures. Before the September 10 visit, the delegation contacted Ryan's office by email and phone to request a meeting. They were told Ryan was unavailable.
When the group arrived to deliver the petition, they were told no staff were available. They left the documents and prepared to leave.
While standing in the hallway, delegation members noticed Ryan himself walking away from the group.
The Doctors Against Genocide delegation approached Ryan in the hallway outside his congressional office
Members of Doctors Against Genocide approached Ryan and introduced themselves. They informed him that 366 people had signed their petition urging him to co-sponsor HR 3565, and that at least 210 were his constituents. They asked directly if he would commit to co-sponsoring the bill, noting that 47 other Democratic representatives had done so.
"I'm getting there."
— Rep. Pat Ryan, when asked if he would co-sponsor HR 3565, September 10, 2025
When delegation members asked what it would take for him to "get there," Ryan pivoted to criticizing Netanyahu's leadership rather than addressing the legislation directly.
The conversation lasted approximately 10-12 minutes. Ryan appeared more interested in a separate letter the group brought concerning visa challenges faced by Palestinian medical students studying in the U.S.
Ryan's Communications Director, Sam Silverman, joined the conversation midway through and encouraged Ryan to proceed to his next appointment. Delegation members emailed Silverman one week later but have not received a response.
The Pattern: "Need to Hear from More"
Ryan's staff has consistently told constituent groups he "needs to hear from more constituents" on HR 3565, even as:
- 366 people signed a petition
- 210 confirmed constituents from NY-18 signed
- 47 Democratic colleagues had co-sponsored by September 10 (now 55)
- Multiple organizations have met with his staff over seven months
- Constituent protests have occurred at his district offices for 18+ months
What HR 3565 Would Do
The Block the Bombs Act would prohibit the transfer of specific offensive weapons to Israel, including:
- BLU-109 bunker-busting bombs
- MK80 series bombs (2,000-pound and 500-pound)
- Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAMs)
- 120mm tank ammunition
- 155mm artillery shells, including white phosphorus
The legislation was introduced by Reps. Delia Ramirez, Sara Jacobs, Pramila Jayapal, and Mark Pocan. Over 50 Democratic members of Congress have now co-sponsored.
Ryan's Record on Israel-Palestine
While Ryan told constituents he is "getting there" on HR 3565, his voting record shows consistent opposition to any restrictions on weapons transfers:
- Voted YES on H.R.8034 in April 2024, providing $26.38 billion in military aid to Israel
- Voted YES on H.R.23 in January 2025 to sanction ICC officials investigating Netanyahu
- Declined to co-sponsor any of eight Joint Resolutions to block $12 billion in Trump weapons transfers
- Received $380,711 from AIPAC and pro-Israel lobby groups since 2022