A bipartisan bill aimed at expanding penalties for boycotts against U.S.-friendly countries, particularly Israel, has been pulled from a scheduled House vote after fierce opposition from prominent Republicans, who cited free speech concerns.

House Resolution 867, the International Governmental Organization Anti-Boycott Act, introduced by Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., and Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., seeks to amend the 2018 Export Control Reform Act.

The proposed measure extends existing prohibitions on boycotts imposed by foreign governments to include those by international organizations like the United Nations.

Prohibited actions include refusing to do business with companies from a boycotted country, discriminating in employment based on race, religion, sex, or national origin; or providing information about business ties to the boycotted country.

Penalties include fines up to $1 million and imprisonment for up to 20 years.

The legislation, backed by 22 lawmakers from both parties, targets the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement, which advocates economic pressure on Israel over its treatment of Palestinians.

"This change targets harmful and inherently anti-Semitic BDS efforts at IGOs, such as the UN," Rep. Lawler’s office stated in January.

Gottheimer added, "International organizations can’t get away with targeting our key democratic ally, Israel."

However, the bill has sparked bipartisan resistance; both conservative Republicans and progressive Democrats, who have long argued anti-BDS laws infringe on free speech.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., issued a statement on Monday announcing her opposition.

"I will be voting NO. It is my job to defend American's rights to buy or boycott whomever they choose without the government harshly fining them or imprisoning them,” she said in a statement Monday.

Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) echoed her, saying, "I agree with @RepMTG. I’ll be voting No on this bill as well."

Conservative commentators Charlie Kirk and Steve Bannon also criticized the measure, with Kirk writing, “In America you are allowed to hold differing views. You are allowed to disagree and protest,” and Bannon affirming, “Fact check: True.”

Supporters, including the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), defend the bill as a necessary measure against discrimination.

A Gottheimer spokesperson told Newsweek, “It’s beyond outrageous and offensive that House leadership bowed to extreme-right forces and pulled this commonsense, bipartisan bill that makes antisemitic and hate-driven boycotts illegal.”

The bill’s cancellation, announced by Greene on Sunday, leaves its future uncertain amid ongoing tensions over Israel’s war in Gaza, which has killed more than 50,000 Palestinians and injured over 100,000 since Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack that left 1,200 Israelis dead.