1. Bills, Resolutions
2. Letters
3. Recess Travel to Israel & West Bank (to show support for/solidarity with Israel & Greater Israel)
4. Selected Members on the Record
5. Selected Media & Press releases/Statements

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1. Bills & Resolutions

(OPENING THE DOOR FOR US DIPLOMATIC FACILITIES IN SETTLEMENTS) HR 4983 (bill text): Introduced 8/15/25 by Lawler (R-NY), “To repeal a prohibition against the use of funds for site acquisition, development, or construction of any facility in Israel, Jerusalem, or the West Bank.”  Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. Also see: press release – Chairman Lawler Introduces Bill to Repeal Inactive Restrictions on Building U.S. Facilities in Israel; Lawler bill would repeal decades-old provision on U.S. diplomatic facility construction in Israel (Jewish Insider 8/15/25)

(TRACKING “VIOLENT ANTISEMITISM”) HR 5011: Introduced 8/19/25 by Vindman (D-VA) and Bacon (R-NE), the “Violent Antisemitism Threat Assessment Act.“ Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services. Also see: press release – Vindman, Bacon Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Track & Combat Antisemitism in Extremist Movements; Vindman X-post – “Antisemitism is fueling violent extremism and threatening both Jewish Americans and our democracy. That’s why I’m working with @RepDonBacon on a bipartisan bill to require a report to Congress on how this hatred is used by extremist movements — so we can take action and keep our communities safe.”

2. Letters

• (MORE TARGETING OF THE NEA) 8/21/25: Chairman Walberg Presses Largest Teachers Union over Pattern of Antisemitism [letter text]
• (BAN PALESTINIAN SPEAKER AT DETROIT EVENT) 8/21/25: Moolenaar, Michigan GOP Delegation Urge Trump Admin to Stop Terrorist Speaker in Detroit [letter text]. Also see: Walberg (R-MI) X-post – “Outrageous that murderous terrorists were invited to address this anti-Israel conference in Detroit.“
• (KILLING OF JOURNOS IN GAZA) 8/21/25: Schatz Leads Group of 17 Senators in Pressing Trump Administration About Killing of Journalists in Gaza; Urging Increased Protections, Access for Press [letter text]. Also see: Democrats Press Marco Rubio About ‘Catastrophic’ Killing Of Journalists In Gaza (Huffington Post 8/20/25)
• (TURKEY & THE F-35 PROGRAM) 8/21/25: X-post from FDD Action’s Tyler Stapleton, “In response to Congressional pressure, the State Department reiterates U.S. policy that Turkey remains barred from the F-35 program based on its acquisition of the Russian S-400 system and that section 1245 of the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act remains in effect.” [letter – page 1, page 2]
• (IRAN-CHINA OIL SALES) 8/19/25: Krishnamoorthi Presses Trump Administration on Apparent Retreat from Sanctions on Iranian Oil Sales to China [letter text]
• (WEST BANK SETTLER VIOLENCE) 8/18/25: Gallego Leads Colleagues in Calling for Investigation, Sanctions for Israeli Settlers’ Violence and Obstruction of Aid in Gaza [letter text]. Also see: Gallego (D-AZ) X-post – “I’m deeply concerned by reports that Israeli settlers are blocking humanitarian aid to Gaza and attacking Palestinian civilians, including U.S. citizens, in the West Bank. I’m urging the State and Treasury Departments to investigate swiftly and calling on Israeli authorities to ensure accountability and protect humanitarian operations.” Also see: Democratic senators call for Magnitsky sanctions over ‘settler violence’ (Jewish News Syndicate 8/19/25)
• (RECOGNIZE SOMALILAND!) 8/14/25: Sen. Cruz Calls for U.S. Recognition of Somaliland [letter text]. Excerpt from the letter – “…it possesses capable armed forces and contributes to regional counterterrorism and piracy operations. It has enabled the opening of a Taiwanese Representative Office in the capital of Hargeisa, sought to strengthen ties with Israel, and voiced support for the Abraham Accords. It has proposed hosting a U.S. military presence near the Red Sea along the Gulf of Aden and is open to critical minerals agreements that would support our supply chain resilience…” Also see: Cruz cites effort to boost Israeli ties in call for US recognition of Somaliland (Jewish News Syndicate 8/15/25)

3. Recess Travel to Israel & West Bank & beyond

Jewish Insider 8/20/25: Rep. Laura Gillen returns from Israel doubly committed to a strong U.S.-Israel relationship

AIPAC 8/18/25; X-post w/ video – “Members of Congress from both parties spent time in Israel together with AIEF. They traveled around Israel’s border with Gaza, visited communities decimated by Hamas on Oct. 7, met with survivors & spoke with families of hostages still captive.”

Olszewski (D-MD) 8/18/25: X-post w/ video clip- “Prime Minister Netanyahu was told directly: the war must end. Aid must reach Gaza, hostages must be freed, and Hamas must not return to power. I spoke with @CNN’s @AudieCornish about my meeting with the Prime Minister — lasting peace and protecting innocent lives cannot wait.”

Riley (D-NY) 8/17/25: X-post – “Last weekend, I visited Israel, including the West Bank and the Gaza border, to see the situation for myself and to speak directly with leaders there, including the head of the UN World Food Program, Palestinian Prime Minister Muhammad Mustafa, Israeli President Isaac Herzog, and senior intelligence officials. The history and politics of the region are complicated, but a few things are clear to me: First, there is a severe and undeniable humanitarian crisis in Gaza. More food is now entering Gaza, but it still is not getting to those who need it most. I am demanding that the UN and Israeli government jointly develop an aggressive operation to surge aid to innocent civilians. I pressed President Herzog on this issue, making clear that it is both a moral and a strategic imperative. Second, there can be no lasting peace for either Israelis or Palestinians so long as Iran continues to arm and finance terrorist proxies like Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis. Hamas is inflicting unimaginable suffering in the region–torturing hostages, depriving innocent Gazans of basic needs, terrorizing Israelis, and unnecessarily prolonging the war that it started on October 7. Hamas needs to release the hostages, surrender its arms, and cede control to leaders who put the Palestinian people ahead of the Iranian regime. Third, I appreciate that so many of you feel so passionately about the war. As a dad to two little kids, it’s heartbreaking to see images from this war where so many children–Israeli and Palestinian–are caught in the middle. As Upstate New Yorkers, I hope we can give each other the benefit of the doubt and start from our shared values, knowing that we all want the suffering to end and none of us supports violence against anyone because of how they worship. And we should recognize that we can stand with our allies and their people when they are under attack while still speaking honestly (and critically) to their governments–just as we’d expect them to do with us.”

• Bush (D-MO) 8/21/25: X-post – “Constituents were told to stay after Bell’s townhall if they had questions. They stayed & were brutalized. As Trump deepens our country into a police state, it breaks my heart to see the same violence and anti-democratic tactics in STL. Silence & violence are not representation.“
• Welch (D-VT) 8/20/25: X-post – “Prime Minister Netanyahu’s plan is clear: remove Palestinians from northern Gaza. A new offensive will not bring back the hostages or feed starving Palestinian children. It will only prolong the suffering.“
• Magaziner (D-RI) 8/20/25: X-post – “The situation in Gaza continues to be horrific, and aid must be urgently surged. I am proud that Rhode Island is stepping up, with @EdesiaNutrition preparing to ship lifesaving food aid to children in Gaza.” Linked to article, Edesia to Move Plumpy’Nut Lifesaving Food from Rhode Island to Israel to Gaza to Feed Children [“…We also asked about security protocols for making sure the food doesn’t get taken by the Hamas on its way to the children, which has been a constant problem in food shipping to Gaza in general. We also asked about airdrops as a delivery method. Salem responded that the boxes are being sent by plan to Israel, where it will be drive to Gaza. The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) are protecting the sites, and ‘while I cannot guarantee anything, we have done our best to choose partners with valuable experience’ – adding – ‘We are not involved in any airdrops – unsafe, too expensive and inhumane.’”]
• Booker (D-NJ) 8/19/25: Sen. Booker Calls for Immediate Re-Instatement of Temporary Medical-Humanitarian Visas For Gazans [“Donald Trump promised to secure a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel in his first week in office, and now Secretary Rubio is compounding this administration’s failure of leadership with a policy that leaves Gazans who qualify for temporary medical and humanitarian visas— including seriously injured children and civilians who have been caught in the crossfire through no fault of their own— without this lifesaving recourse. Throughout this conflict, my office has relied on crucial humanitarian tools like this one to save innocent lives, and I have worked closely with the State Department under both the Trump and Biden Administrations to evacuate individuals in critical need of medical care and improve access to humanitarian aid and medical personnel and services in Gaza. Secretary Rubio must immediately reinstate the use of these temporary medical and humanitarian visas so we can save lives now and double down on the work needed to achieve a just and lasting peace in the region.”] Also see Booker X-post 8/19/25
• Stansbury (D-NM) 8/18/25: X-post – “Millions have raised their voices, including thousands in the streets yesterday calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. The unrelenting and escalating violence, mass starvation, and annexation being carried out by Netanyahu and his allies are not only a blatant violation of humanitarian rights, but a blatant violation of international law. The killing of Palestinian families and children, journalists, and aid workers must stop. Food, medicine, water, and humanitarian aid must be allowed in. Hostages must be released. And, the United States government must stop the flow of weapons being used to enable these atrocities. We have a fundamental moral responsibility to act, and to act now.”
• Doggett (D-TX) 8/18/25: X-post – “Former top Israeli defense officials are right to call the Netanyahu government an existential threat to Israel. Their war by starvation in Gaza, plans to reoccupy Gaza and annex the West Bank, and total destruction of any future Palestinian state will condemn Israelis and Palestinians to perpetual violence and insecurity. Fundamentalism can never guarantee peace.”
• Gottheimer (D-NJ) 8/17/25: X-post w/ video clip – “Humanitarian aid must reach Gazans in need — not Hamas terrorists who continue to steal food from innocent civilians. We must bring home every hostage, surge humanitarian aid to innocent civilians, and end Hamas’ brutal reign of terror.”

The cruelty toward Palestinians, including injured children, is the point

• Simon (D-CA) 8/20/25: X-post – “The point is cruelty. The war has already resulted in unimaginable destruction over the past two years. The three children from Gaza being treated in the Bay Area, including in Oakland, are getting basic health care after surviving horrific bombings and third-degree burns. Republicans pausing visas for people simply trying to survive is despicable.“
• Doggett (D-TX) 8/19/25: X-post – “Too weak to stand up to Netanyahu and end the war in Gaza, Trump is now cruelly blocking seriously injured Palestinian kids from receiving treatment in the US after Gaza’s health system has been destroyed.”
• Tiffany (R-WI) 8/18/25: X-post – “Last year, the Biden administration tried to resettle Palestinians here. I introduced the GAZA Act to stop it. The correct number of Palestinians we should import is zero.”
• Ramirez (D-IL) 8/18/25: X-post – “After supplying the bombs to kill, wound, and displace Palestinians and eliminate every working hospital in Gaza, the Department of State is denying children visas for emergency medical care. We must end the support of Netanyahu’s genocidal campaign, Block the Bombs, and ensure Palestinian children get the care they need.”
• Fine (R-FL) 8/18/25: X-post – “Deport every Gazan in the United States. And every foreigner who supports them. NOW.”
• Merkley (D-OR) 8/17/25: X-post – “Obscene: Blocking visas for injured children from Gaza.” Linked to article, U.S. halts visitor visas for Gazans, including humanitarian medical visas (Washington Post)
• Bush (D-MO) 8/17/25: X-post- “I stand with HEAL Palestine, all the children & families they’ve helped, the medical team, and supporters.”
• Roy (R-TX) 8/16/25: X-post – “Step 1.” Responding to State Department X-post – “All visitor visas for individuals from Gaza are being stopped while we conduct a full and thorough review of the process and procedures used to issue a small number of temporary medical-humanitarian visas in recent days.“
• Fine (R-FL) 8/16/25: X-post – “No Gazans should be entering the United States. Period.”
• Fine (R-FL) 8/16/25: X-post – “BREAKING: @realDonaldTrump and @SecRubio have immediately halted visas to Gazans that were being issued by deep state actors while we get to the bottom of how this national security risk was allowed. Massive credit needs to be given to @LauraLoomer for uncovering this and making me and other officials aware. Well done, Laura.“
• Lee (R-UT) 8/15/25: X-post – “Oh, hell no!” Responding to Roy (R-TX) 8/15/25: X-post – “Deeply concerned about the incoming flights – including to Texas – allegedly filled with folks from Gaza as reported by @LauraLoomer. Inquiring.”
• Fine (R-FL) 8/15/25: X-post – “I am troubled by reporting uncovered by  @LauraLoomer that indicates that Gazans are being allowed into the United States. If true, this is absolutely unacceptable. My office will be working with the relevant authorities to confirm the truth, understand how it happened, and seek immediate expulsion.“
• Massie (R-KY) 8/15/25: X-post – “Instead of accepting refugees from Gaza, the United States should quit giving munitions to Israel to create refugees.“

Concern about E-1 approval

• Carter (D-LA) 8/15/25: X-post – “I remain steadfast in my call for a two-state solution that guarantees the rights and security of both Israelis and Palestinians. The announcement from Israel’s government approving the unlawful E-1 settlement project in the occupied West Bank would effectively split the West Bank in two and deliberately block Palestinian self-determination and statehood. It is dangerous, it is wrong, and it is the work of those who stand in the way of peace. I oppose it in the strongest possible terms.“
• Van Hollen (D-MD) 8/15/25: X-post – “Another outrageous “plan” from Israel’s far-right minister Smotrich to expand illegal settlements in the West Bank to destroy the possibility of a Palestinian state. The US must flatly reject this & push for security & self determination for ALL  as part of a two-state solution.” With link to article, Israeli settlement plans will ‘bury’ idea of Palestinian state, minister says (BBC 8/14/25)

WE STAND WITH ISRAEL!!!!

Elex & Politics

• Jewish Insider 8/20/25: Klobuchar rebukes Fateh campaign staffers who glorified Oct. 7 attacks
• St. Louis Public Radio 8/20/25: Protesters confront U.S. Rep. Wesley Bell at town hall about his support of Israel
• The Forward 8/20/25: Meet the Jewish senator emerging as Chuck Schumer’s heir apparent [“Brian Schatz’s rise to Democratic whip, and Schumer’s weakening hold, signal the next chapter of Jewish leadership“]
• Jewish Insider 8/20/25: Susan Collins hits newly minted challenger over his anti-Israel rhetoric [“Democrat Graham Platner entered the race accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza”]
• Zeteo 8/19/25: Meet the Disillusioned Veteran Who Thinks He Can Beat Susan Collins in Maine
• Jewish Insider 8/19/25: Brad Sherman keeps a wary eye on younger primary opposition [“Sherman, a stalwart pro-Israel Democrat, is facing several politically connected Democratic challengers in next year’s“]
• Jewish News Syndicate 8/19/25: The Democratic deux-face on Israel [“Every equivocation, every moral equivalence between Israel and Hamas, and every gratuitous swipe at the Jewish state’s leadership chips away at trust.“]
• Substack – Waleed Shahid 8/19/25: Inside Uncommitted: The 1-Year Anniversary of a Missed Turn at the DNC
• Christian Broadcasting Network 8/19/25: Emerging Democratic Congressman Ritchie Torres Stands Boldly for Israel
• Politico 8/16/25: Americans Are Changing Their Views of Israel. That’s a Problem. [“Eventually Israel could find it has a lot in common with apartheid-era South Africa.“]
• Jewish News Syndicate 8/15/25: Democratic Socialists of America votes to expel members who support Israeli self-defense [“A recent measure passed by the organization also states that members can be expelled for opposing the movement to boycott Israel.”]
• Axios 8/15/25: No. 2 House Democrat Katherine Clark calls Gaza war a “genocide”
• Jewish Insider 8/15/25: Klobuchar, Walz staying silent over Fateh staffers’ antisemitism

Standing up to Israel (to varying degrees, more or less)

• Responsible Statecraft 8/21/25: Does the House have the grit to ‘Block the Bombs’ to Israel? [“Lawmakers returning from recess have a chance to do what their constituents are telling them to — stop US complicity in Gaza carnage”]
• Jewish News Syndicate 8/19/25: Maryland Jewish congressman latest Dem to sponsor arms restrictions against Israel – The Block the Bombs Act would require congressional approval to transfer a variety of weapons systems to Jerusalem.
• Jewish Insider 8/19/25: Top D.C. Jewish official urges Jamie Raskin to withdraw from anti-Israel resolution
• Jewish News Syndicate 8/18/25: No. 2 House Democrat clarifies comment about Gaza ‘genocide’ [“’I want to be clear that I am not accusing Israel of genocide,’ House Minority Whip Katherine Clark told JNS.“]
• The Megan Kelly Show 8/19/25: X-post w/ video clip – “’Israel is the only country I know of that has some sort of incredible influence and control over nearly every single one of my colleagues…’ @mtgreenee on AIPAC and the Israel lobby’s power in Washington, D.C.“
• Jewish News Syndicate 8/19/25: Maryland Jewish congressman latest Dem to sponsor arms restrictions against Israel [“The Block the Bombs Act would require congressional approval to transfer a variety of weapons systems to Jerusalem.”]
• Times of Israel 8/18/25: Jewish Democrat Jamie Raskin joins lawmakers backing bill to restrict arms to Israel [“House Minority Whip Katherine Clark becomes highest ranking member of Congress to call war in Gaza ‘genocide,’ amid notable decline in party of support for Israel”]
• Jewish Insider 8/17/25: Raskin backs bill severely restricting U.S. arms transfers to Israel [“One of the most visible and well-known progressive Jewish lawmakers in Congress became a cosponsor of the ‘Block the Bombs Act’”]
• Jewish Insider 8/15/25: No. 2 House Democrat describes war in Gaza as ‘genocide’ [“Rep. Katherine Clark is the highest-ranking Democrat to have used the term, even as only a small number of other lawmakers have done so“]

Unconditional Support for Israel!

• Jewish Insider 8/21/25: Greg Landsman: Israel is ‘close’ to ending Gaza war [“The Ohio Democrat, who visited Israel last week, also called for pressure on Qatar to push Hamas officials in Doha to end the war and release the remaining 50 hostages“]
• Al Anadolu 8/20/25: US lawmaker exposes Israeli lobby’s ‘incredible influence and control’ on Congress [“‘Israel is the only country I know of that has some sort of incredible influence and control over nearly every single one of my colleagues,’ says Marjorie Taylor Greene”
• Politico 8/19/25: Katherine Clark backs off Gaza ‘genocide’ comments — Her statement comes after saying the “genocide and destruction” in Gaza needs to end.
• Jewish News Syndicate 8/15/25: ‘Flooding’ Gaza with food makes Hamas looting less likely, six Dem House members claim [“The United Nations has yet to release data from this year’s ceasefire to indicate whether an abundance of aid disincentivizes looting.”]

Other stuff

• Jewish Insider 8/21/25: Qatar’s Washington lobbyist invokes old antisemitic tropes in push for influence

Of special note

• X-thread w/ links by @JonathanACBrown 8/16/25: “Everyone should be aware of the newest US government effort to designate “the Muslim Brotherhood” (whatever that means, considering that there are dozens of national organizations of different degrees of relation to the original Egyptian org) a terrorist organization. The reason that Islamophobes/Pro-Israel activists have been pushing this for 20 years is that it would allow US law enforcement to threaten basically every single Muslim activist, intellectual or organization in the West, since almost all of them have some link, especially back in the ‘70s and ‘80s, with one of these many “Muslim brotherhood” organizations. It would be the equivalent of Democrats making “conservative activism” a terrorist organization to go after Republicans. For example, if you were a member of the Muslim Student Association in college, well the MSA was founded back in 1963 by students from Iraq, Lebanon etc. who had been in their countries’ MB branches. As part of this effort, Sec. of State Rubio is also discussing designating the main American organization that advocates for American Muslim rights, CAIR, a terrorist organization.“