FMEP Legislative Round-Up January 3, 2025

Resource

1. Bills, Resolutions
2. Letters
3. Hearings
4. Selected Members on the Record
5. Selected Media & Press releases/Statements

New episodes of FMEP’s Occupied Thoughts podcast:

1. Bills & Resolutions

(TARGETING THE ICC) Today (1/3/25) at noon ET, the 119th Congress opens for business. In terms of legislation, one of the first items of business in the House (following the swearing in of members and election of the Speaker – the latter task looking, as of this writing, as if it may involve some drama and some time), the House will vote on a resolution, H. Res. XXX, “Adopting the Rules of the House of Representatives for the One Hundred Nineteenth Congress, and for other purposes.” sponsored by House Majority Leader Scalise (R-LA). Notably, H. Res. XXX includes a list of resolutions and bills [all of which were previously introduced in the 118th Congress that will be immediately brought to the House floor for a vote, with no amendments permitted and allowing only one hour for debate (note: H. Res. XXX leaves the bill numbers unspecified, since they cannot be re-introduced until the 119th Congress is formally opened). That list includes, “The bill (H.R. ___) to impose sanctions with respect to the International Criminal Court engaged in any effort to investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute any protected person of the United States and its allies.” Also see:

  • Massie (R-KY) 1/1/25: X-post – “The United States is a sovereign country, so I don’t assign any credibility to decisions of the International Criminal Court. But how did a bill to protect Netanyahu make it into the House rules package to be voted on immediately after the Speaker vote? Where are our priorities?!“
  • Common Dreams 1/1/25: House GOP Tries to Protect Netanyahu From ICC With Rules Package
  • Haaretz 1/2/25: What Do Netanyahu and the ICC Have to Do With the Vote on U.S. House Speaker? [“The latest GOP clashes portend just how divisive foreign policy will be among the Republican Party, as isolationists and neoconservatives battle to define the incoming Trump administration’s goals“]
  • Jewish Insider 1/3/25: Excerpt from Daily Kickoff – “Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), who has led the Senate effort to sanction the court, would be supportive of either congressional or executive action on the issue, a source familiar with the matter told JI. Still, he plans to move ahead with reintroducing the legislation again.”

2. Letters

None.

3. Hearings

Expect confirmation hearings starting soon….

4. Selected Members on the Record

Support for Israel and the 119th Congress

  • Senate Democrats 1/2/25: Leader Schumer Announces New Senate Democratic Committee Assignments [X-post from Marc Rod/Jewish Insider 1/2/25: “Sen. Jacky Rosen is joining the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, a notable addition given that she’s one of the Democrats’ strongest pro-Israel voices.”]
  • Rosen (D-NV) 1/2/25: X-post – “At a time when America’s adversaries are looking to destabilize our global leadership, I’m joining @SFRCdems to be a strong voice to strengthen our national security. I’ll also make sure our commitment to supporting our democratic ally Israel remains unwavering & unconditional.“
  • Tenney (R-NY) 12/22/24: X-post – “@RepBrianMast is a staunch supporter of our ally Israel, a tireless advocate for Donald Trump’s peace-through-strength agenda, and a proven leader in standing up to our adversaries. Under his leadership, @HouseForeignGOP will champion a foreign policy rooted in an America First agenda!”

Targeting Academia

Continued Total Support for Anything/Everything Israel Does in Gaza, Demand Same From Everyone

  • Auchincloss (D-MA) 12/29/24: X-post – “Once again, Israel & Hamas are negotiating in earnest. And once again, the left is calling for more pressure to be put on Israel. These negotiations are advancing precisely because the United States has supported Israel, rather than undermined it. The pressure belongs on Hamas.” [with video clip]
  • Fetterman (D-PA) 12/26/24: X-post – “After the atrocity of 10/7, Israel rightly adapted to rescue hostages, destroy Hamas’ capabilities and kill its leadership. This difficult choice created an opportunity for regional peace for generations—an opportunity I welcome and fully support.” [with pic of NYT headline reading, “Israel Loosened Its Rules to Bomb Hamas Fighters, Killing Many More Civilians” – not including the sub-headline, “Surprised by Oct. 7 and fearful of another attack, Israel weakened safeguards meant to protect noncombatants, allowing officers to endanger up to 20 people in each airstrike. One of the deadliest bombardments of the 21st century followed.“]
  • Pallone (D-NJ) 12/23/24: X-post – “Turkey has consistently failed to be a reliable American ally. Erdogan has repeatedly turned his back on us while destabilizing the Middle East and the Caucasus. Now, he is attacking our Kurdish partners in Northern Syria and threatening our ally, Israel.“
  • Gottheimer (D-NJ) 12/20/24: X-post – “The Houthis are an Iranian-backed proxy who continue to attack the U.S. and our allies. Israel has the right to defend herself from terrorists that seek her destruction.“

Time for War with Iran!

  • Moskowitz (D-FL) 12/23/24: X-post – “If Iran doesn’t immediately end their program President Trump should take out the facilities in order to protect the people of the Middle East and the world” [with pic including headline “Iran could build a nuclear weapon Trump told by White House”]

Maybe not total support for everything Israel does…

  • Welch (D-VT) 12/23/24: X-post – “The Leahy Law must be applied to all countries, including Israel. Units of foreign security forces that violate human rights with impunity aren’t eligible for U.S. aid. That’s the law.”
  • Ramirez (D-IL) 12/22/24: X-post – “Kamal Adwan Hospital -one of the last standing medical centers serving northern Gaza- has been under attack for months. Under international law, hospitals must never be targets. The rules are simple. Israel should not be exempt from following them. Stop the attack!“

5. Selected Media

Support for Israel

Time for War with Iran!

  • Jewish Insider 1/3/25: Risch dismisses need for striking Iranian nuclear facilities amid GOP deterrence push [“The incoming Foreign Relations Committee chairman suggested taking out the nuclear program would be unnecessary, but later clarified he’d back the U.S. or Israel striking nuclear facilities”]
  • The Free Press 1/1/25: What Will Trump Do About Iran? [“On one side are people like Republican Senator James Risch of Idaho. ‘I don’t think we need to finish [Iran] off. They’re finishing themselves off,’ the incoming chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee told The Free Press in an exclusive interview. ‘They talk about it, but where’s the nuclear weapon? They could have had one a long time ago. . . . I think they are deterred,’ Senator Risch added.“]

Diminishing Support for Israel in Congress?

Accusing Dems of Being Soft on Antisemitism, Bad on Israel

Free Speech/Right to Protest (Defending and targeting)

Other stuff