FMEP Legislative Round-Up April 10, 2026

Resource

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

New episodes of FMEP’s Occupied Thoughts Podcasts:

Also featuring FMEP:

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1. Bills & Resolutions

(IRAN OIL EXPORTS) HR 8220: Introduced 4/9/26 by Latimar (D-NY), “To nullify Iran-related General License U, ‘Authorizing the Delivery and Sale of Crude Oil and Petroleum Products of Iranian Origin Loaded on Vessels as of March 20, 2026’, and for other purposes.” Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and the Committee on the Judiciary.

(DESIGNATE CAIR A GLOBAL TERRORIST) HR 8236 (bill text): Introduced 4/9/26 by Roy (R-TX) and 3 Republican cosponsors [Ogles (R-TN), Higgins (R-LA) and Norman (R-SC)], “To direct the Secretary of the Treasury to list the Council on American-Islamic Relations and its chapter affiliates as Specially Designated Global Terrorists, and for other purposes,” aka the “Designating Hamas Affiliates in America Act of 2026.”  Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and the Committee on Ways and Means. Also see: press release – Rep. Roy Introduces Bill to Designate CAIR as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist Organization; Congressman Chip Roy Introduces Bill to Designate CAIR as Terrorist Entity (Middle East Forum 4/9/26)

(BARRING PROTEST NEAR SYNAGOGUES & CHURCHES) HR 8239: Introduced 4/9/26 by Suozzi (D-NY) and Miller (R-OH), “To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit harassment of persons lawfully exercising or seeking to exercise the First Amendment right of religious freedom at a place of religious worship, within a distance of 100 feet or closer to such place of religious worship, and for other purposes.”  Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

(CONDEMNING REP. OGLES/ISLAMOPHOBIA) H. Res. 1159: Introduced 4/9/26 by Green (D-TX), “Condemning the Hateful and Islamophobic Comments of Representative Andy Ogles.” Referred to the House Committee on Ethics. Also see press release – Congressman Al Green Introduces a Resolution Condemning the Hateful and Islamophobic Post of Representative Andy Ogles

(CONGRATULATING IRAN RESCUE EFFORTS) H. Res. 1160: Introduced 4/9/26 by Mills (R-FL), “Praising the efforts of United States Combat Search and Rescue teams in the recovery of two United States Air Force Airmen who ejected over Iran.” Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services. (All Actions)

UPDATE — (TARGETING NON-PROFIT SECTOR) HR 8166: Introduced 3/30/26 by Self (R-TX), “To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to deny tax-exempt status to certain organizations receiving contributions or gifts from citizens or nationals of foreign adversaries,” aka the “Guarding U.S. Associations from Rogue Donations (GUARD) Act.” Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. Text of the bill is now online — key points:

  • Strip Tax-Exempt Status: The bill would remove tax exempt status from any (c)(3) organization that “receives any contribution or gift…from any individual who is a citizen or national of a foreign adversary shall not be exempt from taxation…” The removal of the tax exemption would apply to “any taxable year ending on or after the date of the receipt of such contribution or gift.”
  • Foreign Adversary designation: The bill defines “Foreign Adversary” to mean: China (incl Hong Kong & Macau Special Admin Regions), Cuba, Iran, DPRK, Russian Federation, and “such other foreign country as the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of State, determines is in the national security interest of the United States” — meaning the Admin can add countries essentially be simple declaration.
  • Foreign citizens: The bill applies to donations from “citizens” of foreign adversary nations (e.g., a person who holds a Chinese passport). As written, it applies to such citizens regardless of where they live (including those who live in the U.S.), and it applies regardless of dual nationality  — that is, the bill would apply in the case of donations from US citizens who also hold citizenship in a designated Foreign Adversary [indeed, in principle it would apply to any US citizen that a foreign adversary nation would consider a citizen based on that nation’s own nationality laws, irrespective of whether that US citizen had ever obtained a passport or in any other way affirmatively accepted/asserted citizenship].
  • Foreign nationals: The bill also applies to donations from “nationals” of foreign adversary nationls (i.e., anyone residing in a designated foreign adversary nation who is NOT a citizen of that nation). As written, this would include American citizens resident in foreign adversary nations; indeed, as written it would even include US citizens living in such countries as part of service to the US government – e.g., the military or the US foreign service.
  • No exceptions, no recourse: The bill does not provide for any exceptions to the revocation requirement, nor does it lay out any means to challenge the revocation of tax-exempt status.

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Re: Democrats’ effort to to pass War Powers Resolution this week:

  • C-Span 4/9/26 X-post with video clip — “While Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) presides during House pro forma session, Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-MD) asks unanimous consent for the House to pass Iran war powers resolution. Smith does not recognize Ivey and gavels the House out.” Also see reports in Wall Street Journal, Reuters, Axios, the Guardian, NBC News
  • Jeffries (D-NY) 4/8/26 press release: – Dear Colleague on Permanently Ending Donald Trump’s Reckless War of Choice [“To the extent Republican leadership refuses to bring Congress back this week, House Democrats will demand passage of the War Powers Resolution introduced by Ranking Member Greg Meeks via unanimous consent at the next pro forma session on Thursday, April 9 at 11:30 a.m. sharp. Led by Rep. Glenn Ivey, all Members who are in Washington are invited to join the effort on the House Floor. Immediately following the pro forma session, House Democrats will speak directly to the American people from the Capitol grounds.”]. 

Media/posts/analysis related to other legislation:

  • Vasquez (D-NM) 4/9/26: Rep. Vasquez Backs Bill to Prevent President from Unilaterally Escalating Iran War with Nuclear Strike [re: HR 3564, The Nuclear First-Strike Security Act of 2025, introduced 5/21/25]
  • Fine (R-FL) 4/9/26: X-post: “Foreigners should not be able to serve in Congress. That’s why I’ve introduced the Disqualifying Dual Loyalty Act. If you’re a citizen of another country, you shouldn’t serve this one. Get out.” NOTE: The image accompanying the post includes a photo of Tlaib (D-MI) with a Palestinian flag; a photo of Omar (D-MN) with a Somali flag, and what I think is supposed to be a photo of Ansari (D-AZ) edited to add a chador (Iranian-style hijab with partial face covering), with an Iranian flag. Note that Tlaib was born in Detroit, Michigan; Ansari was born in Seattle, Washington; and Omar is a refugee from Somalia who became a U.S. citizen in 2000. Is it relevant that Omar is foreign-born? Well… Per the public list maintained by the Clerk of the House, there are **26 foreign-born Members of Congress**. Fine only mentions Omar — who happens to be the only Muslim on the list. Is it relevant that Tlaib, Ansari, & Omar are engaged/outspoken on issues, incl related to the countries in which they have heritage? Well… Many, many members do likewise, incl via the many House caucuses organized around national/ethnic identities. Is it relevant that if a critic of Israel posted the exact same post as Fine, but with pix of Jewish members of Congress who are ardent supporters of Israel, with Israeli flags on on their pix, there would be a massive outcry of ANTISEMITISM and demands for consequences? In sum: Fine singles out 2 US-born citizens & 1 26-yr naturalized citizens, all women, brown, 2 Muslim & 1 secular w/ heritage in a Muslim country, to accuse of dual loyalty & demand they GET OUT. And there’s no outcry.
  • Semaphor 4/8/26: Democrats to force Iran vote next week
  • Sanders (I-VT) 4/8/26: X-post – “No great surprise. Netanyahu talked Trump into the disastrous war in Iran. We cannot allow Israel to continue shaping U.S. military and foreign policy. Next week I will be offering a resolution to stop U.S. military aid to Israel.” Linked to New York Times 4/7/26 article: How Trump Took the U.S. to War With Iran documenting in detail Israel’s role in the decision
  • IMEU 4/8/26: Senate Must Block More Bombs to Israel & Senate Must Block Bulldozers to Israel
  • Axios 3/6/26: House Democrat moves to impeach Hegseth over Iran war

2. Letters

Also see: Crow (D-CA) 4/7/26: Crow, Jacobs, Ansari Blast Unacceptable Response from DoD on Civilian Harm

3. Hearings & Markups

April 16, 2026: The Senate Committee on the Budget will hold a hearing, “The President’s Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Proposal.” The witness will be Russell Vought, Director of the Office of Management and Budget. Also see: President’s Budget Request – U.S.-Israel Aspects of Note (A New Policy 4/3/26)

April 15, 2026: The House Budget Committee will hold a hearing, “The President’s Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Request.” The witness will be Russell Vought, Director of the Office of Management and Budget. Also see: President’s Budget Request – U.S.-Israel Aspects of Note (A New Policy 4/3/26)

April 15, 2026: The Senate Foreign Relations Committee will hold a hearing entitled, Reforming the UN: Assessing U.S. Efforts and Priorities. Scheduled witnesses will be: US Representative to the UN Mike Waltz; and Jeff Bartos, US Representative to the UN for UN Management and Reform.

4. Selected Members on the Record

REMINDER: At some point last month X appears to have killed the feature that allowed me to (relatively) easily track what members of Congress are saying using keyword searches of X lists (after previously killing the functionality that permitted me to conduct this tracking via a script). AS A RESULT: if you want track what members of Congress are saying about Israel/Palestine/Iran/etc on X, you – like me – are now obliged to track 535 accounts individually. Which I don’t have the capacity to do. Meaning that this section of the Round-Up will henceforth be a lot thinner, comprised of press releases posted on members’ website and statements on the Congressional Record, as well as odds and ends of statements on X that I have come across. 

ALSO REMINDER: It is simply beyond the capacity of the Round-Up to track [let alone document] what every member of the House and Senate is saying about the US/Israel war with Iran – including a flood of comments this week linked to Trump’s threat to totally destroy Iran and the “ceasefire” that suspended that threat. To see what a specific member has said, check their websites and social media accounts. Also see this thread from DropSite’s Julian Andreone tracking members of Congress calling for invocation of the 25th Amendment in connection with Trump’s threat this week to destroy Iran.

Israel/AIPAC & US politics/elex – general

  • Garcia (D-IL) 4/10/26: X-post – “Congratulations again, Little Palestine! I was honored to recognize this incredible community on the House floor for Arab American Heritage Month and I’m grateful for all that Little Palestine brings to my district and to Chicago.”
  • Sanders (I-VT) 4/10/26: X-post – “The DNC just passed a resolution condemning dark money. That’s a start, but not enough. Billionaire-funded super PACs—AIPAC, AI, crypto & others—are spending hundreds of millions to defeat any candidate who crosses them. They should be banned from Democratic primaries. Period.“
  • Warren (D-MA) 4/9/26: X-post – “NEWS: The DNC passed a resolution to denounce dark money in Democratic primaries. It’s an important step in the fight to get big money out of politics. We’re already seen AIPAC, crypto and AI industries flood our elections with millions in obscure ads—and we must push back.”
  • Tlaib (D-MI) 4/9/26: X-post – “Shameful.” Responding to Politico X-post – “Democrats are, once again, punting on what to do about Israel. DNC members voted down a measure condemning AIPAC’s influence in primaries and deferred ones that would support conditioning military aid to Israel.“
  • Khanna (D-CA) 4/9/26: X-post w/ video clip – “Two 2028 candidates lobbied against this DNC resolution condemning AIPAC. It failed. Anyone who wants to lead this party must condemn and reject AIPAC money. They should also pledge not to have a Super PAC in Democratic primaries. I take no PAC money and have no Super PAC.” Linked to article: DNC Kills Resolution Condemning AIPAC Influence in Elections (The New Republic 4/9/26)
  • Khanna (D-CA) 4/8/26: X-post – “Let’s start with this pledge. The next Democratic President will never have the Israeli PM in the Situation Room. Trump having Netanyahu there before launching an immoral and illegal war is a betrayal of the American people.” Linked to New York Times 4/7/26 article: How Trump Took the U.S. to War With Iran documenting in detail Israel’s role in the decision

Israel/West Bank/Gaza/Jerusalem

  • Goldman (D-NY) 4/9/26: X-post – “Netanyahu will stop at nothing to ensure his political survival, including authorizing the largest-ever expansion of settlements during a regional war and explosion of settler violence. This is unacceptable. If Netanyahu is unwilling to undo this decision, Trump must force him.“

Lebanon

  • Foushee (D-NC) 4/9/26: X-post – “I am signing @RepRashida’s War Powers Resolution to stop all U.S. military involvement in Israel’s hostilities in Lebanon. The war in Lebanon has displaced nearly 1 million people and has claimed the lives of thousands. Our federal government must hold itself to higher humanitarian standards than participating in a war that is putting innocent people at risk.“
  • Garcia (D-IL) 4/9/26: X-post – “Israeli bombardment has killed hundreds, injured thousands, and displaced millions in Lebanon. Trump must use his leverage to end the attacks and ensure ceasefire talks move forward—and Congress should pass the Lebanon War Powers Resolution to prevent Trump from dragging us in.“
  • Ramirez (D-IL) 4/9/26: X-post – “We can’t bomb our way to peace. Israel’s attacks on Lebanon must stop.    Trump and Netanyahu must be held accountable. Congress must assert its authority, pass the Lebanon War Power Resolution that @RepRashida and I introduced, and BLOCK THE BOMBS!”
  • Meeks (D-NY) 4/9/26: “While I welcome the ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran, I am deeply concerned by the continued violence in Lebanon, where Israel’s attacks have resulted in more than 1,500 people killed, over 4,000 wounded, and over 1 million displaced. The continued violence risks undermining the fragile ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran. Strikes on civilian infrastructure, health workers, and UN peacekeepers must immediately cease, as should any Israeli incursions beyond the Blue Line. At the same time, Hezbollah’s attacks on Israel must cease. Lebanon’s efforts to assert full control over its territory are essential, and must accelerate the disarmament of Hezbollah for long-term stability. The United States must support deescalation on all sides and reinforce Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. I stand by President Aoun, the Lebanese Armed Forces, and the Lebanese people toward a fully sovereign, independent, and secure Lebanon.“
  • Tlaib (D-MI) 4/9/26: X-post – “I didn’t wait for the genocidal regime of Israel to kill over 250 people in Lebanon yesterday to file resolutions to stop the U.S. funding of these war crimes. So for colleagues speaking up now, welcome, but also don’t just tweet, support the war powers resolution to save lives.“
  • Omar (D-MN) 4/9/26: X-post – “Israeli bombs that the United States paid for. It is unconscionable we continue to provide aid to Israel as they continue to murder civilians and violate international law in Lebanon, Gaza, and the West Bank. No more money to Israel’s genocidal apartheid regime.”
  • Van Hollen (D-MD) 4/9/26: X-post – “Yesterday, Israeli strikes across Lebanon killed 250+ people even as Pakistan said the ceasefire it brokered includes Lebanon. Netanyahu urged Trump to start this war, now Trump must demand he help end it. Who’s calling the shots here?”
  • Dingell (D-MI) 4/9/26: X-post – “My goal is to protect U.S. troops and invest our tax dollars here at home instead of on reckless forever wars. This ceasefire must become a permanent peace. That means including Lebanon. Netanyahu helped walk us into war, but he cannot keep us there.“
  • Warren (D-MA) 4/9/26: X-post – “The ceasefire agreement Donald Trump brokered to end his war with Iran should be reducing violence. Instead, Israel’s escalated bombing undermined peace and killed hundreds of innocent civilians in Lebanon. The U.S. needs to do everything we can to stop this civilian slaughter.“
  • McGovern (D-MA) 4/8/26: X-post – “Netanyahu’s ongoing bombardment of Lebanon, which has killed civilians for weeks, threatens to plunge the region into even further chaos & unravel the ceasefire. Trump needs to stand up to Netanyahu. He needs to save the deal he negotiated. He has leverage. He should use it!“
  • Pocan (D-WI) 4/8/26: X-post – “Benjamin Netanyahu needs to go before the international court for his crimes. He’s conducting a regional war and playing Donald Trump as his b**ch.” Responding to post ABC News post: “At least 254 people have been killed and another 1,165 have been injured in Israeli attacks across Lebanon on Wednesday, a Lebanese Civil Defense spokesperson confirmed to @ABC News.”
  • Beyer (D-VA) 4/8/26: X-post – “The U.S. must immediately make clear to Israel that the ceasefire agreement is not and cannot be functional without a ceasefire in Lebanon. The American people want this war to end and bombing downtown Beirut is not a path to peace.“
  • Slotkin (D-MI) 4/8/26: X-post – “There are tens of thousands of Michiganders with deep ties to Lebanon— family, friends, and ancestral homes. Today, many anxiously checked in on loved ones amid significant Israeli airstrikes and civilian casualties. My heart goes out to these families, along with so many others from the greater Detroit area who have been living in fear for loved ones in the greater Middle East. For a ceasefire deal to be viable, it must cover the full scope of this regional conflict, including Lebanon. The U.S. negotiators should help prevent further loss of civilian life by sitting down with all parties and being transparent about the deal on the table and how to bring the war to a reasonable end.“ [NOTE: Slotkin manages here to use a whole lot of words not one of which is “Israel” or “Netanyahu”]
  • Jacobs (D-CA) 4/8/26: X-post – “Israel killed at least 254 people and wounded over 1,000 in just 10 minutes in Lebanon today, making it the deadliest day of the war. Trump needs to tell Netanyahu to include Lebanon in the ceasefire, and both leaders need to permanently end this war.“
  • Garcia (D-CA) 4/8/26: X-post – “The U.S. must ensure that any ceasefire agreement includes Lebanon. Netanyahu is brutally bombing Beirut, killing civilians, and destroying critical infrastructure. This regional war must end now.“
  • Murphy (D-CT) 4/8/26: X-post – “Israel must stop these attacks. No matter how incompetently negotiated this ceasefire was, we should all want it hold. But that means all parties to this regional war – the U.S., Iran, Israel, and Iran’s proxies – must stand down.” Responding to post w/ video clip from Al Monitor’s Joyce Karam – “Horrifying scenes from Beirut #Lebanon today. Nearly 100 Israeli airstrikes in less than 10 minutes, in broad daylight, with rush hour traffic heard in background. At least 89 killed…“
  • Sanders (I-VT) 4/6/26: X-post – “While the world focuses on the destruction in Iran, we must not ignore what Israel is doing in Lebanon. 1,461 have been killed. 4,430 have been injured. 1.2 million have been displaced. Israel now occupies 14% of Lebanon. Enough is enough. No more US military aid to Israel.”
  • Graham (R-SC) 4/3/26: X-post – “To say that I have been disappointed in the Lebanese Armed Forces’ leadership under General Haykal and their willingness to take on Hezbollah is an understatement. Now, the LAF is openly talking about abandoning Christian villages in the South, subjecting them to Hezbollah attacks and trying to blame Israel. To the Lebanese government, this is a very dangerous decision and you will be held accountable for the consequences of this decision if Christian villages are attacked by Hezbollah. The LAF under the leadership of General Haykal has been a tremendous failure when it comes to fighting Hezbollah.”

Targeting Free Speech/Right to Protest/Academia critical of Israel/Zionism; Weaponization of Claims of Antisemitism; NGO Sector

  • Tlaib (D-MI) 4/9/26: X-post – “Salah Sarsour, a respected Milwaukee leader, is a legal permanent resident who has lived in our country for over 32 years. He was targeted by ICE for speaking out against the Israeli government’s genocide in Gaza. He should be released immediately.”
  • Pocan (D-WI) 4/6/26: press release – “Over the past year, ICE has waged a campaign of fear and terror in this country. Just last week, they took Salah Sarsour for apparently no reason other than his speaking out against Israel’s unjust war in Gaza and fighting for Palestinian rights. But a week later, we still don’t have any answers from ICE as to why. He’s been a fixture in his community for years and a leader in Milwaukee. It’s long past time for ICE to release him and stop this unjust crusade.“

5. Selected Media

Israel/AIPAC & the DNC

Israel/AIPAC (and Iran) in US elex & politics – GENERAL

Israel/AIPAC (and Iran) in US elex & politics – STILL Making Hasan Piker the Big Story [also see related stories below, in the section on Michigan & Pennsylvania]

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Michigan

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – New Jersey

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – New York

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Nebraska

  • KETV 4/3/26: Republican-backed ad ties Democrat to Trump before party’s House race primary [Melanie Williams: “‘Corporate interests and dark money, including AIPAC, are attempting to buy elections all across this country. AIPAC is also using ‘shell PACs’ to support candidates, like Crystal Rhoades, because of the very unpopular influence it is wielding on behalf of Israel, a foreign interest responsible for an ongoing genocide in Gaza and these wars of choice already claiming thousands of lives, including our own sons and daughters, as well as costing us up to $2 Billion a day of taxpayer money we need here at home). This is why we must overturn Citizens United…My campaign is yet another threat, as I call out anyone who is accepting AIPAC money and denying a genocide is taking place, even as the UN has raised the level of charge against Israel to Crimes Against Humanity…”]

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – South Carolina

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Illinois

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Texas

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Georgia

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – California

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Pennsylvania

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Maryland

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Colorado

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Ohio

  • Columbus Dispatch 4/7/26: Two Democrats running in Ohio 3rd congressional district primary on May 5 [Joe Gerard – “Why are you the best candidate? ‘The American decline has gone on for long enough. For 13 years, our district’s representative has…accepted hundreds of thousands from AIPAC and weapons manufacturers; then argued our financial hardship is a result of our own poor ‘financial literacy’ while voting to send $50 billion in American tax dollars to Israel…'”]

Iran

Other Stuff