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

New from FMEP:

• New episode of FMEP’s Occupied Thoughts podcast, How Iranians Have Reacted to the US & Israeli Attacks, ft. FMEP fellow Peter Beinart in conversation with journalist Negar Mortazavi.
• New episode of FMEP’s Occupied Thoughts podcast, Jewish Anti-Zionism and the American Left, ft. FMEP fellow Ahmed Moor in conversation with author Benjamin Balthaser.

Also see:

• FMEP’s Lara Friedman interviewed by Mitchell Plitnick for his Cutting Through podcast, talking Iran, Gaza, US, antisemitism, and more.

Also – reminder – The annual Christians United for Israel Summit [“Together, we will make Israel stronger and her people safer as we obey the Biblical mandate to bless God’s Chosen“] will take place in DC June 29 – July 1, including lots of lobbying Congress [“visit your elected officials on Capitol Hill with other constituents from your state to advocate for Israel and the Jewish people.“] Watch the intro video to the summit here (these folks pull no punches in telling the world who they are and what they are doing — people would do well to pay attention/believe them).

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1. Bills & Resolutions

War Powers Act

(NO US ARMED FORCES INVOLVEMENT IN IRAN WAR) S. J. Res. 59: Introduced 6/16/25 by Kaine (D-VA), “A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress.”  This week S. J. Res. 59 loomed over the Senate, with the Senate expected to vote on the measure on Friday afternoon (June 27 – after this Round-Up was published). Note: three substantive amendments were introduced to the measure (below).

• (PRAISING US MILITARY ACTION AGAINST IRAN) S. Amdt. 2356 to S. J. Res. 59: Introduced 6/24/25 by Cruz (R-TX), to add to S. J. Res. 59 [introduced 6/16/25 by Kaine (D-VA), “A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress”] an additional finding, reading: “Members of the United States Armed Forces and intelligence community, and all those involved in the planning and successful execution of Operation Midnight Hammer on June 21, 2025, including President Donald J. Trump, should be commended for their efforts in a successful mission.” Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.  Also see: Cruz amendment to Senate war powers resolution seeks to praise Trump’s Iran strikes [“The Texas Republican introduced the amendment in anticipation of a vote later this week on the resolution, which would curtail the president’s ability to take any additional action targeting Iran without congressional approval”] (Jewish Insider 6/25/25)
• (DO NOT WORRY – WAR POWERS ACT WOULDN’T LIMIT TRUMP’S ABILITY TO WAGE WAR OR TO PROVIDE CONTINUED UNCONDITIONAL, UNLIMITED SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL TO DO SO) S. Amdt. 2357 to S. J. Res. 59: Announced 6/24/25 – Sens. Schiff [D-CA], Kim [D-NJ], Kaine [D-VA] Announce Amendment to War Powers Resolution to Underscore Continued U.S. Assistance for Israel’s Self-Defense After Repeated Attacks by Iran. Amendment reads: “Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent the United States from– (1) defending against an attack on the United States or its personnel or facilities in other nations; (2) collecting, analyzing, or sharing intelligence, including with the State of Israel and other nations and international organizations as appropriate, related to threats from the Islamic Republic of Iran or its proxies; or (3) assisting the State of Israel and other nations– (A) in taking defensive measures to protect their territory from retaliatory attacks by the Islamic Republic of Iran or its proxies; or (B) by providing defensive materiel support for such defensive measures.“
• (IRAN IS BAD!) S. Amdt. 2359 to S. J. Res. 59: Offered by Slotkin (D-MI), to add to the resolution – “(7) The Government of Iran is a leading state sponsor of terrorism and has repeatedly engaged in a range of destabilizing and malign activities across the Middle East and around the world. (8) These actions include harassment and direct threats to United States personnel, kidnapping and detention of United States citizens and dual nationals, support to proxy forces attacking United States personnel and interests, cyberattacks against United States infrastructure and entities, and the continued enrichment of uranium close to levels that could be used to develop a nuclear weapon and beyond what is necessary for any conceivable civilian purposes.“

Media:

• Khanna (D-CA) 6/25/25: Rep. Khanna, Progressive Caucus Demand Congress Reclaim Its Power: Pass the Iran War Powers Resolution Now
• The Intercept 6/25/25: War Powers Resolution From House Democratic Leaders May Not Limit Trump’s War Powers [“In an apparent nod to Israel, some Democrats want to give Trump power to defend ‘an ally or partner of the United States from imminent attack.'”]
• Jewish Insider 6/25/25: Support among Democrats for Senate war powers resolution growing [“Sens. Adam Schiff, Andy Kim and Tim Kaine announced plans to introduce an amendment to ensure that the U.S. can continue to share intelligence with Israel and to assist Israel’s defense“]
• The Intercept 6/23/25: Hakeem Jeffries Said Trump’s Attack on Iran Was Unconstitutional. What’s He Going to Do About It? [“High-ranking Democrats are working on their own way to stop a war with Iran — instead of signing onto a war powers resolution.“]

Re: Iran, Iran-Israel, & Trump

(THREE CHEERS FOR TRUMP’S MILITARY ACTION AGAINST IRAN!) S. Res. 307: Introduced 6/26/25 by Cornyn (R-TX) and 14 Republican cosponsors, “A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate in support of the recent United States and Israeli military strikes on Iran.“ Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. Also see: Cornyn, Senate GOP Colleagues Introduce Resolution Supporting Operation Midnight Hammer – Senators Say President Trump Worthy of Nobel Peace Prize

(ATTACKING OBAMA’S NOBEL PRIZE & THE JCPOA, & CALLING FOR TRUMP NOBEL PRIZE FOR MILITARY ACTION AGAINST IRAN) S.Res.305 [resolution text]: Introduced 6/25/25 by Moreno (R-OH), “A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate concerning the nomination of President Donald John Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize.” Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. Also see: press release –Moreno to Call on Senate to Formally Nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize

(REMOVE US FORCES FROM HOSTILITIES WITH IRAN) H. Con. Res. 40: Introduced 6/23/25 by Meeks (D-NY), Smith (D-WA) and Himes (D-CT), “Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran.” Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. Also see: press release – Meeks, Smith, Himes Introduce War Powers Resolution to Cease U.S. Hostilities on Iran; Democratic efforts to block Trump war powers to continue despite Iran ceasefire  (Jewish Insider 6/24/25)

(IMPEACH TRUMP FOR ILLEGALLY WAGING WAR ON IRAN) H. Res. 537: Introduced 6/24/25 by Green (R-TX), “Impeaching Donald J. Trump, President of the United States, for high crimes and misdemeanors.” The resolution states, among other things: “President Trump’s unilateral, unprovoked use of force without congressional authorization or notice constitutes an abuse of power when there was no imminent threat to the United States, which facilitates the devolution of American democracy into authoritarianism, with an authoritarian president who has instigated an attack on the United States Capitol, denied persons due process of the law, and called for the impeachment of federal judges who ruled against him– making Donald J. Trump a threat to American democracy.“ Considered by the full House 6/24/25 (privileged resolution), defeated by a bipartisan vote of 344-79 (all Republicans plus 128 Democrats voting “no”). Also see: Scott (D-VA) – Scott Statement on Vote to Table Impeachment Resolution; Moulton (D-MA) – Vote Explainer — H. Res. 537 Impeaching Donald J. Trump

Targeting Antisemitism, and Also Free Speech/Protest/Civil Society

2. Letters

(SEEKING DE-NATURALIZATION & DEPORTATION OF NYC PRIMARY WINNER ZOHRAN MAMDANI) 6/26/25: Rep. Ogles (R-TN) posted on X: “Zohran ‘little muhammad’ Mamdani is an antisemitic, socialist, communist who will destroy the great City of New York. He needs to be DEPORTED. Which is why I am calling for him to be subject to denaturalization proceedings. Attached is my letter to @AGPamBondi.” The letter suggests that Mamdani is guilty of “affiliations or sympathies” [with terrorists] that he hid from the US government at the time of his naturalization, based on a line in a rap — which Ogles suggests signals a direct affiliation with people whose organization was designated as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) in 2001, when Mamdani was 10 years old (leading to a trial that ended in convictions in 2008, when Mamdani was 17 year old) — and for refusing to denounce the phrase “globalize the intifada.” Letter text – page 1, page 2]. Also see: ‘Investigate Zohran Mamdani if he concealed…’ Rep Andy Ogles writes to DOJ, says his rap lyrics were problematic (Times of India 6/26/25). See section 4, below, for more from Ogles on Mamdani.

(CONGRESS MUST BE KEPT INFORMED) 6/26/25: Congressman Krishnamoorthi Demands Trump Administration Follow the Law, End Reported Plan to Withhold Intelligence from Congress Following Iran Strikes [letter text]

(TARGETING SCHOOLS FOR ALLEGED ANTISEMITISM – THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING!) 6/26/25: Chair Walberg Continues Investigation into Antisemitism at DePaul, Haverford, and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Following May 7 Hearing [Letters: DePaul University, California Polytechnic State University (San Luis Obispo); Haverford College]. Also see: Congress has more questions for Cal Poly president about antisemitism on campus (The Tribune 6/26/25); House Education Committee asks for more information from colleges after hearing (Jewish Insider 6/26/25)

(EU MUST NOT DO ANYTHING TO HOLD ISRAEL ACCOUNTABLE UNDER ITS OWN AGREEMENTS WITH THE EU REGARDING INTL LAW) 6/24/25: Schneider, Bilirakis Oppose Downgrade of EU-Israel Agreement (letter text – dated 6/20/25)

(VETERANS IN CONGRESS: CONGRESS HAS WAR POWERS AUTHORITY) 6/23/25: Congressman Pat Ryan Leads Fellow Democratic Veterans in Asserting Congressional Authority Over War Powers [letter text]

(RE-CONVENE HOUSE TO DEAL WITH MIDDLE EAST SITUATION) 6/20/25: As President Trump Is Saber Rattling, Thompson Leads Letter Demanding Congress Reconvene to Address Evolving Situation in the Middle East [letter text]

(CONCERNS ABOUT GAZA “HUMANITARIAN” MECHANISM) 6/20/25: Warren Demands Answers on Trump’s Potential Contract with Shadowy Humanitarian Group, Urges More Aid to Gaza Through Responsible Partners [letter text]

(CONCERNS ABOUT OUTRAGEOUSLY INTRUSIVE SOCIAL MEDIA CHECKS ON VISA APPLICANTS) 6/18/25: Sens. Markey (D-MA), Wyden (D-OR), Van Hollen (D-MD), Welch (D-VT), and Booker (D-NJ) sent a letter [letter text] to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem opening with: “Recently, the State Department and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have sought to expand the role of social media screening in consular and immigration decisions. This policy change threatens to weaponize online speech against immigrants and foreign nationals, granting government officials broad and ill-defined authority to penalize individuals for their expression. Social media posts — often taken out of context and stripped of nuance — are an unreliable basis for such high-stakes determinations. Moreover, the government has never identified any evidence that these screenings help protect national security. In practice, this enhanced social media review appears designed to chill dissent, discriminate against particular viewpoints, and punish individuals for speech the Administration finds objectionable. We urge you both to immediately reverse this latest Trump administration attack on visitors to the United States and immigrants…” Later the letter notes: “…although we strongly oppose antisemitism in all forms, the Administration’s heavy focus on antisemitism on college campus may create implicit pressure on career employees to reject any student visa applicant who has posted any pro-Palestinian content on social media. In so doing, the directives seem designed to punish speech that the Administration dislikes and create fertile ground for abuse and discrimination.”

3. Hearings & Briefings

June 24, 2024: Trump administration officials were supposed to brief members (classified) of the House and Senate on the U.S. military action against Iran — reportedly the briefers were to have included Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine. The Trump Administration subsequently postponed the briefings, reportedly to enable Secretary of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio can participate. Speaker Johnson (R-SC) posted on X 6/24/25 that the reason was “ongoing developments in the Middle East” and later that day posted, “I have just confirmed with the White House that the classified bipartisan briefing for all House Members will now be held on Friday. Senior Administration officials will present the latest information pertaining to the situation involving Israel and Iran. Details to follow.” Subsequently the briefing took place for Senators on 6/26/25, with briefing for House members scheduled for 6/27/25. Also see:

• Selected Members of House & Senate express varying degrees of anger/frustration/etc over delay: Schiff (D-CA), Jeffries (D-NY), Doggett (D-TX), Pelosi (D-CA), Meeks (D-NY) + Himes (D-CT) + Smith (D-WA), Schumer (D-NY), Ryan (D-NY), House Democratic Leadership Conference, Gonzalez (D-TX), Schneider (D-IL), Massie (R-KY), Doggett (D-TX), Clarke (D-NY)
• Selected Members of House & Senate, post- briefing: Van Hollen (D-MD) — “Nothing I learned from the briefing today would justify President Trump’s decision to bomb Iran or his failure to obtain Congressional approval as required by the Constitution…”]; Weber (R-TX) — “I just left the classified briefing about what’s going on between Israel and Iran. I have never been more proud to be an American than right now! And never been more proud of our great fighting men and women in the military! And of course the President & his team too! USA!“; Rogers (R-AL) – “Rogers: There’s no Question that We Delivered a Decisive Blow to Iran’s Nuclear Program“
• Media: ‘Slap in the face,’ Congress members say after Trump admin postpones Israel-Iran briefing [“‘Maybe Donald Trump doesn’t want Congress or even America to know the truth about what’s going on,’ said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.“] (Jewish News Syndicate 6/25/25); Senate Democrats Left Unsatisfied by Trump Administration’s Classified Iran Briefing (New York Sun 6/27/25); Senators remain divided on extent of damage from U.S. strikes after classified Iran briefing (Jewish Insider 6/26/25);  “a Republican Senator who received Iran briefing today said understood would take 1-2 years to get back after strikes. Say 2026. Deal Trump quit had restrictions til 2031, some for in perpetuity (no enrichment above 3.67%. No enrichment at Fordo)” (journalist Laura Rozen on X, 6/26/25)

June 24, 2024: The House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Oversight held a hearing entitled, Rising Threat: America’s Battle Against Antisemitic Terror (video). Witness were: Kenneth Marcus, Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law (testimony); Dan Schneider, Media Research Center (testimony); Debra Cooper, End Jew Hatred and Jewish Advocacy Research and Writer Group (testimony) and Mathew Nosanchuk, listed as “Practitioner in Jewish community” (testimony). Also see:

• Subcommittee Ranking Member Crockett’s [D-TX] Opening Statement at Subcommittee Hearing on Trump’s Weakening of the U.S.’s Ability to Combat Antisemitism [“Today, Rep. Jasmine Crockett, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Oversight, delivered opening remarks at a subcommittee hearing on how Republicans are weaponizing antisemitism for political gain while defunding the very agencies charged with fighting hate crimes and domestic extremism.”]
• press release 6/25/25: Democrats Urge Republicans to Get Serious About Stopping Antisemitism Rather Than Exploiting It for Political Gain
• Testy House judiciary panel hearing on antisemitic terrorism (Jewish News Syndicate 6/24/25); Republicans and Democrats clash over antisemitism solutions at emotional hearing (Cleveland-dot-com 6/24/25); Congress clashes over approach to quelling antisemitism in America (The Center Square 6/24/25); Capitol Hill divided on source of rising antisemitic violence [“Politicians suggest blame lies with TikTok, immigrants, legacy news, Trump admin policies”] (Washington Times 6/24/25)

• Hunt (R-TX) 6/23/25: X-post – “ALERT: Just DAYS after a federal judge orders the release of Mahmoud Khalil he throws an anti-Israel rally at Columbia. Khalil is NOT a legal citizen yet a federal judge has granted him the position to continue spewing anti-American rhetoric.“
• Balint (D-VT) 6/23/25: X-post – “After 104 days, Mahmoud Khalil is free. Despite Donald Trump and Marco Rubio’s illegal efforts, the First Amendment lives another day.”
• McGovern (D-MA) 6/21/25: X-post – “Mahmoud Khalil should never, ever have been detained. @SenMarkey, @RepPressley and I went to see him in April and have continued to advocate for his release. We must not stop fighting until no person is jailed for simply exercising their First Amendment rights.“
• Ramirez (D-IL) 6/21/25: X-post – “For more than three months, Mahmoud Khalil was a prisoner of this administration, solely because he dared to dissent. Today, he is finally back with his family and newborn. May this be a reminder to the administration that we are not giving up on our constitutional rights nor our neighbors. We will fight back.“
• Jayapal (D-WA) 6/20/25: “Today’s judicial ruling that Mahmoud Khalil had to be released from ICE detention is a critical step on the road to justice. Mahmoud Khalil will finally be reunited with his wife and newborn baby, whose birth he missed while unjustly detained by the Trump Administration for more than three months. His detention has been a stain on our immigration and justice system in this country: an attack on the constitutional free speech protections guaranteed to every single person in our country, utilizing the immigration system to prevent him from engaging in this constitutionally protected political speech. In this case, as in several others, we see the Trump Administration is continuing to simply target people of all legal statuses, including legal permanent residents and even U.S. citizens, simply for disagreeing with their administration in any way. That is not American and is a gross violation of all of our fundamental rights. Every single person in America should understand that if this Administration can do this to Mr. Khalil, they can do the same thing to you. Today, I celebrate with Mahmoud Khalil and his family. There is more work to do to bring full justice to this situation, and to stop the attacks on so many across this country.”
• Schneider (D-IL) 6/20/25: X-p0st – “Though I completely disagree with Mahmoud Khalil and think many of his arguments against Israel are not only wrong, but dangerous, he is entitled to due process before the law, and like anyone else, entitled to be considered innocent until proven guilty. The Constitution protects the rights of all Americans, and all people living under its jurisdiction. It is the founding document that not only defines the way we govern ourselves, but I believe is the primary source of our nation’s greatness.” REMINDER: Khalil has not been charged with any crime, so crying “innocent until proven guilty” entirely misses the point (and adding it to a statement suggesting that criticism of Israel is “dangerous” suggests sympathy/support for targeting Khalil for exercising free speech…).
• Velazquez (D-NY) 6/20/25: X-post – “The Trump admin jailed Mahmoud Khalil for over 3 months, not because he committed a crime but because he exercised his free speech rights. His ongoing detention was a threat to the civil liberties of all Americans. I’m relieved he’ll finally be reunited with his family.”
• Nadler (D-NY) 6/20/25: X-post – “I welcome today’s decision directing the release of Mahmoud Khalil. As I have said before, his prolonged detention—without charges—is a chilling, McCarthyesque action in response to the exercise of First Amendment rights to free speech and raises serious constitutional concerns. While I do not agree with all of the content of Mr. Khalil’s protected speech, we must protect these rights even and especially of those who exercise protected speech we disagree with. The court’s decision today affirms the principles of due process and civil liberties that must remain at the core of our country’s values and rule of law. Today’s decision is a welcome rebuke of the Trump Administration’s weaponization of antisemitism for their own political gain. Indeed, as I have said, if the Trump White House were serious about rooting out antisemitism in America, they should start with their own Administration.“
• Lee (D-PA) 6/20/25: X-post – “I look forward to the day Mahmoud Khalil is returned home to his wife and meets his newborn son after this administration illegally detained him.“
• Pressley (D-MA) 6/20/25: X-post – “Free Mahmoud Khalil. Now.”
• Larson (D-CT) 6/20/25: X-post – “This was the right decision. The Trump Administration has no right to silence someone’s speech because they disagree with what they said. In the United States of America, everyone is entitled to due process under the law.”
• Tlaib (D-MI) 6/20/25: X-post – “Mahmoud Khalil is finally free! He was targeted solely for speaking out against U.S.-backed genocide. His release is a victory for everyone fighting for our First Amendment rights, our immigrant neighbors, and Palestinian freedom.“
• Jacobs (D-CA) 6/20/25: X-post – “Mahmoud Khalil will finally be free after being wrongly detained for over 3 months. No matter if you agree with Khalil or not, the First Amendment protects his speech and he shouldn’t be jailed for his views.”
• Hunt (R-TX) 6/20/25: X-post – “BREAKING: Federal judge orders NON-U.S citizen Mahmoud Khalil to be freed from ICE detention. Khalil was arrested for promoting pro-Hamas RIOTS at Columbia University. These judges need to realize that they do NOT hold more power than the President.”

Other stuff

• Walberg (R-MI) 6/26/25: Chairman Walberg Speaks at March for Jewish Civil Rights [excerpt – “…We have seen college protestors wave signs with slogans like, ‘Anti-Zionism does not equal antisemitism’ to justify hostile intimidation of Jewish students and faculty…”].  Note: this was the March on Washington for Jewish Civil Rights (originally scheduled for 6/24/25); promoted to what appear to be tiny audiences on X (90 followers) and Facebook (42 followers). Note that no major, mainstream Jewish organizations are listed as sponsoring or taking part in the event, but Ralph Reed’s “Faith and Freedom coalition” is, along with a rag-tag group of small pro-Israel, anti-woke, and evangelical Christian-Jewish Zionist groups.  Based on the absence of any photos or reporting from the day of the event (other than Walberg’s press release), one might suspect that very few people actually showed up.
• Ramirez (D-IL) 6/26/25: X-post – “I am proud to stand in solidarity with advocates for peace in Chicago, who are on day 11 of a hunger strike to demand an end to the deadly military campaign Israel’s government has waged on Gaza. We must challenge policies that destroy life, take a first step toward accountability, and pass the Block the Bombs Act to stop the transfer of U.S. military weapons to Israel.“
• Cotton (R-IN) 6/26/25: X-post – “I condemn the unlawful and partisan leak. Wherever it came from, no one is above the law.” Commenting on Free Beacon article – Classified Report That Suggested Iranian Nuclear Program Still Intact Likely Relied on Faulty Info From Iranian Sources, Former Intel Officers Say
• Tenney (D-NY) 6/26/25: Loooooooong X-post opening with “I twice nominated President Donald J. Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize & why I’ll do it again until he is awarded this much deserved honor...”
• Durbin (D-IL) 6/26/25: X-post – “My Senate colleagues and I met with Israeli Ambassador, Michael Leiter. Amid the Israel-Iran conflict, the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and the continued holding of Israeli hostages by Hamas, it was timely to discuss a long-term vision for stability and peace in the region.” Also see: Durbin, Senators Meet With Israeli Ambassador To The U.S.
• Ernst (R-IA) 6/25/25: X-post – “It is disgusting for a Georgetown professor to cheer for an Iranian attack on our brave servicemembers and call for more harm to Israel.   Antisemitic campus crazies continue to have a shameful obsession with supporting Iran and its terrorist proxies.“
• Lucas (R-OK) 6/25/25: X-post – “At today’s NATO summit, @POTUS displayed to the world America’s renewed and rightful place as the dominant global superpower. He delivered peace to a region plagued by conflict, leant needed support to our friends in Israel, and instilled fear in our adversaries. I thank President Trump for his continued legacy of peacebuilding and for reinforcing that peace through strength is a necessary component of American foreign policy.”
• Schneider (D-IL) 6/24/25: SCHNEIDER RETURNS FROM MIDDLE EAST TRIP FOCUSED ON ABRAHAM ACCORDS AMID ISRAEL – IRAN CONFLICT [“The trip was organized and sponsored by the N7 Initiative, a partnership between the Atlantic Council and the Jeffrey M. Talpins Foundation which is focused on advancing US interests by strengthening cooperation between the United States, Israel, and Arab and Muslim countries.“]
• Kean (R-NJ) 6/24/25: X-post – “It was great to meet with the NJ Jewish Business Alliance (NJJBA) this afternoon. We discussed the rise in antisemitism, strengthening U.S.-Israel relations, and how we can grow a stronger, more competitive economy that supports Main Street and drives American & NJ business forward. Thank you to the NJJBA for making the trip to Washington!“
• Crapo (R-ID) 6/23/25: Weekly Column: We Must Combat Antisemitism In All Its Forms [but focused 100% on post-10/7/23 developments related to Palestine protest]
• Senate Judiciary Committee (GOP) 6/20/25: SCOTUS Unanimously Upholds Grassley Law to Secure Justice for American Victims of PLO Terrorism
• Cantwell (D-WA) 6/18/25: Floor speech on TikTok [including: “In December 2023, Rutgers University found that TikTok’s algorithm disproportionately amplified anti-Israel and, by extension, antisemitic content compared with other social media platforms. This amplification observed in the context of a major geopolitical events, such as the portrayal of the Israel-Hamas conflict, and such hashtags, “I stand with Israel” or “Pray for Israel,” were unrepresented. That means they weren’t represented at a ratio of six to one. According to the Jewish Federation of North America, individuals on TikTok for over 30 minutes a day were 17% more likely to be antisemitic. And last year, antisemitic comments on TikTok rose 912%. My fear is that a similar study would show that in between the issues that we do think are legitimate businesses on TikTok, that there is a bias and anti-American content being pushed about even the current hostilities now in Iran.“

Trump & Friends Target Rep. Massie

• Yashar Ali on X 6/26/25: “‘Massie sided with Democrats and the Ayatollah.’ President Trump’s anti-Thomas Massie SuperPAC is out with its first ad against the Kentucky Congressman.”
• Jewish Insider 6/26/25: New Trump-aligned super PAC begins $1M ad blitz against GOP Rep. Thomas Massie
• Daily Caller 6/26/25: EXCLUSIVE: AIPAC Seeking Out Challengers To Unseat Rep. Thomas Massie
• Jewish News Syndicate 6/24/25: The unapologetic antisemite in Congress [“Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie has voted against antisemitism measures in Congress, called for the U.S. to stop sending military aid to Israel and railed out against the ‘Israel lobby.’“]
• Axios 6/22/25: Scoop: Trump launches MAGA PAC in effort to oust Rep. Massie from Congress

Accusing Schumer of Failing the Jews & Israel

• Jewish News Syndicate 6/26/25: A ‘shanda,’ not a ‘shomer’ — America and its Jews need more bell-menders and fewer charlatans.
• Jewish Insider 6/25/25: Schumer struggles to live up to ‘shomer’ designation amid pressure from his party [“The self-dubbed ‘guardian of the people of Israel’ is now the guardian of a caucus that has drifted increasingly leftward, especially when it comes to its support for Israel”]

Other stuff

• Jewish News Syndicate 6/27/25: White House demands congressman apologize for telling Jewish official ‘go back to 1930s Germany’
• Jewish News Syndicate 6/26/25: Jewish groups hold ‘emergency’ security sessions on Capitol Hill [lots of quotes from members about their eternal and unconditional support for Israel]
• Zeteo 6/25/25: AIPAC Has Too Much Influence on Congress, Says Rep. Ro Khanna
• Politico 6/24/25: MTG suggests a link between JFK’s assassination and his opposition to Israel’s ‘nuclear program’

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

Note: The annual Christians United for Israel Summit [“Together, we will make Israel stronger and her people safer as we obey the Biblical mandate to bless God’s Chosen“] will take place in DC June 29 – July 1, including lots of lobbying Congress [“visit your elected officials on Capitol Hill with other constituents from your state to advocate for Israel and the Jewish people.“] Watch the intro video to the summit here (these folks pull no punches in telling the world who they are and what they are doing — people would do well to pay attention/believe them).

1. Bills & Resolutions

Re: Israel’s War Against Iran

(NO US ARMED FORCES INVOLVEMENT IN IRAN WAR) S. J. Res. 59 [resolution text]: Introduced 6/16/25 by Kaine (D-VA), “A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress.”  Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. This is the Senate companion to H. Con. Res. 38, discussed below. Also see:

• Kaine press releases: Kaine Announces the Filing of a War Powers Resolution to Prevent War with Iran; Video: Kaine Speaks on Senate Floor Regarding His War Powers Resolution to Prevent War with Iran
• Kaine introduces war powers resolution amid Israeli tensions with Iran [“’The American people have no interest in sending servicemembers to fight another forever war in the Middle East,’ the Virginia senator stated.”]
• Sen. Kaine files resolution to block U.S. military action against Iran [“The Virginia senator can force a vote on the legislation, which would bar U.S. military action against Iran unless directly authorized by Congress“] (Jewish Insider 6/16/25)

(NO US ARMED FORCES INVOLVEMENT IN IRAN WAR) H. Con. Res. 38 [resolution text]: Introduced 6/17/25 by Massie (R-KY) and 15 cosponsors (all Democrats), “Directing the President pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution to remove United States Armed Forces from unauthorized hostilities in the Islamic Republic of Iran.” Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. This is the companion to S. J. Res. 59, discussed above. Also see:

• Massie press release: Reps. Massie, Khanna Introduce Bipartisan War Powers Resolution to Prohibit Involvement in Iran
• Massie on social media: X-post – “I just introduced an Iran War Powers Resolution with @RepRoKhanna to prohibit U.S. involvement in the Israel-Iran war. This is not our war. Even if it were, Congress must decide such matters according to our Constitution.” X-post – “Most Americans do not support U.S. involvement in Israel’s war against Iran. Which begs the question, why doesn’t more of Congress oppose it? Literally no one campaigned on another war in the Middle-East.“
• GOP Rep. Massie introduces bipartisan ‘War Powers Resolution’ to prohibit U.S. involvement in Israel-Iran war (One America News 6/17/25)

(NO US FUNDS FOR MILITARY FORCE AGAINST IRAN) S. 2087 [bill text]: Introduced 6/17/25 by Sanders (I-VT) and 7 cosponsors (all Democrats), ” A bill to prohibit the use of funds for military force against Iran, and for other purposes.” Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. Also see:

• Sanders press releases 6/16/25: Sanders Introduces No War Against Iran Act; Sanders Statement: “The U.S. Must Not Be Dragged into Netanyahu’s War Against Iran”
• Welch (D-VT) press release 6/27/25: Welch Joins Sanders as Cosponsor of No War Against Iran Act 

Media regarding all three of the above measures:

• Lawmakers push to block US involvement in Iran as Trump signals willingness to join fight [“‘This is not our war,’ said Kentucky Republican Rep. Thomas Massie”] (The Forward 6/18/25)
• A divided Congress mulls war powers as Trump considers strike in Iran [“Authorizing foreign wars is the job of U.S. lawmakers, but recent presidents have stretched their own powers to engage in global conflicts.“] (USA Today 6/18/25)
• ‘Not our war’: bipartisan US lawmakers back resolution to block involvement in Iran [“Republican Thomas Massie joins with Democrats in effort to require Congress approval before Trump attacks Iran”] (The Guardian 6/17/25)
• Lawmakers aim to stop U.S. from joining Israel’s military campaign against Iran [“Lawmakers try to assert war powers as Trump mulls joining strikes on Iran.“] (ABC News 6/17/25)
• Lawmakers move to limit Trump’s war powers as Israel-Iran war escalates (CBS News 6/17/25)
• The US Should Not Support Israel’s War on Iran, Say Democrats and Republicans (The Nation 6/17/25)
• Lawmakers Seek to Limit Trump From Dragging U.S. Into Israel-Iran War (Time 6/17/25)
• A left-right coalition seeks to limit Trump’s power to get involved in Israel-Iran conflict [“Conservative and progressive lawmakers want to force a vote on a resolution to require the administration to seek congressional approval before going to war in the Middle East.“] (NBC News 6/17/25)
• Israel’s Strikes on Iran Spark Growing Dissent in Congress (Counterpunch 6/17/25)
• House Republican, Democrat move to limit Trump from entering Iran war (Axios 6/26/25)

(STANDING WITH ISRAEL AGAINST IRAN) H. Res. 521: Introduced 6/17/25 by Tenney (R-NY) and 5 bipartisan cosponsors (Democrats are Sherman, D-CA, and Gottheimer, D-NJ), “Standing with Israel as it works to dismantle Iran’s nuclear enrichment capabilities and defends itself against Iranian attacks on civilians.” Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. Note that the final “resolved” clause of this resolution resolves that the House “stands ready to assist Israel with emergency resupply and other security, diplomatic, and intelligence support.” Also see:

• Tenney press release: Congresswoman Tenney Leads Resolution Supporting Israel’s Strikes to End Iran’s Nuclear Capabilities
• Bipartisan House resolution backs Israel’s strikes on Iran [“The resolution, with 16 co-sponsors, marks a bipartisan show of support for the Israeli operations as members of the far left and far right oppose Israel’s operation“] (Jewish Insider 6/17/25)

Targeting Other Countries Who Stand Up to Israel

(SANCTIONS ON SOUTH AFRICA & ITS OFFICIALS OVER ISRAEL) HR 4051 [bill text]: Introduced 6/17/25 by Steube (R-FL), “To address hostile and antisemitic conduct by the Republic of South Africa,” aka the “Addressing Hostile and Antisemitic Conduct by the Republic of South Africa Act of 2025.” Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and the Committee on the Judiciary. NOTE: This bill would be a template for imposing far-reaching sanctions on any country (and its officials) that fails to respect/uphold Israeli impunity for any accountability for its policies and actions that violate international law. Also see: pPress release — Rep. Steube: Hold South Africa Accountable for Antisemitism

Targeting Protest/Free Speech/Civil Society

(CRIMINALIZING PROTEST) HR 4015: Introduced 6/13/25 by Rouzer (R-NC) and Edwards (R-NC), “To amend title 18, United States Code, to establish a criminal penalty for interfering with commerce by blocking public roads.” Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Syria Sanctions

HR 3941 (bill text)//S. 2133 (bill text): Introduced in the House 6/12/25 by Wilson (R-SC) and 7 bipartisan cosponsors, and in the Senate 6/18/25 by Shaheen (D-NH) Paul (R-KY), “To repeal the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019.”  Referred to the House Committees on Foreign Affairs, the Judiciary, and Financial Services; and the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. Also see:

• press releases: Wilson Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Repeal Syria Caesar Civilian Protection Act; Ranking Member Shaheen, Senator Paul Introduce Legislation to Repeal the Caesar Act to End Economic Sanctions on Syria
• House, Senate lawmakers push repeal of Syria sanctions legislation (Jewish Insider 6/19/25)

2. Letters

• (TRUMP ADMIN MUST BE ACCOUNTABLE TO CONGRESS RE WAR WITH IRAN) 6/19/25: Senators Coons, Schumer, Murray, Reed, Warner statement on President Trump’s actions in the Middle East — “Congress is an equal partner in preserving and defending U.S. national security around the world, and Congress has not provided authorization for military action against Iran – we will not rubberstamp military intervention that puts the United States at risk. Our foremost duty is to safeguard American citizens wherever they reside and to protect our troops serving on the front lines. The United States cannot sleepwalk into a third war in as many decades. Congress has a critical role to play in this moment.” [“We demand immediate, detailed answers on these and other urgent matters to determine the way forward, including: 1. What more needs to be done to resupply and bolster the defense of Israel and our interests in the region? What additional resources are required to maintain and supplement those defenses? 2. What is the Intelligence Community’s current assessment of Iran’s nuclear program, its leaders’ intent, and its capabilities? Following nearly a week of Israeli strikes, what remains of Iran’s conventional military capabilities and nuclear enrichment? 3. What would be the objective of U.S. military intervention against Iran? President Trump has called for Iran’s “unconditional surrender” – what does that mean? 4. If there was a military intervention, what would be the estimated scope and duration of any such campaign? How many U.S. servicemembers would be involved? What resources and munitions would be required? What would such an operation cost? 5. What would be the risk to U.S. forces across our bases in the region, both today and in the long term, and what steps is the administration prepared to take to protect our servicemembers? 6. How many American citizens reside in Israel and surrounding countries, and what is the U.S. plan to facilitate evacuations? 7. What constitutional or statutory authority would underpin this intervention?”] Also see: Top Senate Democrats caution Trump against potential U.S. Iran strikes (Jewish Insider 6/19/25)
• (STAY TOUGH ON IRAN, MR PRESIDENT, INCL US MILITARY ACTION IF NECESSARY!) 6/18/25 – Letter to POTUS led by Crenshaw (R-TX) plus 9 cosigners (all House Republicans). The letter opens with: “In light of the recent escalation between Israel and Iran, we support your firm position of rejecting any agreement that allows Iran to retain any component of its nuclear program. We commend your clear and resolute stance that the regime must abandon all uranium enrichment capabilities. We fully support future efforts to eliminate Iran’s nuclear program and, if necessary, take decisive action to protect American lives and interests, as is within your powers as Commander-in-Chief..” Also see: Wagner (R-MO) press release
• (NEXT UF PRESIDENT MUST BE 100% ON BOARD WITH SHUTTING DOWN FREE SPEECH/PROTEST CRITICAL OF ISRAEL ON CAMPUS) 6/18/25: Sen. Rick Scott, Reps. Donalds and Steube Urge UF Board of Trustees to Have Thorough, Transparent Presidential Search Process [letter text]; Legislators hope next U of Florida president will uphold efforts to combat campus Jew-hatred (Jewish News Syndicate 6/19/25)
• (TRUMP ADMIN: HELP EVACUATE AMERICANS IN ISRAEL) 6/17/25: Gottheimer, Bell Lead Bipartisan Letter Calling On Trump Administration To Coordinate Evacuation Plans For Americans In Israel [letter text]. Also see: Lawmakers push for information on Israel evacuation efforts [“A bipartisan group of House members described the State Department’s response to Americans stuck in Israel as inadequate thus far“] (Jewish Insider 6/18/25) [Note: Members’ websites and social media accounts are, appropriately, full of expressions of concern for Americans in Israel. And reminder: Immediately after the 10/7/23 attacks by Hamas, Congress instantly mobilized to help Americans in Israel, but from then until today has shown little interest/concern for the safety/welfare/evacuation of American citizens in Gaza]
• (NO IRANIAN ENRICHMENT, EVER) 6/13/25: Gottheimer, Bacon Lead Bipartisan Letter Demanding Zero Nuclear Enrichment for Iran Following Israeli Strikes [letter text]. Also see: No deal with Iran allowing regime to enrich uranium, House group tells Trump [“The United States must maintain a position of absolute clarity: zero enrichment, zero pathway to a nuclear weapon,” nine lawmakers wrote.“] (Jewish News Syndicate 6/16/25)

3. Hearings

June 18, 2025: The Senate Armed Services Committee held a hearing, To receive testimony on the Department of Defense budget request for Fiscal Year 2026 and the Future Years Defense Program. Witnesses were Defense Secretary Hegseth (statement); Bryn Woollacott MacDonnell, Performing the Duties of the Under Secretary of Defense/Comptroller (no statement available); and General J. Daniel Caine, USAF, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (statement).  Chairman Wicker (R-MS) opening statement is here. Also see:

• Media: Associated Press 6/18/25: Hegseth faces more grilling from Congress as Iran-Israel conflict escalates [“Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is returning to Capitol Hill for the last in a series of hearings before lawmakers“]; Hegseth defends Kingsley Wilson amid questioning about antisemitic record (Jewish Insider 6/18/25); Hegseth says the Pentagon has given Trump options for Israel-Iran conflict (Associated Press 6/18/25); Hegseth Demurs on Possible US Military Action Against Iran Amid Trump Saber-Rattling (Military.com 6/18/25)
• Senators: Shaheen (D-NH) 6/18/25 X-post: “As President Trump weighs U.S. involvement in the current conflict between Israel and Iran, @SecDef did nothing to reassure me that he has plans to keep safe the Americans and more than 40,000 U.S. troops within striking distance.“; Cramer (R-ND) 6/28/25 press release – Secretary of Defense Hegseth Testifies Before Senate Committee on Base Defense, Importance of Air Superiority in Conflicts

June 24, 2024: The House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Oversight will hold a hearing entitled, Rising Threat: America’s Battle Against Antisemitic Terror. Witness announced (so far) are: Kenneth L. Marcus, Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law; Dan Schneider, Media Research Center; and Debra Cooper, End Jew Hatred and Jewish Advocacy Research and Writer Group.

Other stuff

• Stutzman (R-IN) 6/19/25: X-post – “United States disbursement of humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip has made an effective change in making sure victims of violence receive help. Others in the region should be looking towards Israel for guidance when it comes to removing Hamas and other authoritarian, evil regimes in the Middle East.“
• Risch (R-ID) 6/19/25: Chairman Risch, Ranking Member Shaheen Statement on the IMF Mission to Syria and Lebanon (Shaheen press release)
• Gottheimer (D-NJ) 6/18/25: X-post – “The move to shut down the Israeli pavilions at the Paris Air Show is completely outrageous. This clear act of government-sponsored discrimination toward Israel is unacceptable and must stop immediately.“

Other stuff

• Jewish Insider 6/20/25: Rep. Randy Fine says he’s on Capitol Hill to be a leader against antisemitism [“‘I think I can play that role. I’m willing to do it. Certainly happy to share the spotlight with the other three [Jewish Republicans] if they wish to do it, but, but this is deeply personal to me,’ Fine told JI“]
• Jewish Insider 6/20/25: Rep. Max Miller says he was run off the road, threatened by pro-Palestinian activist [“The Jewish Republican had previously expressed concerns about his personal safety in the wake of the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel“]
• Politico 6/19/25: GOP lawmaker says he was ‘run off the road’ by man with Palestinian flag
• Jewish News Syndicate 6/16/25: House Speaker Mike Johnson postpones Knesset address [“’We look forward to rescheduling the address in the near future and send our prayers to the people of Israel and the Middle East,’ Johnson wrote.”]
• Jewish Insider 6/16/25: Mike Johnson postpones plans to visit Israel, address the Knesset [“‘We look forward to rescheduling the address in the near future and send our prayers to the people of Israel and the Middle East,’ the House speaker said”]
• Jewish Insider 6/13/25: Gottheimer’s bet on Jewish vote didn’t pay off [“Turnout in heavily Jewish communities didn’t meet the congressman’s expectations in the N.J. governor’s race“]
• Foundation for the Defense of Democracies 6/13/25: Options for Designating the Muslim Brotherhood as a Terrorist Organization
• Jewish Link 6/12/25: A Moral Collapse in Real Time: How the Democratic Party Turned Against Israel
• Jewish News Syndicate 6/12/25: Calls for more funding, resources at Congress hearing on anti-Israel extremism [“The hearing was short on ‘concrete recommendations, given the exigency of the threat we have,’ Kerry Sleeper, of Secure Community Network, told JNS.”]

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

Note: Due to time constraints, the Round-Up is out early this week.

New from FMEP:

• 6/9/25 – New episode of FMEP’s Occupied Thoughts podcast, Daily Life while Committing Genocide: the Lexicon of Brutality in Israel, ft. FMEP Fellow Ahmed Moor speaking with sociologist Assaf Bondy and human rights researcher and historian Adam Raz about what they call the “lexicon of brutality,” drawing from a recent book the pair published in Hebrew on the language that Israelis use to discuss Palestinians and, specifically, the Israeli war on Gaza. The trio also talk about whether Israel has ever been a democracy and what people in Israel who oppose the genocide can do to resist it.

1. Bills & Resolutions

Responding to & Exploiting Heinous Boulder Attack

(CONDEMNING ANTISEMITIC VIOLENCE) H. Res. 481: Introduced 6/5/25 by Van Drew (R-NJ) and 53 bipartisan cosponsors, “Condemning the rise in ideologically motivated attacks on Jewish individuals in the United States, including the recent violent assault in Boulder, Colorado, and reaffirming the House of Representatives commitment to combating antisemitism and politically motivated violence.” Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. Passed 6/9/25 under suspension of the rules, by a roll call vote of 400-0, with 2 (Greene, R-GA and Tlaib, D-MI) voting “present.” House consideration is here and here.

(CONDEMNING ANTISEMITIC VIOLENCE) H. Res. 485: Introduced 6/6/25 by Evans (R-CO) and 3 Republican cosponsors, “Denouncing the antisemitic terrorist attack in Boulder, Colorado.” Passed 6/9/25 under suspension of the rules, by a roll call vote of 230-113 (all “No” voting coming from Democrats), with 6 voting “present” (5 Democrats and 1 Republican). House consideration is here and here. NOTE: The original text of this resolution, which was posted by the House Majority Leader late on 6/6/25 (days before it showed up in the Congressional Record), included extremely contentious and inflammatory language, stating in one of the “whereas” clauses, asserting as fact that the phrase “Free Palestine” is “an antisemitic slogan that calls for the destruction of the state of Israel and the Jewish people.” This immediately sparked backlash on social media, and subsequently, without any no public explanation, that language was removed from the bill (as in, if you look the bill up in the Congressional Record, the version of the bill that shows up as “introduced” does not contain this language) before the bill was voted on by the House.

Also see:

• Tlaib (D-MI)  6/11/25: Tlaib Statement on H.Res. 488 and H.Res. 481 [“H.Res. 488 and H.Res. 481 are Republican-led attempts to cynically politicize tragic acts of violence—like the recent horrific attack in Boulder—to demonize immigrant communities, praise ICE, and pave the path for the further repression of our constitutional rights to free speech and protest in support of Palestinian lives and human rights. Violence has no place in our communities. My heart goes out to all of the victims and their loved ones. Exploiting these tragedies for political motivations is wrong. At the same time, Congress has failed to even once denounce the rise in anti-Palestinian and anti-Muslim hate crimes, particularly the murder of Wadea al-Fayoume and the shooting of Hisham Awartani, which has left him paralyzed from the chest down. I stand firmly against antisemitism. And I stand firmly in support of a Free Palestine. These values are not contradictory. Our fight against antisemitism is connected to our fight against Islamophobia, anti-Black racism, white nationalism, and oppression in all forms. We must continue to speak out for a world free from dehumanization and violence.”
• Marjorie Taylor Greene, Rashida Tlaib vote ‘present’ on item condemning antisemitism (Times of Israel 6/11/25)
• House to vote on two resolutions condemning Boulder attack, antisemitism (Jewish Insider 6/8/25)

(CONDEMNING ANTISEMITIC VIOLENCE) H. Res. 498: Introduced 6/10/25 by Van Duyne (R-TX), “Condemning the surge in antisemitic violence in the United States and reaffirming support for the safety and civil rights of Jewish Americans.“  Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and the Committee on Education and Workforce. NOTE: This resolution massively up the ante in terms of delegitimizing and inciting against protesters for Palestinian lives and rights.

Targeting Free Speech/Right to Protest

(DENYING/REVOKING US PASSPORT OF ANYONE ACCUSED OF SUPPORT FOR AN FTO) HR 3860: Introduced 6/10/25 by Biggs (R-SC) and 8 Republican co-sponsors,  “To authorize the revocation or denial of passports to individuals affiliated with foreign terrorist organizations, and for other purposes,” aka the “No Passports for Terrorists and Traffickers Act.“ Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. REMINDER: Many defenders of Israel/opponents of Palestine solidarity, including in the Trump Administration accuse pretty much anyone engaged in protest or other free speech in support of Palestinian lives/rights of support for Hamas… This argument is already being used as a basis to target non-citizens in the US for detention and deportation, and to ban visas for them to come to the US. This new legislation appears to be an effort to expand this targeting to US citizens.

(TARGETING THOSE WHO “ENDORSE OR ESPOUSE” TERRORISM) HR 3926: Introduced 6/11/25 by Pfluger (R-TX) and 2 Republican cosponsors, “To consider, for purposes of the Immigration and Nationality Act, that officers, officials, representatives, spokespersons, and members of Hamas, Hezbollah, Al-Qaeda, Palestine Islamic Jihad, and ISIS, and individuals who endorse or espouse terrorist activities conducted by such organizations are engaged in terrorist activity.” Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Targeting the Muslim Brotherhood

(TO FORCE STATE TO DESIGNATE MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD AS AN FTO) HR 3883: Introduced 6/10/25 by Mace (R-SC), “To require the Secretary of State to designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a foreign terrorist organization.”  Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. Also see: press release — Rep. Nancy Mace Targets Muslim Brotherhood With New Bill

Disapproval of Arms Sales — REJECTED

(TARGETING QATAR ARMS SALES) S. J. Res. 53: Introduced 5/15/25 by Murphy (D-CT) and having 6 cosponsors (5 Democrats + 1 Independent), “A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of the proposed foreign military sale to the Government of Qatar of certain defense articles and services.” Motion to discharge Senate Committee on Foreign Relations rejected by Yea-Nay Vote. 39 – 56.

(TARGETING UAE ARMS SALES) S. J. Res. 54: Introduced 5/15/25 by Murphy (D-CT) and 6 cosponsors (5 Democrats + 1 Independent), “A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of the proposed foreign military sale to the Government of the United Arab Emirates of certain defense articles and services.” Motion to discharge Senate Committee on Foreign Relations rejected by Yea-Nay Vote. 39 – 56.

Also see:

• Jewish Insider 6/12/25: Bipartisan Senate group votes down resolutions to stop Qatar, UAE arms sales

Other Stuff

(TARGETING IRAN) S. 1136: Introduced 3/26/25 by Hassan (D-NH) and 3 cosponsors (bipartisan), “To authorize sentencing enhancements for certain criminal offenses directed by or coordinated with foreign governments,” aka the “Deterring External Threats and Ensuring Robust Responses to Egregious and Nefarious Criminal Endeavors Act (DETERRENCE Act).” Passed by the Senate 6/11/25 by Unanimous Consent.

(TARGETING PROTEST) S. 2000 (text): Introduced 6/10/25 by Cotton (R-AR), “A bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to increase the penalty for rioting,” aka the “Mitigating Extreme Lawlessness Act.” Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

(TARGETING PROTEST) S. 2001 (text): Introduced 6/10/25 by Cotton (R-AR), “A bill to subject aliens convicted of certain crimes to expedited removal from the United States,” aka the “No Visas for Violent Criminals Act.” Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

• Also see: Cotton Introduces Bills to Increase Penalties on Violent Rioters

2. Letters

(TARGETING UN/INTL LAW) 6/12/25: Jewish Insider – Lawmakers again demand U.N.’s Albanese be fired. Per Jewish Insider (there is not press release as of this writing), the letter was signed by an entirely predictable list of members consisting of Sherman (D-CA), Goldman (D-NY), Shreve (R-IN), Salazar (R-FL), Gillen (D-NY), Schneider (D-IL), Moskowitz (D-FL), Torres (D-NY), Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Gottheimer (D-NJ) and Suozzi (D-NY). by Sherman (D-CA) and “Democratic Majority for Israel helped organize the letter.” Also see: Sherman (D-CA) X-post 6/11/25: “UN Special Rapporteur Albanese’s long history of antisemitism – she has regularly used antisemitic terms like the ‘Jewish lobby,’ taken money from pro-Hamas groups, and claims that Israel doesn’t have the right to defend itself or even to exist. Instead of demonstrating that the UN can address issues such as antisemitism from within and prevent continued efforts to undermine the UN’s credibility, Secretary General Guterres extended Ms. Albanese’s employment. I am proud to have drafted a statement signed by many of my Jewish colleagues about her outrageous antisemitic behavior.“

(TARGETING ACADEMIA) 6/11/25: @EdWorkforceCmte Deepens Sarah Lawrence Investigation Amid Reports of Hostile, Antisemitic Environment [letter text]

(ALLEGED IRAN TIES) 6/11/25: Stefanik Demands BNY Mellon Provide Transparency over Troubling Ties to Iranian-Linked Terrorist Organizations [letter text]

(CONCERN FOR GAZA FREEDOM FLOTILLA) 6/6/25: Tlaib (D-MI) + 20 co-signers letter to Rubio – “…we urge you to address the issue at the root of this voyage: the brutal Israeli blockade and mass starvation of the Palestinian population of Gaza. We demand an immediate end to the blockade, an immediate resumption of unfettered humanitarian aid entry into Gaza, and an immediate and lasting ceasefire. While the Trump administration and the international community fail to use their immense leverage to end this blockade, the activists on board the Madleen are an example of humanitarianism and solidarity. They deserve safety, as does the besieged population of Gaza.” [letter text]. Also see Tlaib X-thread – “I’m leading a letter to the Trump Administration demanding safe passage for the @GazaFFlotilla to deliver humanitarian aid and food to Gaza. Any interception or attack on this crew is a violation of international law. The Israeli government must lift the blockade and end the forced starvation of 2 million Palestinians.“

(TARGETING SOCIAL MEDIA OVER CRITICISM OF ISRAEL) 6/6/25: Landsman Urges President Trump to Work with Social Media Companies to Combat Antisemitism [letter text].

3. Hearings

July 9, 2025: The House Committee on Education and the Workforce will hold a hearing entitled, Antisemitism in Higher Education: Examining the Role of Faculty, Funding, and Ideology. Witness will be: Dr. Robert M. Groves, Interim President, Georgetown University; Dr. Félix V. Matos Rodríguez, Chancellor, The City University of New York; and Dr. Rich Lyons, Chancellor, University of California, Berkeley. Also see: Committee press release – College Presidents to Answer for Sources Inciting Antisemitism [ “We continue to see antisemitic hatred festering at schools across the country,” said Chairman Walberg. “While much of the discussion has focused on the devastating effects of antisemitism, this hearing will focus on the underlying factors instigating antisemitic upheaval and hatred on campus. Until these factors—such as foreign funding and antisemitic student and faculty groups—are addressed, antisemitism will persist on college campuses. Our Committee is building on its promise to protect Jewish students and faculty while many university leaders refuse to hold agitators of this bigotry, hatred, and discrimination accountable.”]; House committee calls Georgetown, Berkeley, CUNY presidents for antisemitism hearing [“The hearing is set to focus on issues including foreign funding and antisemitic student groups”] (Jewish Insider 6/9/25)

June 11, 2025: The House Homeland Security Committee held a hearing entitled, The Rise of Anti-Israel Extremist Groups and Their Threat to U.S. National Security (hearing video). Witnesses were: Kerry Sleeper, Secure Community Network (statement); James Carafano, Heritage Foundation (statement);  Oren Segal, Anti-Defamation League (statement); and Julie Fishman Rayman, American Jewish Committee (statement). Also see:

• Pfluger (R-TX) 6/11/25: “These Incidents Are Not Isolated”: Chairman Pfluger Opens Hearing on Antisemitic, Anti-Israel Terror Threats on US Soil
• Jewish Insider 6/11/25: House hearing to probe anti-Israel extremist groups as a national security threat
• Antisemitic Violence ‘Threat Level’ Prompts Congress to Act, Lawmaker Says Ahead of Hearing (Daily Signal 6/10/25)

June 10, 2025: The House Armed Services Committee held a hearing entitled, U.S. Military Posture and National Security Challenges in the Greater Middle East and Africa (hearing video). Witnesses were: General Michael Kurilla, Commander, U.S. Central Command (statement); General Michael Langley, USMC, Commander, U.S. Africa Command (statement); and Katherine Thompson, Performing the Duties of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, Office of the Secretary of Defense (statement). Also see:

• Rogers (R-AL) opening statement – Homeland Security Means Stopping Terrorists and Strategic Threats Before They Reach Us
• Jewish Insider 6/11/25: CENTCOM head: U.S. administration has been presented plans to attack Iran’s nuclear program

June 10, 2025: The Senate Homeland Security Committee’s Subcommittee on Border Management, Federal Workforce and Regulatory Affairs held a hearing entitled, Match Ready: Oversight of the Federal Government’s Border Management and Personnel Readiness Efforts for the Decade of Sports (hearing video). The testimony of one witness, Dr. Gina Ligon, University of Nebraska), dealt extensively with Israel-related matters.

June 10, 2025: The Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission held a hearing entitled, Human Rights In Turkey Today (hearing video). Witnesses were: Enes Kanter Freedom, Human rights activist, former NBA basketball player; Alp Aslandogan, Executive Director, Alliance for Shared Values; and Michael Rubin, Senior Fellow, American Enterprise Institute.

5. Selected Media

• Jewish Insider 6/12/25: GOP senators criticize France’s Macron for defying U.S. with Palestinian statehood push
• The Forward 6/11/25: Outrage ensues after a Long Island high school study guide calls Zionism ‘extreme nationalism’ [“Rep. Elise Stefanik called the review sheet ‘a total amoral abomination’”]
• Jewish News Syndicate 6/11/25: Gottheimer’s pro-Israel stance may have had role in his NJ gubernatorial primary loss, expert says
• The Hill 6/11/25: Speaker Johnson to address Israeli Knesset
• Jewish Insider 6/11/25: Top U.S. defense officials demur over likelihood of Iran using nuclear weapon against Israel
• Times of Israel 6/11/25: US CENTCOM chief postpones Senate testimony due to Mideast tensions, officials say
• Jewish Insider 6/10/25: Graham to introduce resolution demanding full dismantlement of Iran’s nuclear program [“Graham told JI he is working with the White House on the resolution’s language and intends to introduce it shortly”]
• Jewish News Syndicate 6/10/25: ‘Dangerous time to be a Jewish American,’ House speaker says at vigil for Israeli embassy staffers
• Jewish Insider 6/10/25: Mike Johnson: Anti-Israel movement ‘puts a bounty on the heads’ of Jewish Americans [“The House speaker joined Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and others for a vigil honoring Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, killed in the Capital Jewish Museum shooting”]
• Jewish Insider 6/10/25: Former senior FBI intel agent in Israel joins crowded Democratic field against Lawler
• Jewish Insider 6/9/25: ‘The Jewish community needs real action, not just resolutions,’ Jewish Dems say [“Their statement, calling for progress on the Antisemitism Awareness Act and increased security grant funding, comes ahead of two antisemitism votes in the House”]
• YNet 6/7/25: Is bipartisan backing for Israel still possible in today’s divided America?
• Jewish News Syndicate 6/6/25: Antisemitism Awareness Act must pass before it’s too late
• AL-dot-com (Alabama) 6/6/25: Why we must stand united in confronting escalating threat of antisemitism: op-ed by Sen. Katie Britt
• Jewish Insider 6/6/25: U.N.’s Albanese has ‘blood on her hands,’ Rep. Sherman says
• Foreign Policy 6/9/25: Democrats Should Welcome Trump’s Iran Diplomacy (by Matt Duss)

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

New from FMEP:

• 6/1/25 – New episode of FMEP’s Occupied Thoughts podcast, What an American Doctor Saw in Gaza, ft. FMEP Fellow Peter Beinart in conversation with Dr. Feroze Sidhwa, who recently returned from spending the month of March, 2025, in Gaza as a trauma and critical care surgeon.

1. Bills & Resolutions

Responding to & Exploiting Heinous Boulder Attack

(USING BOULDER ATTACK TO TARGET VISA OVERSTAYS) S. 1937 [bill text]: Introduced 6/3/25 by Banks (R-IN), “A bill to amend section 275 of the Immigration and Nationality Act to expand penalties for illegal entry and unlawful presence.”  Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.  Also see: press release – Senator Banks Introduces Bill to Make Visa Overstays a Crime, Increase Penalties [“The Boulder terrorist and 9/11 hijackers didn’t sneak in, they overstayed visas. That’s just as serious and just as dangerous. My bill cracks down on visa overstays with criminal penalties to stop threats before they happen.”]

(TARGETING THE MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD) S. XXXX: Introduced 6/X/XX by Cruz (R-TX) and X Republican cosponsors, “A bill to require the Secretary of State to submit a report to Congress on the designation of the Muslim Brotherhood as a foreign terrorist organization, and for other purposes” aka the “Muslim Brotherhood Terrorist Designation Act.” Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. Cruz previously pursued this same effort in 2020 (S. 4939), 2017 (S. 68) and in 2015 (S. 2230). Also see:

• Cruz (R-TX) X-post 6/3/25: “In the coming days, I will be circulating and re-introducing a modernized version of the Muslim Brotherhood Terrorist Designation Act, which I have been pushing for my entire Senate career. As I told the Free Beacon, the Muslim Brotherhood used the Biden administration to consolidate and deepen their influence, but the Trump administration and Republican Congress can no longer afford to avoid the threat they pose to Americans and American national security.”
• Media: Congress Nears Move To Designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a Terrorist Organization (Free Beacon 6/3/25); House GOP unveils resolution to condemn Boulder terror attack, call for mass deportation of overstayed visas – The resolution says there is an ‘alarming rise’ in antisemitism in the US (Fox News 6/4/25); Lawmakers push to designate Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist group after Boulder attack — Sen. Ted Cruz is planning to reintroduce an updated version of legislation that he first sponsored nearly a decade ago (Jewish Insider 6/4/25); Cruz to reintroduce bill labeling Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist group after Boulder attack (The Hill 6/4/25); US Congress Pushes to Designate Muslim Brotherhood as a Terrorist Organization (Algemeiner 6/4/25); Pushes in both houses of Congress to designate Muslim Brotherhood as terror group [“The Hamas-linked group ‘used the Biden administration to consolidate and deepen their influence,’ wrote Sen. Ted Cruz.“] (Jewish News Syndicate 6/4/25)

(TARGETING ANTISEMITISM, PRETTY CLEARLY DEFINED TO INCLUDE PROTEST OF ISRAEL/ZIONISM) HR 3691: Introduced 6/3/25 by Miller-Meeks (R-IA) and 2 cosponsors (bipartisan), “To establish the Commission to Study Acts of Antisemitism in the United States.”  Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. Also see: press release (with quotes conflating antisemitism with protest of Israel’s actions in Gaza) – Miller-Meeks, Colleagues Launch Bill to Fight Antisemitic Hate Across the U.S. [includes link to bill text but that link is broken]; EXCLUSIVE: Iowa Lawmaker Set to Offer Bill to Establish Antisemitism Study Commission (Daily Signal 6/2/25)

(CONDEMNING BOULDER ATTACK) S. Res. 263: Introduced 6/4/25 by Bennett (R-CO) and Hickenlooper (D-CO), “A resolution condemning the violent antisemitic attack in Boulder, Colorado, and expressing support for the survivors and their families.” Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. Also see: press release – On Senate Floor, Bennet Condemns Antisemitic Attack in Boulder, Colorado [“…If there was any doubt that this was an antisemitic hate crime and an act of terror, the attacker has told investigators that–and let me quote–‘he wanted to kill all Zionist people and wished they were all dead…He did not have some intellectual point that he was trying to make about Israel’s policies. He was not trying to improve the lives of Palestinians. He simply wanted to kill Jews [note: this framing takes as a given that the term “Zionists” has nothing to do with the political ideology of Zionism and support for Israel, but rather can only mean “Jews”]…these antisemites use events in the Middle East as an excuse to express their latent antisemitism, their medieval hatred of Jews–who they blame for some swath of society’s ills.”

(CONDEMNING ANTISEMITIC VIOLENCE) H. Res. 481: Introduced 6/5/25 by Van Drew (R-NJ) and 53 bipartisan cosponsors, “Condemning the rise in ideologically motivated attacks on Jewish individuals in the United States, including the recent violent assault in Boulder, Colorado, and reaffirming the House of Representatives commitment to combating antisemitism and politically motivated violence.” Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

(HONOR LIFE OF SARAH MILGRIM) S. Res. xxx [resolution text]: Not in political record yet; also see press release 6/5/25 – Sens. Moran, Marshall Introduce Resolution to Honor the Life of Sarah Milgrim

Israel Exception to US Tariffs

(NO TARIFFS ON ISRAEL OR UKRAINE!) HR 3727 [bill text]: Introduced 6/4/35 by Moskowitz (D-FL) and 3 Democratic cosponsors, “To exempt articles imported from Israel or Ukraine from duties imposed under the Executive Order entitled ‘Regulating Imports with a Reciprocal Tariff to Rectify Trade Practices that Contribute to Large and Persistent Annual United States Goods Trade Deficits’“, aka the “Supporting American Allies Act.”Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. Also see: press release – New Moskowitz Legislation Protects U.S. Allies Israel and Ukraine from the Threat of Tariffs; Moskowitz X-post – “Our allies Israel & Ukraine are fighting against adversaries that want them erased from the map. Waging a trade war on them compounds their threats, alienates our allies, and risks our economic & national security. My bill exempts Israel & Ukraine from these harmful tariffs.“; Four House Dems aim to exempt Israel, Ukraine from tariffs – Republicans blocked a bid to pass similar legislation in the Senate (Jewish Insider 4/4/25)

Targeting Hamas & All Palestinians

(BARRING ENTRY OF PALESTINIANS INTO THE US) HR 3724: Introduced 6/4/25 by Mace (R-SC) and 2 Republican cosponsors, “To prohibit certain actions related to aliens who habitually resided in the Palestinian-administered territories, and for other purposes,” aka, the “No Amnesty for Hamas Sympathizers Act.” Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. NOTE: Mace previously introduced this bill 9/10/24 (HR 9526). From that time around see: 9/10/24 press release; Republican lawmakers push to keep Palestinians, sympathisers out of US – Proposed bills such the “No Amnesty for Hamas Sympathizers Act” reflect a broader effort to silence pro-Palestine voices amid escalating tensions in Gaza (TRT World 9/13/24)

(CONDEMNING HAMAS, DEMANDING RELEASE OF HOSTAGES) S. Res. 227: Introduced 5/14/25 by Rosen (D-NV) and 9 bipartisan cosponsors, “Condemning Hamas for its premeditated, coordinated, and brutal terrorist attacks on October 7, 2023, against Israel and demanding that Hamas immediately release all remaining hostages and return them to safety, and for other purposes.“ Marked up/reported out of Committee without amendment by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee 6/5/25.

Gaza Ceasefire, Humanitarian Needs

(RESTRICTING US WEAPONS FOR ISRAEL) HR 3565: Introduced 5/21/25 by Ramirez (D-IL) and 21 Democratic cosponsors, “To provide for a limitation on the transfer of defense articles and defense services to Israel,” aka the “Block the Bombs Act.“ Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. Also see:

• press release 6/5/25 – Ramirez, Jacobs, Jayapal, Pocan, 18 Members of Congress Introduce Legislation to Condition Weapons to Israel, Save Lives
• Supporters (X-posts, incl with pix/video clips): Ramirez (D-IL) 6/5/25 – “<>I’ve introduced the Block the Bombs Act with 21 of my colleagues to withhold certain offensive weapons that are supplied by the U.S. to Israel and demand Israel’s compliance with U.S. and international law. Block the Bombs is the first step toward real oversight and accountability for the consequences of a military campaign that has leveled Gaza, displaced millions, and killed a reported 54,000 Palestinians. Hear directly from me about the importance of this bill.“;  Jayapal (D-WA) 6/5/25 – “For over a year and a half, the Israeli government has repeatedly used weapons supplied by America to break U.S. and international humanitarian law. 54,000 Gazans are dead. Half a million are on the brink of famine. We must pass the Block the Bombs Act and save lives.”; Lee (D-PA) 6/5/25 – “The Israeli government’s genocide and forced famine in Gaza is collective punishment funded by our tax dollars and carried out with American-made weapons. The U.S. must withhold weapons—from them and any entity violating international humanitarian law. Congress must pass the Block the Bombs Act and save lives.“; Casar (D-TX) 6/5/25 – “We must block the bombs we send to the Israeli government and end the massacring of people in Gaza.”; Simon (D-CA) 6/5/25 – “Today I joined Representatives @repdeliaramirez @RepSaraJacobs @RepJayapal @RepMarkPocan, and 17 of my Democratic colleagues on legislation to withhold the transfer of the most egregious offensive weapons to Israel that have caused significant civilian casualties and violated U.S. and international law.“
• Critics: 22 House progressives push unprecedented new restrictions on U.S. aid to Israel [“The bill ‘is among some of the most concerning anti-Israel legislation we’ve seen in recent years,’ FDD’s Bradley Bowman said“] (Jewish Insider 5/30/25); Frankel (D-FL) X-thread 6/2/2025: “A new House bill would impose unprecedented restrictions on U.S. security assistance – but only for Israel. I’m opposing it. The bill would stall transfers of weapons that Israel needs to defend itself, even in emergencies. At a time when Israel faces constant threats, this proposal sends the wrong message and puts lives at risk.“

(HUMANITARIAN AID FOR GAZA) H. Res. 473: Introduced 6/4/25 by Jayapal (D-WA) and 91 Democratic cosponsors, “Calling for the urgent delivery and disbursement of humanitarian aid to address the needs of civilians in Gaza.” Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. Also see: press release – Jayapal, Raskin, Keating, Foushee, Balint Introduce Resolution Urging the Immediate Delivery of Humanitarian Aid to Gaza; X-posts: Jayapal – “NEW: With @RepRaskin @USRepKeating, @ValerieFoushee, and @RepBeccaB, I’m leading 92 members in urging the administration to ensure the immediate delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza. Innocent civilian lives can be saved.”; Raskin (D-MD) – “Each passing day brings dreadful new suffering to people in Gaza, who are experiencing a humanitarian catastrophe. Our Resolution recognizes that America must act now to save countless lives in the region. Just as the time is long overdue to bring all the remaining Israeli hostages home from captivity at the hands of Hamas, we must assure the delivery of desperately needed food and humanitarian aid into Gaza to end the prolonged humanitarian crisis of the Palestinians living there.”

Iran

(COOPERATION BETWEEN IRAN & OTHER US ADVERSARIES) S. 1883: Introduced 5/22/25 (not previously covered in the Round-Up) by Coons (D-DE) and McCormick (R-PA), “To require the executive branch to develop a whole-of-government strategy to disrupt growing cooperation among the People’s Republic of China, the Russian Federation, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, which are the foremost adversaries of the United States, and mitigate the risks posed to the United States” aka the “Defending International Security by Restricting Unacceptable Partnerships and Tactics Act” or “DISRUPT Act”. Marked up in/amended/ordered reported out by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee 6/5/25. Also see: press release 5/27/25 — Senators Coons, McCormick introduce bill to address threats associated with increased cooperation between US adversaries

(TARGETING IRAN & OTHER US ADVERSARIES RE: BIOTHREATS) S. 1972 [bill text]: Introduced 6/5/25 by Cotton (R-AR), “A bill to prohibit Federal funding for research centers and laboratories in which nationals of countries of concern conduct agricultural research.”  Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Also see: press release – Cotton Introduces Bill to Ban to Protect American Agriculture from Biothreats

2. Letters

(BLAMING TIKTOK, META & X FOR ANTISEMITISM/VIOLENCE) 6/6/25: Lawmakers press social media platforms on violent antisemitic content after attacks (Jewish Insider 6/6/25); [letter text]. NOTE: Citing JI here rather than a press release from the letter’s author(s) because JI appears to have gotten notice of the letter in advance of any member posting a press release. UPDATE: Bell (D-MO) press release that appears to have gone up late 5/6/25 – Bell, Bacon Lead Bipartisan Letter Denouncing Inflammatory Content on Social Media Following Antisemitic Attacks [letter text – broken link]

(NO IRAN DEAL WITH ANY ENRICHMENT ALLOWED) 6/6/25: Bipartisan House group insists on no enrichment for Iran (Jewish Insider 6/6/25); [letter text].  Note: Citing JI here rather than a press release from the letter’s author(s) because JI appears to have gotten notice of the letter in advance of any member posting a press release. UPDATE: Gillen press release [post-dated 6/3/25, which makes no sense since the letter is dated 6/6/25 — ah, the perils of post-dating…] – Gillen, Tenney Lead Bipartisan Letter Urging No Nuclear Enrichment for Iran; Call for Snapback Sanctions if Talks Fall Through [letter text]

(TARGETING TIKTOK & DEEP SEEK) 6/5/25: Gottheimer Leads Letter Demanding President Trump Crack Down on CCP-Linked Tech Companies TikTok and DeepSeek [letter text]. NOTE: The letter text does not mention antisemitism, but the press release notes: “...TikTok is the top news source for Americans under the age of 30, and regularly spews anti-American and antisemitic content.” Reminder: Rolling Stone 5/6/25: Lawmakers Admit They Want to Ban TikTok Over Pro-Palestinian Content [“As a potential ban looms over the platform, some are admitting that they hope the app’s demise will help kill pro-Palestinian sentiments online“]; Times of Israel/Eric Fingerhut (JFNA) 1/15/25: The Tik-Tok Bill is About Antisemitism Too; Anadolu Agency 2/17/25: TikTok ban fueled by Hamas attack on Israel: Former US congressman [‘People started to see a bunch of anti-Semitic content on the platform and our bill had legs again,’ says Mike Gallagher]; Middle East Eye 2/17/25: US TikTok ban linked to pro-Palestine content rather than China threat, insiders reveal [“US officials and lobbyists say the push to ban the Chinese-owned application gain momentum during the war on Gaza”]; Ken Klipperstein 2/16/25: TikTok Ban Fueled by Israel, Not China; Jewish News Syndicate 11/9/23: Congress targets TikTok to counter social-media propaganda against Israel

(USING BOULDER ATTACK TO BIDEN ADMIN & VISA/IMMIGRATION POLICIES) 6/4/25: Chairman Pfluger, Green Request DHS Documents on Suspect in Boulder Terror Attack [letter text]. Also see: House launches inquiry into immigration history of Boulder terrorism suspect Mohamed Sabry Soliman (Washington Examiner 6/4/25)

(DESIGNATE THE MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD AS AN FTO!) Moskowitz (D-FL) X-post 6/3/25 – “I’m urging the President to conduct a comprehensive investigation to designate the Muslim Brotherhood a Foreign Terrorist Organization. Its history of promoting extremist ideologies and terrorist activities through affiliates like Hamas threatens our national & global security.”  [letter text – page 1, page 2]

(TARGETING ACADEMIA – BOWDOIN COLLEGE) 6/2/25: Walberg, Owens Demand Bowdoin College Comply with Antisemitism Investigation [letter text]. Also see: House education committee threatens to subpoena Bowdoin College over antisemitism records [“Senior GOP officials on the committee allege that the Maine liberal arts school failed to comply with repeated requests for documentation regarding disciplinary action taken against those involved with a campus encampment“] (Jewish Insider 6/3/25)

(TRYING TO LINK BOULDER ATTACKER TO FTOS) 6/2/25: Moreno Calls For Investigation Into Potential Terrorist Ties To Boulder, CO Attack [letter text]

(EXPLOITING DC ATTACK TO TARGET PALESTINE ACTIVISM) 5/27/25: Alford Urges Trump Administration to Investigate Potential Ties Between Antisemitic Murderer and Foreign Terrorist Organizations [letter text]

3. Hearings

June 11, 2025: The House Homeland Security Committee will hold a hearing entitled, The Rise of Anti-Israel Extremist Groups and Their Threat to U.S. National Security. No witnesses have been announced as of this writing. The video will be live-streamed here. Also see:

• Pfluger (R-TX) 6/4/25: X-post – “The heinous attack in Boulder this Sunday is part of a disturbing pattern, not an isolated incident. This is why I am leading a @HomelandGOP Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence Hearing on growing antisemitic violence in the U.S.“
• Rising antisemitic violence, terror attacks in US spur House Homeland Security Committee hearing (Fox News 6/4/25)

June 10, 2025: The House Armed Services Committee will hold a hearing entitled, U.S. Military Posture and National Security Challenges in the Greater Middle East and Africa. Witnesses will be: General Michael Kurilla, Commander, U.S. Central Command; General Michael Langley, USMC, Commander, U.S. Africa Command; and Katherine Thompson, Performing the Duties of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, Office of the Secretary of Defense.

June 10, 2025: The Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission will hold a hearing entitled, Human Rights In Turkey Today. Witnesses will be: Enes Kanter Freedom, Human rights activist, former NBA basketball player; Alp Aslandogan, Executive Director, Alliance for Shared Values; and Michael Rubin, Senior Fellow, American Enterprise Institute.

• Pfluger (R-TX) 6/5/25: X-post – “Grateful to speak at the Israel Allies Foundation’s Jerusalem Day event yesterday. The violent hatred that has been allowed to proliferate since the October 7 attacks is unacceptable. Standing with Israel and the entire Jewish community is more important now than ever.”
• House Committee on Education and the Workforce 6/4/25: X-post – “The proof is undeniable. Antisemitism on our campuses is out of control—sometimes driven by outside agitators who want to ensure hatred festers and deliberately harm the United States. Schools have to do more to stop this kind of hateful antisemitism and protect Jews on campus.” Linked to New York Post X-post, “Today’s cover: Columbia protestor had direct link to Hamas’ deadly al-Qassam Brigades militant group” [you have to read to paragraph 4 of the article to learn the protester in question was NOT A COLUMBIA STUDENT].
• Fine (R-FL) 6/3/25: X-post (with video clip) – “There’s a reason antisemitism is not a chronic issue in Florida. We DON’T discriminate when dealing with discrimination. We DON’T breed antisemitism on our college campuses. We DON’T appease Muslim terrorists. Make America Florida.“
• Bacon (R-NE) 6/3/25: X-post – “I agree with NYTs today: ‘But attacks on Jews for the actions of an Israeli government a world away are collective punishment, and collective punishment is bigotry. This was not even a question when Muslims in America were attacked as retribution for the murderous actions of Al Qaeda on 9/11.’”
• Cotton (R-AR) 6/2/25: X-post – “This horrific terrorist attack in Boulder is reminder of why Hamas supporters should be deported. They advocate for a terrorist group that massacres both Israelis and Americans–we don’t want them here.”
• Steube (R-FL) 6/3/25: X-post – “Biden’s open borders handed a terrorist the keys to our country. The Free Palestine movement fuels antisemitism, normalizes violence, and has unleashed terror in our neighborhoods. The Democrats imported this threat. We must crush it with mass deportations IMMEDIATELY.”
• Issa (R-CA) 6/3/25: X-post – “Now would be a good time for Democrats and the liberal media to start dealing with their antisemitism problem.”
• Fine (R-FL) 6/2/25: X-post – “#BombsAway”
• Scott (R-FL) 6/2/25: Sen. Rick Scott: The Next UF President Must Fully Commit to Protecting Jewish Students and Fighting Woke Policies
• Stefanik (R-NY) 6/2/25: X-post – “The day after Jews were burned in the streets in America by a radical pro-Palestinian terrorist illegally in our country, @politico publishes a column about how former university President Liz Magill is the ‘first casualty’ in the war against elite universities. No. The casualty is not a disgraced former university president trying to rehabilitate her shredded reputation. The casualties are the Jews who were burned by a terrorist who threw Molotov cocktails yesterday. The beautiful young couple assassinated in Washington, DC. And the thousand+ burned alive, raped, killed, and taken hostage by Hamas. The Politico article is full of excuses and morally bankrupt technocrat-speak with little to no concern about the scourge of antisemitism on college campuses. They still don’t get it. The Left, the universities, the professors, the media, the *former* college presidents. History will judge this moment. Light vs darkness. Good vs evil. This is about saving Western civilization.”
• Gottheimer (D-NJ) 6/2/25: RELEASE: Gottheimer Visits Moriah School of Englewood, Discusses Combatting Antisemitism and Support For Israel
• Sherman (D-CA) 6/2/25: X-post – “Following yesterday’s horrific antisemitic terror attack in Boulder, I joined @TMZ to discuss our shared obligation to fight antisemitism in all its forms. That includes antizionism, which just led to two deadly antisemitic terror attacks in less than two weeks. We need to pass a clean version of the Antisemitism Awareness Act and finally codify the IHRA definition of #antisemitism – now.“
• Sherman (D-CA) 6/1/25: X-post – ““
• McDowell (R-NC) 6/1/25: X-post – “Horrific. A pro-Hamas terrorist attacked a peaceful group in Boulder demanding the release of hostages. This isn’t isolated—it’s part of a growing wave of antisemitic violence sweeping across America. This is what happens when you normalize hate and coddle extremism. Enough.”
• Fine (R-FL) 6/1/25: X-post – “It is time for all “Palestinian” organizations to be federally-designated terror organizations, including CAIR and ‘Students for Justice in Palestine.’ It is time to immediately round up and deport any non-citizens who subscribe to the ‘Hamastinian’ cause. And it is time to bring the hammer down on our nation’s universities who have coddled and facilitated Muslim terror. Enough is enough. It is time to call evil for what it is.“
• Perry (R-PA) 6/1/25: X-post – “I’m outraged at yet another antisemtic attack – this time in Colorado, on attendees at a peaceful event for the Israeli hostages. @Netanyahu is right: ‘Free Palestine’ is the new ‘Heil Hitler.’ The coward who perpetrated this terror must be prosecuted to the fullest extend of our laws.“

Iran

• Stefanik (R-NY) 6/5/25: ICYMI: Stefanik Joined Ben Shapiro Show on President Trump’s Executive Order to Ban Foreign Nationals from Studying at Harvard, Passage of Big Beautiful Bill, and Threat of Iran to American Interests

Syria

• Wilson (R-SC) 6/3/25: X-post – “In order for the new Syrian government to fulfill its commitments to President Trump, the MOD must be able to operate in all of Syria. Syrian officials have clearly stated that Syria will not pose a threat to Israel. Restriction of access to security forces in certain areas will be exploited.“

Recess travel

• Lankford (R-OK) 6/3/25: X-post – “It was a full and productive day in Israel. The United States stands firmly with Israel, and I’m grateful for our enduring partnership. In 24 hours: The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation led the effort to deliver hundreds of thousands of food boxes in Gaza.  Foreign Minister Sa’ar hosted a successful conference on combatting antisemitism, and I was honored to speak about the work being done in the US by the Senate Bipartisan Taskforce for Combatting Antisemitism. I met with Israel’s Minister of Economy, Nir Barkat to discuss our shared interests in a prosperous Israel. Prime Minister Netanyahu and I discussed the United States’ unwavering commitment to Israel. I also thanked him for his leadership in bringing the hostages home and demilitarizing Hamas.“
• Lankford (R-OK) 6/2/25: X-post – “Thank you, Major General Leeney and US personnel, for your leadership of the Mechanism in coordinating security efforts between the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) and the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). Thank you for your sacrifice and service to our country!”
• Rosen (D-NV) 6/2/25: Rosen Returns from Visit to Israel, West Bank, Jordan, Iraq focused on Strengthening Regional Stability
• Lankford (R-OK) 6/2/25: X-post – “hile in Israel, I got a chance to spend time with @USAmbIsrael. Israel has no better friend than the United States and Ambassador Huckabee.“
• Rosen (D-NV) 6/2/25: X-post – “Last week, I had productive meetings with heads of state and government officials in Israel, Jordan, and Iraq where we discussed ways to strengthen regional stability & cooperation. With Iran at its weakest point in decades, we need to work with our partners and allies in the region to ensure Iran does not continue its malign activities.“
• Stutzman (R-IN) 5/31/25: X-post – “While in Israel I talked with Israeli soldiers who are actively fighting Hamas in Gaza who told me they are appalled to see how Hamas treats the people of Gaza by using their own civilians as human shields. The people of Gaza should not be forced to stay in a war zone and should be free to leave if they choose. The generous heart of the Israelis is on full display for the entire world as they only seek to bring their hostages home and give closure to the grieving families, while seeking peace and a better life for Israel and the Middle East.“
• McCaul (R-TX) 5/30/25: McCaul Returns from Middle East with Bipartisan Delegation

5. Selected Media

Gaza

• Jewish News Synicate 6/3/25: Sen. Graham: ‘I hope Greta can swim’  —  The U.S. lawmaker was responding to the climate activist’s attempt to break Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza.
• Tulsa World 5/31/25: Sen. Lankford says rebuilding Gaza a daunting task
• Zeteo 5/30/25: Republican Lawmakers Tried to Shut Down a Screening of ‘No Other Land’ on Capitol Hill

Recess Travel to the Middle East

• Jewish Insider 6/6/25: Sen. Lankford says he’s very ‘optimistic’ about Lebanon’s future after visit [“The Oklahoma senator also relayed a message from his trip to Iraq that Iran is not budging on its insistence on maintaining nuclear enrichment capacity“]
• The Hill 6/5/25: op-ed by Reps. Mills (R-FL) & Stutzman (R-IN) – After years of war, Syria glances westward — toward Trump [also see Stutzman’s lengthy X-thread on the subject]
• Jewish News Syndicate 6/5/25: Indiana congressman: Al-Sharaa is open to peace with Israel [“U.S. Rep. Marlin Stutzman, who recently met with President Ahmed al-Sharaa, stressed that the burden of proof lies with the Syrian leader.“]

Weaponizing Allegations of Antisemitism (incl related to Boulder attack) 

• Jewish Insider 6/5/25: Sen. Rick Scott blames search firm for Santa Ono’s failed UF presidency nomination
• Jewish Insider 6/3/25: Rep. Randy Fine: To stop antisemitic attacks, declare CAIR a terrorist group [“Fine also called for deporting all undocumented immigrants and taking aggressive actions against college campuses with antisemitism problems“]
• New York Post 5/31/25: Rep. Ritchie Torres demands investigation of socialist-leaning Park Slope Food Co-op over alleged anti-Israel hate

Politics/Elex

• Jewish Insider 6/5/25: Edan Alexander, family endorse Josh Gottheimer for New Jersey governor

• Jewish Link 6/5/25: The Strength of New Jersey’s Jewish Community – By Rep. Josh Gottheimer, Democratic Candidate For Governor

Normalization

• Jewish Insider 6/4/25: Lawmakers from 30 countries discuss Abraham Accords, regional energy security issues [“Participants included Abraham Accords Caucus co-chairs Sens. James Lankford (R-OK) and Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Reps. Brad Schneider (D-IL) and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL)…]

Iran

• Jewish Insider 6/4/25: Sen. Risch: ‘I’m not particularly optimistic’ about a deal with Iran – The top Republican lawmaker said that, if a deal cannot be reached, ‘Israel is going to do something about that’

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

 

1. Bills & Resolutions

(CONDEMNING MURDER OF ISRAELI EMBASSY STAFF & ANTISEMITISM) H. Res. 447: Introduced 5/23/25 by McDowell (R-NC) and 51 Republican cosponsors, “Condemning antisemitism and remembering Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim.” Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. Also see: press release – Congressman Addison McDowell Leads Resolution Honoring Israeli Embassy Victims and Condemning Antisemitism [McDowell: ” “They had their whole lives ahead of them and were murdered by a far-left radical because they were Jewish. When a movement sympathizes with terrorists, we shouldn’t be surprised when that same movement produces actual terrorists. The media and some in Congress have downplayed the underlying disease – no more.”]; House Republicans Condemn ‘Evil’ Murder Of Israeli Embassy Staffers: ‘Antisemitic Terrorism’ (Daily Wire 5/23/25);

(IRAN – missed it last week) S. 1883: Introduced 5/22/25 by Coons (D-DE) and McCormick (R-PA), “A bill to require the executive branch to develop a whole-of-government strategy to disrupt growing cooperation among the People’s Republic of China, the Russian Federation, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, which are the foremost adversaries of the United States, and mitigate the risks posed to the United States.” Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

 

2. Letters

3. Hearings

Standing with Israel – Members’ Recess Travel (with lots of pix in posts)

• Stutzman (R-IN) 5/29/25: X-post – “It’s great to be in Israel. Between the Biblical history with Jonathan and David, and the history of the Israeli people here. I want to see peace throughout the whole Middle East. That starts with respecting, honoring, and realizing that the Israeli people have a right to Judea & Samaria.” With link to Arutz Sheva article, US Congressmen express support for Israel’s right to sovereignty in Judea & Samaria
• Lankford (R-SC) 5/29/25: X-post – “America continues to stand with Israel“; re-posting X-post by Israeli Prime Minister’s office, “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met this evening, at the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem, with US Senator James Lankford (R-OK).“
• Daines (R-MT) 5/29/25: X-post – “It was a pleasure meeting you @GeorgeDeek! The United States must continue to stand with Israel.” [while on recess travel to Baku]
• Stutzman (R-IN) 5/28/25: X-post – “Pleasure to meet with @IsraeliPM to discuss U.S.-Israeli relations, trade, and how America can assist in the reconstruction of the war-torn Gaza Strip. Israel is not only our strongest ally in the Middle East but in the world. Happy to have the opportunity to continue strengthening the bond between our two nations and how we can work together towards eradicating Hamas from the region.” Re-posting X-post by Israeli Prime Minister’s office, “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met this evening with a US Congressional delegation sponsored by the Yes! Israel Project. Participating in the meeting were US Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-GA) and his wife Jennifer, and US Rep. Marlin Stutzman (R-IN) and his wife Christy.“
• McCormick (R-PA) 5/29/25: X-post – “Before returning home from Israel, I traveled by helicopter from Jerusalem to the Golan Heights. Grateful to the IDF briefers who took me to the border with Syria and gave me a security update on the situation there, and the opportunities and challenges in both Syria and Lebanon. Also, seeing Israel from the air was both enlightening in terms of the security challenges and inspiring when we flew over holy sites in Jerusalem and the Galilee.”
• McCormick (R-PA) 5/29/25: X-post – “My first official trip to Israel coincides with the 600th day since the hostages were taken on October 7th. Dina and I just met with hostage families again while here in Jerusalem. Hamas must be destroyed and we must bring them home.“
• Rosen (D-NV) 5/28/25: X-post – “While in Israel, I met with my very good friend @yairlapid and discussed how we can maintain a strong relationship between the U.S. and Israel, promote stability in the Middle East, and counter antisemitism around the world.”
• Cherfilus-McCormick (R-FL) 5/27/25: X-post – “Had a constructive conversation with PM Netanyahu about the importance of ensuring food access in Gaza. It’s crucial that every person deserves a good quality of life. He responded by sending food within 24 hours. While there’s more to do, this is a positive start.”
• McCaul (R-TX) 5/27/25: X-post – “Enjoyed getting a briefing on the U.S.’ work with Israel to strengthen regional security at the @usembassyjlm, which @POTUS established during his first term. I remain hopeful for a peaceful resolution to the war in Gaza and an increasingly stable and prosperous Middle East.“
• McCormick (R-PA) 5/27/25: X-post – “Dina and I arrived in Israel and our first meeting was with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Mrs. Sara Netanyahu. This is our first time back since we visited right after October 7. We expressed our deepest condolences on the tragic murder of two Israeli embassy employees in Washington. We also had an honest discussion about deterring Iran, defeating Hamas, saving the hostages, ramping up humanitarian efforts in Gaza, expanding the Abraham Accords, and the future of Syria. I reaffirmed that the alliance between our two countries is unbreakable.“
• McCormick (R-PA) 5/27/25: X-post – “Dina and I have gotten a good sense of the vibrancy of Israeli democracy on our trip and have enjoyed hearing different perspectives. We met with Speaker of the Knesset Amir Ohana, Economic Minister Nir Barkat, and Leader of the Opposition Yair Lapid. There are lot of challenges in this region, but I leave hopeful and confident in the strength and future of Israel.”
• McCormick (R-PA) 5/27/25: X-post – “It was an honor to be invited to lunch at the residence of the President of Israel. Dina and I had a wonderful conversation with President Isaac Herzog and First Lady Michal Herzog. It was great to learn more about the President’s rich family history. He and Michal are not only good friends but also excellent representatives of the Jewish State.”
• McCaul (R-TX) 5/27/25: X-post – “Amidst @POTUS’ efforts to end the war in Gaza & work toward normalization, I’m honored to join @RepMikeLawler in the Middle East. Today we met with PM @Netanyahu to discuss the U.S.’ longstanding partnership with Israel, regional security, & our hopes for a swift and peaceful resolution to the war in Gaza.” Re-posting X-post by Israeli Prime Minister’s office“
• Lawler (R-NY) 5/26/25: X-post – “It was a pleasure to meet with Prime Minister @netanyahu in Jerusalem to discuss regional security and our ironclad alliance. The U.S. remains committed to Israel’s defense as we look towards diplomatic solutions for a lasting peace.” Re-posting X-post by Israeli Prime Minister’s office“
• Cherfilus-McCormick (R-FL) 5/26/25: X-thread – “Today, I had the pleasure to be part of a very productive and hopeful conversation with Prime Minister Netanyahu on behalf of our bipartisan Congressional delegation. We remain committed and relentless in the pursuit bring every hostage home, ensure aid reaches Gaza and protect the security of all.“
• Israeli Prime Minister’s office: X-thread – 5/26/25 “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara met today with US Senator Dave McCormick (R-PA) and his wife Dina Habib Powell. The Prime Minister and his wife thanked the Senator and his wife for their deep support for the State of Israel. The Prime Minister and his wife thanked the Senator and his wife for their deep support for the State of Israel. Senator McCormick noted that he has learned much from the Prime Minister thanks to the economic reforms he has led while in office.  His wife Dina told Sara Netanyahu that their meeting at the signing of the Abraham Accords was a historic moment, and that she greatly appreciates her personal activity for the release of the hostages.”; 5/26/25: “Later, Prime Minister Netanyahu met with a bipartisan Congressional delegation led by US Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY), and which included US Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) and US Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX). US Rep. Lawler said that the Prime Minister’s vigorous and determined policy during the war has changed the Middle East and turned it into a safer place. The Prime Minister said that he appreciates their steadfast and unwavering support for the State of Israel and its just war.”

Gaza

• Senate Republicans 5/30/25: X-post – “Last year alone, Hamas terrorists stole $500 million worth of humanitarian aid meant for civilians in Gaza.   Why does the UN trust Hamas terrorists to distribute aid?“
• Fetterman (D-PA) 5/30/25: X-post – “The world and the left media should have ‘had it with’ Iran, Hamas and Hezbollah, and the rampant antisemitism—not Israel, the region’s only democracy with true progressive values.” [in response to Vox headline – “Has the World Had it with Israel?”]
• Tlaib (D-MI) 5/30/25: X-post – “Palestinians deserve to live.“
• Titus (D-NV) 5/29/25: X-post – “It is a relief to see that aid is starting to enter Gaza again. To that end, I have joined @RepDanGoldman in expressing the critical need to ensure that humanitarian assistance gets to the Palestinian people and not Hamas. We are also urging the release of the remaining 58 hostages.”
• Senate Republicans 5/29/25: X-post – “Hamas profits off of UN aid and uses it to control civilians in Gaza.   Humanitarian aid should go to Gazans—not terrorists.”
• Kelly (D-AZ) 5/29/25: X-post – “This is a tragic crisis and kids are dying. President Trump and @SecRubio must take action to provide more humanitarian relief and ensure aid is reaching civilians in Gaza.”
• Sherill (D-NJ) 5/29/25: X-post – “I’m deeply concerned by the violence earlier this week at the aid distribution center in southern Gaza, which resulted in one death and dozens of injuries. Aid must be delivered swiftly and safely to civilians across Gaza. The unchecked humanitarian crisis in Gaza is unacceptable and the U.S. has not done enough to address it. During my last visit to the Rafah Border Crossing, I witnessed first hand the miles of aid trucks being held at the border and raised my concerns to both President Biden and P.M. Netanyahu.  I urge the Trump administration to collaborate with the Israeli government and humanitarian organizations working in Gaza to establish a safer and more effective approach to delivering aid, while doing everything possible to ensure Hamas does not steal these resources from civilians. Failing to adequately address the humanitarian needs of the people of Gaza is a failure to uphold U.S. values, increases Hamas’s support, and prolongs the war. It is vital that both parties reach an agreement leading to an immediate ceasefire, the release of all remaining hostages — including four Americans — who have been held for over 600 days, and an end to this brutal war.“
• Bennet (D-CO) 5/29/25: Bennet Statement on Disruptions at University of Denver Town Hall [“…My position on the war in Gaza has always been clear. On October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorists carried out the deadliest attack against Jews since the Holocaust. I believe – and have always believed – Israel has the right to defend itself against Hamas. Hamas started this war and could end it tomorrow if they released the hostages. I stand with the people of Israel, but have long been concerned with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s prosecution of this war, including the destruction of wide swaths of Gaza and limiting aid delivery. The loss of life in Gaza weighs heavily on our collective conscience. I will continue pushing Israel, the White House, and our partners across the Middle East to do everything we can to mitigate the suffering in Gaza, bring all hostages home, and, ultimately, secure a mutual ceasefire that sets the stage for a two-state solution. For the sake of Palestinian and Israeli children alike, and U.S. national security, we must fight for a better future in the Middle East.”]
• Warnock (D-GA) 5/29/25: X-post – “The humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza is unconscionable. While I’m heartened to finally see some aid flowing again, we must do more. I have been pushing both the admin and the Israeli government to allow more aid. Israel must ensure that food, medicine, water, and other supplies are reaching those in need with the fierce urgency that the situation demands. I continue to call for the release of all remaining hostages and an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. We must redouble our efforts to achieve a sustainable peace and work towards a future where all of God’s children can awaken to a world where they are finally safe.“
• Mace (R-SC) 5/29/25: X-post- “You either stand with Israel and the Jewish people, or you’re siding with terrorists like Hamas. There’s no middle ground. Antisemitism is vile, and defending it is indefensible.” Linked to pro-Israel influencer’s X-post quoting SecState Rubio (with video) – “‘Adolf Hitler dreamed of a world without Jews, an idea he shares with Hamas. There can be no compromise with antisemitism.’ – Secretary of State Marco Rubio“
• Senate Republicans 5/29/25: X-post – “The UN has failed to keep its humanitarian aid out of the hands of Hamas, which uses it to fund attacks on Israel.   Senate Republicans support @POTUS’s efforts to ensure humanitarian aid reaches Gazans—not Hamas terrorists.“
• Doggett (D-TX) 5/29/25: X-post – “Netanyahu govt’s assault on children of Gaza, aided & abetted by the Trump admin, is reprehensible. As correctly described by an Israeli Zionist, deliberately starving infants not yet old enough to walk forces the innocent to pay the price for the evil.“
• Massie (R-KY) 5/29/25: X-post – “Nothing can justify the number of civilian casualties (tens of thousands of women and children) inflicted by Israel in Gaza in the last two years. We should end all U.S. military aid to Israel now.”
• Quigley (D-IL) 5/28/25: X-post- “Palestinians are in desperate need of widespread humanitarian aid. I pressed Trump’s Secretary of State Marco Rubio on how we’re getting aid to Gaza and if there are benchmarks for Israel if they don’t allow it. @AppropsDems” [with video clip]
• Graham (R-SC) 5/28/25: X-post – “If Israel laid down their arms, do you think Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, Islamic Jihad and Iran would stop?    If you believe that they would, you have become a danger to yourself and others.“
• Green (R-TN) 5/28/25: X-post – “The death of Mohammed Sinwar is a critical step towards ending the war in Gaza and weakening the Iranian regime’s grip on the Middle East.“
• Graham (R-SC) 5/28/25: X-post – “The elimination of Mohammed Sinwar is another major blow to Hamas. For those like me who want the war in Gaza to end, here is the quickest and best way: Hamas fighters lay down their arms, guaranteed safe passage and, new governance, minus Hamas, for Gaza and the Palestinian people. This would end the fighting.“
• Velasquez (D-NY) 5/27/25: X-post – “The Trump-backed aid plan in Gaza is woefully insufficient. Families walk miles only to face chaos instead of food. This crisis is the result of Netanyahu’s blockade. Gaza is on the brink of famine. The blockade must end, and there must be an immediate and permanent ceasefire.”
• Tlaib (D-MI) 5/26/25: X-post – “There is a special place in hell for those who stay silent about bombing a school and allowing children to be burned alive.“
• Tlaib (D-MI) 5/26/25: X-post – “‘One day, when it’s safe, when there’s no personal downside to calling a thing what it is, when it’s too late to hold anyone accountable, everyone will have always been against this.’ — Omar El Akkad“
• Sanders (I-VT) 5/26/25: X-post – “This is what a former Israeli Prime Minister said about Gaza.” Linked to excerpt from op-ed by former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert concluding that Israel is committing war crimes.
• Warren (D-MA) 5/24/25: X-post – “In Gaza, hospitals have collapsed. Babies have run out of formula. Clean drinking water is gone. Meanwhile, trucks filled with aid are waiting idle by the border. Instead of trying to do a Gaza real estate deal, Trump should press the Netanyahu government to open up aid routes and stop starving Palestinians.“

Pro-Israel Orgs/Lobbying

• Sherman (D-CA) 5/29/25: X-post – “I was glad to keynote last night’s event with the student activists at @UCLA BIPAC, who are advocating for campus safety and a strong U.S.-Israel alliance.“
• Massie (R-KY) 5/28/25: X-post – “AIPAC takes candidates for U.S. Congress to Israel for wine-and-dine vacations… sometimes before they even file to run for office. Here’s a recent example in Kentucky. I’m also attaching an article about cybertools and reminding @AmandaMBledsoe U.S. laws don’t apply in Israel.“
• Sherman (D-CA) 5/28/25: X-post – “I spoke about my work to strengthen the U.S.-Israel relationship at last night’s ‘Celebrating Israel at 77’ event with @JFedLA @RabbiNoah @StandWithUs @IsraelinLA, and @israeliamerican.“
• Kean (R-NJ) 5/29/25: X-post – “I met with members of the American Jewish Committee at my district office in Lebanon yesterday. We discussed the disturbing rise of antisemitism across the country and on many of our college campuses, especially since the October 7 attacks on Israel. That’s why I am a co-sponsor of the Antisemitism Awareness Act, which provides officials with a clear framework to identify and respond to antisemitic incidents on campus and to ensure those responsible are held accountable.“

Weaponization of Charges of “antisemtism”; Targeting Free Speech/Right to Protest

• House Committee on Education & the Workforce 5/30/25: X-post – “University leaders should condemn antisemitism—unfortunately, @MIT’s president failed to respond to antisemitic, anti-Zionist talking points. Why are so many leaders complicit in antisemitic rhetoric on campus?”
• Landsmen (D-OH) 5/30/25: X-post (with video clip from CNN appearance in which he agrees with Jake Tapper that antisemitism “is too tolerated by the Left, it’s too tolerated by Democrats“) – “The conversation around antisemitism, Israel, and Middle East peace have to become nonpartisan again.“
• Scott (R-FL) 5/29/25: X-post – “Wise words from @SecRubio. The United States will not tolerate antisemitism and hatred of any kind against our Jewish community and great friend Israel. We stand with Israel and against Iran-backed Hamas, who has held innocent hostages for 601 days now. We must bring them all home!“
• Meeks (D-NY) 5/28/25: X-post – “Trump is a bully and just wants to be king. @Harvard is an institution that has prioritized diversity and academic freedom. This is about retribution, not antisemitism.” [with video clip]
• Britt (R-AL) 5/28/25: X-post – “Antisemitism has no place in America. Grateful to @POTUS and @EDSecMcMahon for taking strong action to protect Jewish students on campuses from coast to coast.“
• Landsman (D-OH) 5/28/25: Long, long X-thread on the killing of two Israeli embassy staff members in Washington, DC, concluding that everything happening in Gaza is the fault of Hamas and that accusing Israel of genocide is “a blood libel, and it’s been spreading like wildfire for 18 months. I believe it’s why Yaron and Sarah were executed” and calling (a) for the passage of the Antisemitism Awareness Act as a means of shutting down criticism of Israel on campuses, and (b) for protesters to follow advice from the American Jewish Committee on how to “be intentional not to slip into blood libels and violent rhetoric. That requires some learning as to what would be considered a blood libel and violent.”
• Jayapal (D-WA) 5/27/25: X-post – “Rümeysa Öztürk did not do anything violent. She does not pose any sort of national security threat to America’s interests. She wrote an op-ed — that’s literally it.” [with video clip]
• Nadler (D-NY) 5/27/25: X-post – “Last week, I participated in a Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission hearing, where I highlighted Kingsley Wilson’s history of antisemitism. I told the Commission what I’ve said many times: if President Trump were truly serious about combating antisemitism, he would start with his own administration—including firing Kingsley Wilson, Ed Martin, and Sebastian Gorka. Instead, Trump has promoted Wilson to serve as the Pentagon’s press secretary. As antisemitism rises across the country, the Trump Administration’s actions continue to serve as a catalyst, not a deterrent.”
• Doggett (D-TX) 5/27/25: X-post – “Trump’s attacks on Harvard are attacks on democracy and our economy. This is not about ‘wokeness’ or antisemitism—it’s about silencing dissent and intimidating other institutions into silence. All who care about democracy should join in defending Harvard.“
• Blackburn (R-TN) 5/27/25: X-post – “Universities who refuse to protect Jewish students should not be receiving tens of millions of taxpayer dollars. President Trump is sending a clear message to Harvard: DEI and antisemitism have no place on college campuses or anywhere in this country.”
• Mace (R-SC) 5/27/25: X-post – “If Harvard wants to coddle antisemitism, let them do it without a dime of taxpayer money. Redirect those funds to trade schools who train real workers and respect this country. We don’t fund hate masquerading as ‘education.’”
• Murphy (D-CT) 5/25/25: X-thread – “Trump uses antisemitism as a false pretext to suppress dissent. It’s disgusting, because as as this investigation outlines, Trump gives hiring preferences to people with strong ties to antisemites. 1/ A short summary of what they found. It’s important. 2/ White House official Paul Ingrassia is a vocal follower of white supremacist and antisemite Nick Fuentes. At a Fuentes rally Ingrassia attended, Fuentes exclaimed ‘calling Donald Trump a racist only makes me like him more!’, and the crowd chanted ‘Down With Israel!’ 3/ Before coming to the White House, Trump official Rachel Cauley was a key defender of Jan 6 rioter Tim Hale Cusanelli, an avowed antisemite. In an one video rant, he called Orthodox Jews ‘a plague of locusts’. Cauley attended his trial for support, and sat with his followers. 4/ FBI Director Kash Patel was a key ally of Holocaust denier Stew Peters, boosting Peters’ right wing podcast by acting as one of Peters’ most loyal MAGA guests. Most recently, Peters called the Barstool Sports CEO, who sometimes criticizing Trump, ‘a filthy Jew’. 5/ Antisemitism is a problem in America. But Trump is making it worse. First, by politicizing the fight against antisemitism by viewing it as a political tool to destroy civil society. Second, by rewarding the members of his coalition that trade in vicious antisemitism.”

Other stuff

• Norman (R-SC) 5/29/25: Freeze the Funds, Restore the Standards: Holding Harvard Accountable
• Green (R-TN) 5/29/25: X-post – “The Biden administration stiff armed Saudi Arabia and Qatar while making friends with Iran, the big destabilizer. This caused an imbalance of power in the Middle East, resulting in Hamas invading Israel and the Houthis disrupting shipping in the Red Sea. Yet under President Trump, we now have a leader who is respected on the world stage. More from my interview with @AliciaNievesTV on  @NewsNation”
• Rosen (D-NV) 5/28/25: Rosen Helps Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Solidify Sanctions on Iran, Target Regime’s Terror Financing [this is S. 1889, covered in last week’s Round-Up]
• Gottheimer (D-NJ) 5/26/25: X-post – “The attempted firebombing of the U.S. embassy in Tel Aviv was a vile act of terror. Grateful to U.S. and Israeli law enforcement for their swift action in stopping this terrorist attack.“
• Shaheen (D-NH) 5/23/25: Ranking Member Shaheen Statement on the Trump Administration’s Lifting of Sanctions on Syria

5. Selected Media

Pining for an Era of Greater Love for Israel in Washington

• Jewish Insider 5/30/25: How Congress became impotent on foreign policy [“As the Oval Office dominates foreign policy, pro-Israel advocates rethink their Congress-focused playbook“]
• Jerusalem Post 5/29/25: The importance of bipartisanship – opinion [“Israel should return to its traditional fostering of bipartisan support in its relationship with America.”]

Elections

• Algemeiner 5/28/25: Anti-Israel Michigan Senate Candidate Trails in Early Polling
• Jewish Insider 5/28/25: Gottheimer’s path to the governor’s mansion runs through New Jersey’s Jewish community
• Jewish Insider 5/28/25: Bruce Pearl rumored for potential Senate run [“The Auburn University basketball coach has become a vocal advocate for Israel and against antisemitism, speaking at a Capitol Hill event last week”]
• Jewish Insider 5/28/25: Latest Lawler challenger says antisemitism helped motivate his congressional bid, accuses Republicans of weaponization [“‘I’m running for my community, my congregation and my country,’ former journalist Mike Sacks, running in New York’s 17th Congressional District, said in an interview with JI“]
• New York Post 5/25/25: AOC would trounce Chuck Schumer in primary as party leader ‘bleeding support’ from Dems, Jewish voters: poll

Travel to Israel/Region

• Jewish Insider 5/30/25: Lawler: Regional leaders ‘cautiously optimistic’ about nuclear talks, but ‘realistic’ about Iranian bad faith [“The GOP congressman told JI that, should nuclear negotiations fail, Israel should not have to act against Iran without U.S. assistance”]
• Arutz Sheva 5/28/25: US Congressmen [Reps. Stutzman (R-IN) and Clyde (R-GA)] express support for Israel’s right to sovereignty in Judea & Samaria [“Two senior U.S. Congressmen visited Binyamin and expressed firm support for the historic right of the Jewish people to sovereignty over Judea and Samaria.“]
• The Intercept 5/28/25: Fetterman Went to Israel on NYC Mental Health Nonprofit’s Dime [“The Pennsylvania senator has come under fire for skipping votes and town halls — but he had time for a first-class trip to Israel in March.”]
• Jewish Insider 5/27/25: Sen. Dave McCormick, in Israel, talks about Trump’s Iran diplomacy, Gaza aid [“McCormick said his trip to Israel is a ‘show of solidarity’ during a ‘very tough time’ after killing of embassy staff“]

Israeli Actions in Gaza & West Bank

• IndyBay 5/20/25: Senators Schiff and Padilla Go AWOL as Code Pink Tries to Deliver Petitions
• Discourse Blog 5/29/25: Call It a Genocide, Bernie [“Sanders refuses to say what we all know to be true about Gaza. That’s unacceptable.”]
• Jewish Insider 5/28/25: Pro-Israel Dems say resumption of Gaza aid will refocus attention on hostages
• New York Times 5/27/25: Israeli Forces Said They Killed a ‘Terrorist.’ He Was 14 Years Old. [“Amer’s death has also raised questions about the American response to helping its own citizens. Senators Andy Kim and Cory Booker of New Jersey have called for an American-led investigation into Amer’s death, but the Trump administration has remained largely noncommittal.“]

Targeting Free Speech/Protest

• Jewish Insider 5/30/25: Rep. Landsman: Murder of Israeli Embassy staffers was the culmination of a ‘trajectory’ toward antisemitic violence [“The Ohio Democratic congressman warns that anti-Israel agitators are becoming more threatening“]
• The Chronicle of Philanthropy 5/27/25: The ‘Nonprofit Killer Bill’ Could Rise Again [“A Middle East peace expert argues the legislation will likely reappear because some in the GOP see it as a means to silence free speech.”]
• Jewish Insider 5/25/25: Sherrill calls for more federal action on antisemitism following D.C. murders
• Jewish Journal 5/24/25: Open Letter to AOC and Bernie – Stop legitimizing chants that call for Jewish death or expulsion. And stop torpedoing legislation meant to keep your Jewish constituents safe.

Other Stuff

• New York Post 5/27/25: Ritchie Torres urges Capitol Police to probe baby-faced, anti-Israel social media star who urged support for terror suspect

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

New from FMEP:

• New episode of FMEP’s Occupied Thoughts podcast, What Harvard’s Antisemitism and Islamophobia Reports Get Wrong, ft. FMEP Fellow Peter Beinart in conversation with Dr. Lara Jirmanus and Professor Atalia Omer about the Harvard University’s two new reports, one on Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian bias and the other on antisemitism and anti-Israel bias.

1. Bills & Resolutions

Targeting Free Speech/Protest/Civil Society

• (THE RETURN OF THE “NON-PROFIT KILLER” LEGISLATION – UPDATE): As covered in last week’s Round-Up, on the House Ways & Means Committee passed Trump’s “One Big, Beautiful Bill” (1BBB) with the text of the “Non-Profit Killer” legislation included at the very end of the 389 bill. This week, on 5/19/25, the House Rules Committee released the version of the 1BBB that would be going to the House floor. That version did not include the the text of the “Non-Profit Killer” legislation, reportedly because House leadership believed it would inevitably be removed by the Senate parliamentarian in compliance with the Byrd Rule. For more see: Measure targeting pro-Palestine NGOs disappears from US tax bill (Al Jazeera 5/19/25 — see: “Lara Friedman, president of the Foundation for Middle East Peace, said it would be ‘interesting’ to see how Republican leaders would deal with staunchly pro-Israel measures like the ‘nonprofit killer’ going forward. ‘They on the one hand likely see this as a fun opportunity to embarrass Democrats – whose opposition will be framed as anti-Israel or enabling terror and antisemitism – and on the other hand they have to worry about principled opposition from within their own ranks,’ Friedman told Al Jazeera in a statement.“); ‘Nonprofit Killer’ Pulled From GOP Tax Bill—For Now (Common Dreams 5/19/25); Nonprofit Killer Provision Quietly Disappears From Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill” (The Intercept 5/19/25)

Gaza

• (HUMANITARIAN AID FOR GAZA – NOW!) S. Res. 224: Introduced 5/13/25 by Welch (D-VT) and 27 cosponsors (25 Democrats plus 2 Independents), “A resolution calling for the urgent delivery of humanitarian aid to address the needs of civilians in Gaza.” Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. UPDATE: On 5/20/25, Welch took to the Senate floor to speak in support of S. Res. 224 and request Unanimous Consent for a vote on the measure. Van Hollen (D-MD) spoke in support. The UC request was blocked by Republicans, with Risch (R-ID) speaking on the floor in opposition. See: 5/20/25 Senate floor action; Welch press release 5/21/25: 45 Senators Join Welch’s Senate Resolution Calling for End to Siege on Gaza – Republicans Block Passage; Resolution calling for ‘urgent delivery’ of Gaza aid co-sponsored by nearly all Senate Democrats (Jewish Telegraphic Agency 5/20/25 — “Sen. Peter Welch of Vermont, who introduced the resolution, spoke next to a large image of a Gazan infant who died.”]

Trump & the Gulf

• (QATAR’S JET PLANE GIFT TO TRUMP) S. 1804: Introduced 5/19/25 by Schumer (D-NY) and 2 Democratic cosponsors, “A bill to prohibit the use of funds to procure or modify foreign aircraft for presidential airlift.” Referred to the Committee on Armed Services. Also see: Scoop: Schumer to seek vote on blocking Qatar’s gift to Trump (Axios 5/19/25)
• (TRUMP CONFLICTS OF INTEREST, INCL W/ KSA, QATAR & UAE) S. Res. 242: Introduced 5/21/25 by Blumethal (D-CT), “A resolution condemning the private business agreements of President Donald J. Trump with foreign governments for posing unacceptable conflicts of interest, affirming such agreements violate the Foreign Emoluments Clause of the Constitution of the United States, and demanding the transfer of any proceeds from such agreements to the United States Government.“ Referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.  Also see: press release – Video: Ahead of Trump Crypto Dinner, Blumenthal Takes to the Senate Floor to Condemn Trump Corruption
• (TRUMP CONFLICTS OF INTEREST, INCL W/ DUBAI) S. Res. 243: Introduced 5/21/25 by Blumethal (D-CT), “A resolution condemning the financial entanglements of World Liberty Financial, Inc. with President Donald J. Trump, the Trump family, and the Trump Administration.“ Referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Also see: press release – Video: Ahead of Trump Crypto Dinner, Blumenthal Takes to the Senate Floor to Condemn Trump Corruption
  
• (TRUMP CONFLICTS OF INTEREST, INCL W/ QATAR) S. Res. 244: Introduced 5/21/25 by Blumethal (D-CT), “A resolution affirming that the underlying purpose of the Foreign Emoluments Clause renders the acceptance and transfer of a plane from the government of Qatar, without the explicit consent of Congress, an illegal emolument, withholding the consent of the Senate to the acceptance and transfer of plane from the government of Qatar, and demanding the transfer of any plane received by President Donald J. Trump or entities under his control from the government of Qatar to the permanent control of the United States Government.“ Referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Also see: press release – Video: Ahead of Trump Crypto Dinner, Blumenthal Takes to the Senate Floor to Condemn Trump Corruption

Iran

• (IRAN SANCTIONS) S. 1889: Introduced 5/22/25 by Scott (R-SC), “A bill to repeal the sunset provision of the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996.“  Referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

Other stuff

• (TURKEY) S. Res. 257: Introduced 5/22/25 by Schiff (D-CA) and Durbin (D-IL), “A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate concerning the arrest and continued detention of Ekrem Imamoglu and urging the Government of Turkiye to uphold democratic values.“ Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations
• (ONE TO WATCH) HR 3550:  Introduced 5/21/25 by Mace (R-SC), “To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act with respect to refugee admission and resettlement.”  Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. NOTE: No text is available yet, nor has Mace issued a press release, so it is not yet clear what this is about.

 2. Letters

3. Hearings

(With one exception, this section does NOT include the many, many, many statements and social media posts condemning the killing of two Israeli embassy staff members outside an event at the Jewish Museum in Washington, DC, by a shooter who, according to his own words shouted on the scene and written in manifesto, acted to protest Israel’s genocide of Palestinians in Gaza — including the many, many statements using the killing as a hook to attack all free speech/activism in support of Palestinian lives/rights. It’s just to much to cover. Check social media and members’ websites for yourself.)

Randy Fine on the Killing of 2 Israeli Embassy Staff members

• Fine (R-FL) 5/21/25: X-post – “Muslim terror has come to our Nation’s Capital tonight. Two Jews were assassinated by a gunman sporting a terror rag and yelling ‘Free Palestine.’ It is high time for us to acknowledge there is nothing peaceful about this movement and that these demons must be put down by any means necessary.” NOTE: The attacker was not Muslim. Also, this appears to be open incitement to lethal violance against any and every person who dares to engage in First Amendment-protected free speech in support of Palestinian lives/rights.
• Also see: US congressman suggests nuclear strike on Gaza after DC attack on Israeli diplomats [“Rep. Randy Fine compares Gaza to WWII Japan, calls for unconditional surrender following killing of two Israeli embassy staffers“] (YNet 5/22/25); GOP Lawmaker Makes Chilling Threat After Israeli Embassy Staff Killed [“Republicans are already using the killing of two Israeli Embassy aides to ‘nuke’ Gaza.“] (The New Republic 5/22/25)

Concern for Palestinians

• Doggett (D-TX) 5/21/25: X-post – “Not even one baby should be allowed to starve, but by Netanyahu blocking aid to Gaza, 14,000 babies risk death soon unless the blockade is fully lifted. These innocents are guilty of nothing. Permitting so few trucks to enter after over 70 days has been rightly described as a ‘drop in the ocean’ of what’s needed.“
• Murphy (D-CT) 5/21/25: X-post – “500,000 people are facing starvation and the small amount of aid Israel has allowed into Gaza is not nearly enough. Now Netanyahu is pursuing a plan to re-occupy Gaza. He should end the war, bring the hostages home, and stave off starvation. A new invasion does the opposite.“
• Heinrich (D-NM) 5/21/25: Heinrich, Colleagues Introduce Senate Resolution Denouncing Two-Month Blockade on Food and Medicine in Gaza (S. Res. 224, introduced 5/13/25)
• Ocasio-Cortex (D-NY) 5/21/25: Ocasio-Cortez Statement on Worsening Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza [“Israel’s blockade of food and humanitarian assistance to Gaza is in violation of international law. Another 14,000 babies face severe malnutrition if the Israeli government does not reverse course. The United States can prevent this atrocity. We must pressure the Israeli government to open up more routes for humanitarian aid and finally uphold the law by stopping further weapons transfers to Israel.“]
• Romman (D-GA) 5/20/25: X-post – “Babies can only have milk. They can’t even have water. Since Israel is banning all aid including baby formula, these babies will die. And since Israel is also starving everyone in Gaza, moms can’t nurse their babies either. They’re just watching their babies die as they die to.“
• Jayapal (D-WA) 5/20/25: X-post – “Last night, @SenPeterWelch and I hosted a viewing of No Other Land — an Oscar-winning film about violence and destruction in the occupied West Bank. Thank you to Basel Adra, Hamdan Ballal, Yuval Abraham, and Rachel Szor for letting us share this important story at the Capitol.“
• Tlaib (D-MI) 5/19/25: X-post – “Israeli forces have begun a full-scale invasion to ethnically cleanse all Palestinians from Gaza. War Criminal Netanyahu announced plans to forcibly expel the entire population and permanently occupy the land. This is the final stage of their genocide. World leaders must impose sanctions and a full arms embargo.”
• Tlaib (D-MI) 5/19/25: X-post – “Israeli forces have begun a full-scale invasion to ethnically cleanse all Palestinians from Gaza. War Criminal Netanyahu announced plans to forcibly expel the entire population and permanently occupy the land. This is the final stage of their genocide. World leaders must impose sanctions and a full arms embargo.“
• Tlaib (D-MI) 5/19/25: X-post – “18 pages of babies who didn’t live to see their first birthday.“
• Warner (D-VA) 5/19/25: X-post – “Trump’s back in the U.S. today after a Middle East trip full of open self-dealing and a foolish move to cede American AI leadership to other countries. This administration really only seems interested in enriching itself while doing absolutely nothing to lower Americans’ costs.“
• Green (D-TX) 5/18/25: X-post – “ICYMI URGENT: Rep. Al Green Opposes Collective Punishment and Ethnic Cleansing in Gaza and Stands for Peace with a Two-State Solution“
• Van Hollen (D-MD) 5/17/25: X-post – “Let food into Gaza NOW! Netanyahu & his govt are starving 2M civilians. This is day 76 of the blockade. Trucks with food are waiting to get in but are blocked. Children have already died from withholding food. The U.S. is complicit in this gross violation of international law.”
• McCollum (D-MN) 5/16/25; X-post – “The use of bunker-busting bombs by Israeli Defense Forces to target civilian hospitals must stop immediately. Strikes on civilians are completely unacceptable. The people of Gaza are on the brink of starvation, and Israeli actions to bomb hospitals are driving the region further from peace. The United States and the international community must focus on delivering humanitarian aid to those in need as quickly as possible.”
• Warner (D-VA) 5/16/25: X-post – “The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is devastating and must end. Israeli authorities must allow aid to reach Palestinian civilians, and we must continue working towards a lasting ceasefire that includes the safe return of all remaining hostages.”

WE STAND WITH ISRAEL!

• Scott (R-FL) 5/22/25: X-post – “Everyone who wants peace in the Middle East knows Hamas must be destroyed, yet the governments of France, the UK, and Canada threaten Israel for doing exactly what is needed. This is hypocrisy and rank politics at the expense of Israelis’ security. It bears repeating: what happened 594 days ago on Oct. 7th changed everything. Israeli lives are just as precious as than any other lives.“
• Torres (D-NY) 5/21/25: X-post – “There is no genocide in South Africa. There is no genocide in Gaza. Stop debasing the term ‘genocide’—a word reserved for the gravest crime against humanity—by deploying it as a weapon of ideological warfare.“
• Issa (R-CA) 5/20/25: X-post – “Hamas launched its evil Oct. 7 2023 terror attack with the goal of stopping Israel and Saudi Arabia from normalizing relations.“
• Fetterman (D-PA) 5/20/25: X-post – “The same demands for a ceasefire last year were wrong then and are wrong now. Israel should resist this. If Hamas remains armed, there will never be Peace. They must be disarmed and the hostages released.“
• Nadler (D-NY) 5/19/25: X-post – “Proud to march in this year’s Israel Day Parade alongside former hostages, their families, and tens of thousands calling to bring them all home now. As a lifelong Zionist, I continue to fight for the Israel envisaged in the Declaration of Independence: ‘The State of Israel will be based on the precepts of liberty, justice and peace taught by the Hebrew Prophets; will uphold the full social and political equality of all its citizens, without distinction of race, creed or sex; will guarantee full freedom of conscience, worship, education and culture.'”
• Meeks (D-NY) 5/19/25: X-post – “RM @RepGregoryMeeks: Met with Israeli Amb. Leiter last week, where I reaffirmed Congress’s bipartisan support for the US-Israel relationship, and reiterated urgency in working to bring home the remaining hostages, surge humanitarian aid and bring the war in Gaza to a lasting end.“
• Schumer (D-NY) 5/19/25: Leader Schumer Floor Remarks Calling On Hamas To Release The Remaining Hostages And Imploring All Sides To Come To The Table To Move Toward A Durable Peace
• Lawler (R-NY) 5/18/25: X-post – “I’m proud to stand with Israel and it was a pleasure to march in the Israel Day Parade today in New York City.“

Targeting Free Speech/Academia/Protest/Civil Society

• Torres (D-NY) 5/20/25: X-post – “Just a few hours ago, I reviewed a classroom presentation that objects to labeling Hamas as a “terrorist organization” even as it vilifies Israel as a ‘settler-colonial state.’ Any professor who expresses more empathy for the murderers of Hamas than for the victims in Israel is utterly unfit to educate the next generation of Americans.“
• Stefanik (R-NY) 5/20/25: X-post – “This is the way forward: colleges must understand that enabling antisemitism and pushing radical DEI agendas puts their federal funding at risk. Thank you, President @realDonaldTrump, for taking a stand against antisemitism and woke extremism in higher education. It is long overdue that our Jewish students feel safe studying in university classrooms and I will continue working in Congress to ensure that the scourge of Jew hatred and DEI ends.” Linked to article in the Hill, DOJ targeting DEI campus initiatives under fraud law

Trump Rakes in the Gifts from the Gulf

• House Judiciary Dems 5/19/25: X-post – “While Trump’s been shaking down Qatar for his $400 million Bribe Force One, they’ve also been pressuring African nations to grant Elon Musk licenses for his satellite company, Starlink. In this Gangster State, government is an instrument for private self-enrichment—not the common good.”
• Budzinski (D-IL) 5/19/25: X-post – “President Trump is trying to accept a $400 million luxury plane from Qatar. I won’t stand for blatant corruption or foreign interference, so I’ve signed on to legislation to investigate further.”
• Gottheimer (D-NJ) 5/19/25: X-post – “Donald Trump planning to accept a $400M plane from Qatar? Ridiculous to say the least. We must ask ourselves, what does Qatar expect in return? This isn’t a gift — it’s an attempt to buy influence.“
• Schumer (D-NY) 5/19/25: X-post – “I’m standing with @SenWarren and other Senate Democrats to demand Secretary Lutnick and Secretary Rubio hit pause on Trump’s chips deals with Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Without clear and enforceable protections to stop the Chinese Communist Party from getting their hands on these incredibly advanced AI-related semiconductor chips, this has national security threat written all over it.“
• Stansbury (D-NM) 5/17/25: X-post – “President Trump’s plan to accept a luxury jet from Qatar is another huge cause for concern. But in his words, only a “stupid person” would say no to a $400 million gift. Trump has been bought and paid for time and time again—and today is no different. Public service is about serving the people, not personal gain. We will hold him to account.”

Iran

• Britt (R-AL) 5/19/25: X-post – “I agree with @POTUS – Iran must never be allowed to have a nuclear weapon. I support total dismantlement and destruction of Iran’s entire nuclear program, including no uranium enrichment.”
• Bacon (R-NE) 5/18/25: X-post – “I’m proud of the USAF for their role in shooting down dozens of Iranian drones targeting Israel last year. Iran fired 330 missiles, drones and cruise missiles and a coalition of countries to include Israel shot down 99% of them.”

Syria

• Hamadeh (R-AZ) 5/17/25: X-post – “.@Potus is offering Sharaa a fresh start, a chance to join the Abraham Accords & forge ties with regional partners, instead of Russia & Iran So far, Sharaa has been saying & doing the right things If he wants to Make Syria Great Again, now’s his chance“
• Stutzman (R-IN) 5/17/25: X-post – “When Syria is contemplating its future under new leadership, we should want a seat at the table. Not only to help Syria prosper, but also to weaken the influence of Russia and China while creating another ally and trade partner in the region.“
• Wilson (R-SC) 5/16/25: X-post – “I was grateful to ask FM Shibani in February to reverse the Assad regime’s wrongful decision and have Syria recognize South Ossetia and Abkhazia as the sovereign territory of the country of Georgia. This simple step would show deep strength and commitment to Syria’s new path.“

5. Selected Media

(Not including here the many, many, many articles about Congressional statements/reactions re: the killing of two Israeli embassy staff members outside an event at the Jewish Museum in Washington, DC, by a shooter who, according to his own words shouted on the scene and written in manifesto, acted to protest Israel’s genocide of Palestinians in Gaza).

Israel

• Commentary – June 2025 issue: The Sanity of John Fetterman [“…Fetterman’s own political journey on Israel has become part and parcel of a new chapter in American Jewish history…”]
• Irish Times 5/23/25: Bernie Sanders: Senator has ‘no apologies’ for his position on Israel’s attack on Gaza [“Veteran US senator, who is visiting Ireland this week, has been criticised by Palestinian supporters“]
• NPR 5/22/25: Vermont senator wants Trump pressure on Israel to end ‘catastrophic’ Gaza blockade
• Jewish News Syndicate 5/21/25: ‘Not Israel’s fault,’ says GOP senator of humanitarian crisis in Gaza [“’It is totally in the hands of Hamas,’ said Sen. Jim Risch of Idaho.”]
• Jewish Telegraphic Agency 5/21/25: Most Senate Democrats sponsor resolution calling for ‘urgent delivery’ of Gaza aid
• Jewish Insider 5/20/25: Fetterman: Israel ‘deserves much better from my party’
• The Hill 5/20/25: Democrats bash Netanyahu’s escalation in Gaza
• Arutz Sheva 5/19/25: Congressman Lawler: World doesn’t understand the horror of Hamas captivity [“Speaking at the Jerusalem Conference in NYC, Rep. Michael Lawler condemns Hamas for holding 58 hostages and calls it ‘barbaric.’ He urges Qatar to exert more pressure and stresses that peace depends on Arab normalization with Israel.”]
• Rolling Stone 5/18/25: Van Hollen: The U.S. Is ‘Complicit’ in Starving the People of Gaza [“‘Two million Palestinians are starving. This is collective punishment that is clearly illegal under international law,’ the senator said”]

Elections

• The Intercept 5/22/25: Is AIPAC Coming After Ilhan Omar? [“A poll sent to Omar’s district tested the waters on a Democratic candidate backed by ‘a right-wing, pro-Israel group that is funded by Trump-supporting billionaires.'”]
• Jewish Insider 5/21/25: Illinois Senate primary likely a toss-up, experts say, after Underwood declines to run [“One Jewish Democratic strategist said that none of the three major candidates have deep ties to the Jewish community, leaving Jewish voters up for grabs”]
• Jewish Insider 5/19/25: NJ congressional candidate Michael Roth says he wants to be a strong pro-Israel voice for a new generation [“In an interview with JI, Roth, who is running as a Democrat against Rep. Tom Kean Jr., says he seeks to correct concerning narratives around Israel and supporting the Jewish state”]

Lobbying for Israel

• The Forward 5/19/25: Kathy Manning to lead Democratic Majority for Israel board of directors [“‘I am thrilled to chair DMFI’s board at this very important time for the U.S.-Israel relationship and for the Democratic Party,’ Manning said“]
• Jewish Insider 5/19/25: DMFI announces new president and board chair following leadership shake-up [“Brian Romick, a longtime senior aide to Rep. Steny Hoyer, will succeed Mark Mellman as the group’s president and CEO”]
• NORPAC’s annual mission to Washington is bringing 1,000 allies to Capitol Hill to meet with members of Congress. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and John Fetterman (D-PA) will be speaking to attendees as part of the morning session. (Jewish Insider)

Targeting Free Speech/Right to Protest

• Jewish Insider 5/23/25: Pro-Israel leaders link anti-Israel radicalism to fatal shooting [“Sen. John Fetterman asked members of the left, ‘Why can’t you just call it [antisemitism] what it is?’”]
• Jewish Insider 5/23/25: Following shooting, Gottheimer urges New Jersey governor candidates to support IHRA bill
• Jewish Insider 5/22/25: Sen. Cornyn calls for investigation of organizations affiliated with alleged shooter [“Elias Rodriguez, the suspected gunman of the deadly shooting of two Israeli Embassy staffers, has ties organizations including the Party for Socialism and Liberation, People’s Congress of Resistance and ANSWER Chicago“]
• Shabbos Kestenbaum (student who testified on the Hill repeatedly against Harvard, alleging antisemitism) on X 5/21/25: “After a chaotic two years, I am excited to announce I will be taking a job with PragerU. American ideals and western civilization are things worth fighting for. Bittersweet to be trading Boston for Los Angeles, but I look forward to the next chapter of this fight.“
• Jewish News Syndicate 5/21/25: No ‘HELP’ needed [“Contrary to the assertions by some, including members of the Senate, Title VI’s use of the IHRA definition doesn’t violate the First Amendment.“] [NOTE: this op-ed asserts, erroneously, that the House has passed the Antisemitism Awareness Act in this Congress. It has not.]
• Jewish News Syndicate 5/19/25: Democrats have abandoned the fight against campus antisemitism
• Yeshiva University 5/19/25: Yeshiva University to Celebrate 94th Annual Commencement on May 22 [“Congresswoman Elise Stefanik to Receive Presidential Medallion for Global Leadership in Recognition of Her Dedication to Strengthening the United States, Supporting Israel and Defending the Jewish People”]; also see: Yeshiva University faculty members sign letter decrying Elise Stefanik graduation honor (Times of Israel 5/22/25); Yeshiva University faculty protest commencement honor for Republican star Elise Stefanik (The Forward 5/21/25); Stefanik Receives Presidential Medallion for Global Leadership Award from Yeshiva University & Delivers Commencement Address (Stefanik press release 5/22/25)

Iran

• Jewish Insider 5/22/25: Some Senate Republicans skeptical of excluding terrorism, missiles from Iran talks
• Jewish Insider 5/20/25: Rubio: Iranian proxy terrorism hasn’t been part of negotiations with Iran
• Jewish Insider 5/20/25: Ted Cruz expresses concern about influence of some Trump officials on Iran policy
• Jewish News Syndicate 5/20/25: Like two peas in a pod [“Radical progressive Democrats and far-right isolationist Republicans are obsessed with the notion that the U.S. approach to Iran is driven by the Jews.”]

 

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

New from FMEP:

• 5/13/25: A new episode of FMEP’s Occupied Thoughts podcast, What’s happening between the U.S. and Iran? Featuring FMEP non-resident fellow Ahmed Moor in conversation with Trita Parsi of the Quincy Institute.

1. Bills & Resolutions

The Return of the “Non-Profit Killer” Legislation

• On 5/13/25 the House Ways & Means held a nearly 18-hour mark-up Trump’s “One Big, Beautiful Bill” — in the form of a 389-page amendment in the nature of a substitute (ANS) to a 28-page piece of baseline legislation entitled, “Providing for reconciliation pursuant to H.Con.Res. 14, the Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2025,” aka ‘‘The One Big, Beautiful Bill,” aka “the BBB.”  In the end, the ANS passed by a Voice Vote (by all appearances party-line); the motion to adopt the bill, as amended, passed by a party-line vote of 26-19; and the motion to report the bill out of committee passed by a party-line vote of 26-19.
• Notably, at the very very end of that ANS – starting on page 380, House Republicans attached a section entitled, “Termination of Tax-Exempt Status of Terrorist Supporting Organizations.”  This legislation is a slightly tweaked version of legislation introduced in the last Congress — HR 9495 / HR 6408 / S. 1436 — that has come to be known as the “Non-Profit Killer Bill.” For a deep dive into this legislation and its path in the last Congress, see the 11/22/24 edition of the Round-Up. Importantly, the tweaks that have been made to the legislation in its latest form in no way mitigate the immediate and devastating threat this bill poses to the non-profit sector.
• Given the scope of the BBB and the huge number of massively controversial elements it includes, it was arguably unsurprising that the “Non-Profit Killer” provision did not come during the markup, and no amendments were offered to challenge its inclusion in the bill, despite the existence of serious opposition to it (as seen around the vote on HR 9495 and its aftermath).
• That said, it has been suggested by Hill observers that the decision by opponents of the Non-Profit Killer bill to not spend political capital fighting its inclusion in the BBB reflected, at least in part, the belief that this provision is likely to be stripped out of the bill by the Senate Parliamentarian — based not on any substantive objections but rather on the Byrd Rule, which bans the inclusion of extraneous matters on reconciliation bills. And if that doesn’t happen, there is still a chance the provision could be blocked/stripped out by an amendment in the Senate.

Also see:

• (TARGETING MILITARY SALES TO QATAR AS CONSEQUENCE FOR BRIBE)  S. J. Res. 53: Introduced 5/15/25 by Murphy (D-CT) and 3 cosponsors (Van Hollen, D-MD, Kaine, D-VA,  Sanders, I-VT, and Schatz, D-HI), “A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of the proposed foreign military sale to the Government of Qatar of certain defense articles and services.” Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. Also see: press release – Murphy, Sanders, Kaine, Van Hollen, Schatz File Joint Resolution Of Disapproval On $1.9B Arms Sale As Qatar Seeks To Gift Luxury Jumbo Jet To Trump; Murphy press release 5/12/25 – Murphy To Block Arms Sales To Nations Engaging In Bribery Of The Trump Administration; Murphy X-post 5/12/25 – “I will block any arms sale to a nation that is doing direct personal business with Trump. We should have a full Senate debate and vote. UAE’s investment in Trump crypto and Qatar’s gifting of a plane is nuclear grade graft. An unacceptable corruption of our foreign policy.” Also see: Sen. Murphy to force votes on halting weapons sales to Qatar and UAE (Jewish Insider 5/16/25); Dems move to block Middle East arms sales over Qatar plane deal (Politico 5/15/25)
• (REPORT ON QATAR GIFT OF PLANE TO TRUMP) HR 3405 [bill text]: Introduced 5/14/25 by Meeks (D-NY) and 18 Democratic cosponsors, “To require the Secretary of State to submit to Congress a report regarding the transfer of an aircraft from Qatar, and for other purposes,” aka the “Suspending Transfer of Property for Improper Trump Use Act.” Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and  the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. Also see: press release – Meeks Introduces Bill to Block Foreign-Gifted Luxury Jet to President Trump
• (CONDEMNING TRUMP ACCEPTANCE OF QATAR PLANE) S. Res. 218: Introduced 5/13/25 by Schatz (D-HI) and 27 cosponsors, “A resolution condemning any acceptance of Presidential aircraft, or any other substantial gift, from a foreign government.“  Referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Also see: press releases – Sr;  Schatz: No President Should Take $400 Million Gift From A Foreign Country‘;  Schatz (D-HI) 5/12/25: X-thread – “This week @ChrisCoons, @ChrisMurphyCT, @CoryBooker and I will put the Senate on the record to affirm a basic principle: no President should accept an item worth 400 million dollars from a foreign government. This should be a 100-0 vote. 1/3 You don’t need a law degree to know that Trump accepting a $400 million luxury plane from a foreign government is wildly corrupt. 2/3 We have laws for this very reason, and the Constitution clearly requires Congress to weigh in on accepting large foreign gifts of this kind. 3/3“; Schatz press release 5/14/25: Senate Republicans Block Schatz Resolution Condemning Qatar’s $400 Million Gift To Trump
• (TRUMP MUST COMPLY WITH EMOLUMENTS CLAUSE) H.Res.410: Introduced 5/14/25 by Raskin (D-MD) and 18 Democratic cosponsors, “Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that President Trump must comply with the Foreign Emoluments Clause, by submitting all plans for his jumbo jet gift from Qatar immediately to Congress.“ Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
• Coming soon – Blumenthal (D-CT) 5/13/25: Blumenthal Announces Resolution Authorizing Senate Legal Action to Force Trump to Comply with Anti-Corruption Foreign Emoluments Clause

Disapproving of Military Sales to UAE

• H. J. Res. 96 (text): Introduced 5/15/25 by Meeks (D-NY) and Jacobs (D-CA), “Providing for congressional disapproval of the proposed military sale to the Government of the United Arab Emirates of certain defense articles and services” &  H. J. Res. 97 (text),”Providing for congressional disapproval of the proposed foreign military sale to the Government of the United Arab Emirates of certain defense articles and services.“ Both referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. Also see: press release — Meeks, Jacobs Introduce Joint Resolutions of Disapproval for Trump Administration’s Rushed Arms Sales to United Arab Emirates; Meeks (D-NY) 5/13/25: Meeks Blasts Trump Administration for Bypassing Congress on UAE Arms Sale, Announces Joint Resolutions of Disapproval
• S. J. Res. 51: Introduced 5/15/25 by Murphy (D-CT) and 3 cosponsors (Van Hollen, D-MD, Kaine, D-VA, and Sanders, I-VT), “A joint resolution for congressional disapproval of the proposed foreign military sale to the Government of the United Arab Emirates of certain defense articles and services” &  S. J. Res. 54, “A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of the proposed foreign military sale to the Government of the United Arab Emirates of certain defense articles and services” introduced by the same group plus Schatz (D-HI).  Both referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.  Also see: press release – Murphy, Van Hollen, Sanders, Kaine, Schatz File Joint Resolutions Of Disapproval On $1.6B In Arms Sales To United Arab Emirates; Murphy press release 5/12/25 – Murphy To Block Arms Sales To Nations Engaging In Bribery Of The Trump Administration; Murphy X-post 5/12/25 – “I will block any arms sale to a nation that is doing direct personal business with Trump. We should have a full Senate debate and vote. UAE’s investment in Trump crypto and Qatar’s gifting of a plane is nuclear grade graft. An unacceptable corruption of our foreign policy.” Also see: Sen. Murphy to force votes on halting weapons sales to Qatar and UAE (Jewish Insider 5/16/25), Dems move to block Middle East arms sales over Qatar plane deal (Politico 5/15/25)

Other stuff

• (STOPPING THE RE-NAMING INSANITY) HR 3326: Introduced 5/13/25 by Ansari (D-AZ), “To prohibit the use of Federal funds to rename the Persian Gulf, and for other purposes.” Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. Also see: press release – Ansari Introduces Persian Gulf Act to Stop Trump’s Politically-Motivated Attacks on Historic Name [“From renaming the Gulf to accepting a Qatari plane, ‘It’s all related,’ says Ansari.”]

 2. Letters

• (QATAR PLANE GIFT TO TRUMP) 5/15/25: Judiciary Democrats Open Investigation into Trump’s Qatari Plane Deal, Seek Answers from Trump DOJ and White House Counsel [letter text]. Also see: House Dems open investigation into Trump’s acceptance of $400 million jet from Qatar (Fox News 5/15/25)
• (LIMITS ON ANY IRAN DEAL) 5/14/25: Risch, Ricketts Send Letter Backing President Trump’s Call for Full Dismantlement of Iran’s Nuclear Program [letter text]. Also see: Most congressional Republicans insist on no enrichment for Iran [“Two letters signed by the majority of House and Senate Republicans urge Trump to reject any nuclear deal without complete dismantlement of Iran’s nuclear program”] (Jewish Insider 5/14/2
• (QATAR PLANE GIFT TO TRUMP)  5/14/25: Durbin Investigates $400 Million Private Jet Gift From Qatar To President Trump [“In letter to Attorney General Bondi, Durbin requests copy of her memorandum deeming this gift as ‘legally permissible’ despite its blatant unconstitutionality and Bondi’s clear conflict of interest with Qatar from past lobbying work“] [letter text]
• (QATAR PLANE GIFT TO TRUMP) 5/14/25: Wyden Demands Senate Vote on Trump’s Compliance with Anti-Corruption Foreign Emoluments Clause [letter text]
• (QATAR PLANE GIFT TO TRUMP) 5/13/25: Warren, Van Hollen Call on Trump and Trump Family to Divest from World Liberty Financial; Sound Alarm on Foreign Governments Using Trump Crypto to Curry Presidential Favors [letter text]. Excerpt – “Your stopover in the United Arab Emirates, where you will reportedly seal a deal relaxing export controls on sensitive U.S. technology, is poised to showcase a new level of grifting – and it will come directly at the expense of U.S. national security…”
• (QATAR PLANE GIFT TO TRUMP) 5/13/25: Following The Largest Foreign Bribe To A President In Modern History, Leader Schumer Announces Hold On All Department Of Justice’s Political Nominees; Demands Immediate Disclosure Of Qatari’s Brazen Influence Over Trump Administration, Plans For Extensive Security Modifications & Correlated Costs To Retrofit Almost Half A Billion Dollar Plane, And Testimony Of Bondi On Ethics [text of letter to Bondi]
• (QATAR PLANE GIFT TO TRUMP) 5/13/25: Reed, Senators Request Independent DoD Inquiry Into Trump’s Plan to Accept ‘Palace in the Sky’ Plane from Qatar [letter text]
• (TRUMP: SAUDI NORMALIZATION WITH ISRAEL MUST REMAIN A PRIORITY!) On 5/13/25, Jewish Insider published: House Dems express ‘grave concern’ about de-linking Saudi nuclear deal, normalization; the article includes the text of the letter, dated 5/12/25 (which as of this writing has not been posted on any of the signers’ websites). Also see: Don’t ‘delink’ Saudi nuclear agreement from it joining Abraham Accords, Jewish Dems tell Trump (Jewish News Syndicate 5/13/25)
• (QATAR PLANE GIFT TO TRUMP) 5/12/25: Ranking Member Shaheen Blasts Qatari Airplane Gift to Trump, Raises Corruption and Constitutional Concerns [letter text]
• (QATAR PLANE GIFT TO TRUMP) On 5/11/25, Rep. Torres (D-NY) wrote to the US Government Accountability Office, the acting Inspector General of the Department of Defense, and the Office of Government Ethics asking for an investigation into Trump’s announced intention to accept a luxury jet to be gifted to him by Qatar. Torres has not posted his letter on his website, but Axios had it the day Torres sent it, see: here.  Also see: House Democrat demands ethics review of Qatari jet gift to Trump (The Hill 5/11/25); Scoop: Dem seeks probe into reports Qatar plans to gift plane to Trump (Axios 5/11/25)
• (RESUME AID TO GAZA NOW) 5/9/25: Senator Coons, colleagues urge Trump to press for immediate resumption of humanitarian aid to Gaza and return to Israel-Gaza hostage and ceasefire negotiations [letter text]. Also see: Over half of Senate Democrats blast Israel’s Gaza operations plan [“The lawmakers also described a new proposal for aid distribution in Gaza as a nonstarter”] (Jewish Insider 5/10/25)
• (TRUMP – BRING AMCIT HOSTAGES HOME FROM GAZA) 5/10/25: Reps. Lawler, Wasserman Schultz, Hill, Gottheimer, and Suozzi Urge Trump to Bring Home American Hostages Held in Gaza [letter text]. Also see: 50 House members urge Trump to prioritize freeing U.S. hostages (Jewish Insider 5/11/25); Gottheimer Urges President Trump to Prioritize Freeing Edan Alexander Ahead of Middle East Trip ( press release 5/11/25)

3. Hearings

4. Selected Members on the Record

(Not including here the many, many, many statements and social media posts celebrating the release of the American-Israeli IDF soldier taken prisoner by Hamas on 10/7/23)

The Bombing/Starving/Annihilation of Gaza + West Bank-related stuff

• • Cherfilus-McCormick (R-FL) 5/16/25: X-post – “Thank you @IsraelinUSA Ambassador Leiter for speaking with me about how we can strengthen the U.S.-Israel relationship, the need to surge humanitarian aid into Gaza, and broader challenges facing the region.“
  • McCollum (D-MN) 5/16/25: X-post – “The use of bunker-busting bombs by Israeli Defense Forces to target civilian hospitals must stop immediately. Strikes on civilians are completely unacceptable. The people of Gaza are on the brink of starvation, and Israeli actions to bomb hospitals are driving the region further from peace. The United States and the international community must focus on delivering humanitarian aid to those in need as quickly as possible.“
  • Warner (D-VA) 5/16/25: X-post – “The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is devastating and must end. Israeli authorities must allow aid to reach Palestinian civilians, and we must continue working towards a lasting ceasefire that includes the safe return of all remaining hostages.“
  • Calvert (R-CA) 5/15/25: X-post – “Tzeela Gez was on her way to give birth to her fourth child when she was shot and killed by a Palestinian gunman. Hamas is praising this evil and horrific murder. These tragedies will inevitably continue unless Hamas is eliminated. The US must help Israel achieve that end.“

• • Fetterman (D-PA) 5/15/25: X-post – “The depravity to target and celebrate killing a pregnant woman as a ‘heroic operation.’ Call that what it is and pick a side in this existential war.“

• Welch (D-VT) 5/15/25: X-post (with video clip) – “Last week, Jinan Iskafi died of starvation in Gaza. She was four months old. The formula she needed to survive was just across the border. But because of the month’s-long blockage of aid into Gaza, her parents couldn’t get it in time.”
• Tlaib (D-MI) 5/15/25: Floor speech – The Nakba Never Ended (also talking about the Non-Profit Killer bill)
• Tlaib (D-MI) 5/15/25: (with video clip) – “My sity’s only crime in the eyes of the Israeli government is that she was born Palestinian. Today, to honor her and Palestinians all over the world, I introduced a resolution to recognize 77 years of the ongoing Nakba. It continues to this day with the genocide in Gaza.“
• McCormick (R-PA) 5/15/25: X-post – “As Chair of the @SenateForeign Subcommittee that deals with matters regarding the Middle East, I hear the deep concerns about the region. In one of my recent tele-town halls, I made it clear: Israel is one of our closest allies, Iran must be deterred, & Hamas must be eliminated.“
• McGovern (D-MA) 5/15/25: X-post – “Tons of food, medicine, water, shelter and other urgent humanitarian aid remains blocked from entering Gaza by Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu. The world must speak out and demand the rapid, unimpeded, impartial, neutral, and independent delivery of humanitarian aid. Now!“
• Schneider (D-IL) 5/14/25: X-post – “Good sign that Israel is resuming aid into Gaza. Efforts to end the war, return all 58 hostages, remove Hamas, & begin the process of recovery & renewal for the people of Gaza must continue. The ultimate goal remains to build on the Abraham Accords to achieve security & peace.”
• LaLota (R-NY) 5/14/25: X-post – “The United States must continue holding Hamas accountable while working closely with Israel to locate and rescue the fewer than two dozen hostages still believed to be alive in Gaza.“
• Fetterman (D-PA) 5/13/25: X-post – “This stain on humanity was part of the 10/7 massacre. I fully back Israel on whatever’s necessary to hold this coward accountable.” [commenting on Israel’s 5/13/25 bombing of yet another Gaza hospital, killed and wounding dozens of Palestinians]
• Van Hollen (D-MD) 5/11/25: X-post – “Today marks 3 years since Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was shot and killed while reporting in the West Bank—and we’ve yet to see accountability for her death. As I told her brother Tony, her niece Lina & her nephew Victor last week, I won’t rest until we do.“
• Fetterman (D-PA) 5/11/25: X-post – “The ICC equated the Hamas leader and architect of 10/7, to the democratically elected leader of our ally. Sanctioning the ICC was justified and necessary. I voted AYE for that bill and was incredibly disappointed it did not pass.“
• Fetterman (D-PA) 5/10/25: X-post – “Disarming Hamas is non-negotiable, as their organizing principle is to destroy Israel. Israel deserves security. Gaza must be rebuilt. Palestinians deserve relief. These noble goals are wholly incompatible with an armed Hamas.“

Defending Fetterman

• Cotton (R-AR) 5/9/25: X-post – “John Fetterman and I have our differences, but he’s a decent and genuine guy. The radical left is smearing him with dishonest, vicious attacks because he’s pro-Israel and they only want reliable anti-Israel politicians. Disgraceful.”

On Qatar’s mega-bribe (sorry,  I mean gift of love & respect) to Trump & Trump’s Mideast Trip in General

• Connolly (D-VA) 5/15/25: America is Not for Sale: Ranking Member Connolly Urges White House to Immediately Decline a $400 Million Plane, an Illegal “Gift” from Qatar
• Graham (R-SC) 5/14/25: X-post – “This is great news for South Carolina and Boeing. The operative phrase is ‘largest ever.’ Today’s announcement marks Boeing’s largest ever widebody order, its largest 787 order and Qatar Airways’ largest order ever. Qatar Airways’ purchase will ensure the Charleston plant has work for many years to come and it is a validation of the work product coming from the Charleston Boeing facility. The Boeing workforce in South Carolina has a lot to be proud of – they consistently work hard and provide great airplanes. I appreciate our allies in Qatar for making this investment in Boeing aircraft and I appreciate everything the Trump Administration has done to make this possible. This is truly a gamechanger for Boeing and South Carolina.”
• Murphy (D-CT) 5/13/25: Murphy On Trump’s Middle East Trip: This Isn’t America First. This Is Trump First. It’s A National Security Disaster And A Moral Abomination.
• Murphy (D-CT) 5/12/25: Murphy To Block Arms Sales To Nations Engaging In Bribery Of The Trump Administration
• Reed (D-RI) 5/12/25: Reed Statement on Qatar Gifting Luxury Plane to President Trump
• Schumer (D-NY) 5/12/25: Leader Schumer Floor Remarks Condemning Donald Trump’s Shameless Self Enrichment After Accepting A Private Jet From Qatar And The Lack Of Response From Republicans
• Booker (D-NJ) 5/12/25: Booker, Schatz, Coons, Murphy Joint Statement on Qatar Luxury Jet Gift to Trump
• Courtney (D-CT) 5/12/25: Ranking Member Courtney Statement on Reported Trump Plan to Use Qatari-Gifted Luxury Jet as Air Force One
• Torres (D-NY) 5/11/25: X-post – “Air Force One will have something in common with Hamas. Paid for by Qatar.” [Inconvenient fact check  — ‘Buying Quiet’: Inside the Israeli Plan That Propped Up Hamas (New York Times 12/10/23; excerpt – “Just weeks before Hamas launched the deadly Oct. 7 attacks on Israel, the head of Mossad arrived in Doha, Qatar, for a meeting with Qatari officials. For years, the Qatari government had been sending millions of dollars a month into the Gaza Strip — money that helped prop up the Hamas government there. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel not only tolerated those payments, he had encouraged them.“]
• Garcia (D-CA) 5/11/25: X-post – “Trump cannot accept a $400 million plane from a foreign government. It’s illegal under the Constitution. And Jared Kushner should have never received $2 billion from Saudi Arabia months after leaving the White House. The Oversight Committee must agressively investigate now.“

Targeting Academia/free speech/right to protest

• Stefanik (R-NY) 5/14/25: X-post – “Haverford’s president made it clear during the committee hearing—she still doesn’t get it. I’m proud to once again stand against antisemitism and the anti-American indoctrination festering in higher education…“
• Stefanik (R-NY) 5/13/25: X-post – “SHAMEFUL – Columbia University quietly reinstated the administrator who resigned in disgrace after failing to recall a single antisemitic incident on campus, despite the university’s own report detailing them. More evidence that these ‘elite’ colleges are failing to address their own antisemitic rot. I will continue to hold these universities accountable.” Linked to Free Beacon article – Columbia’s Armstrong to Return From Sabbatical as CEO of Medical Center
• Torres (D-NY) 5/12/25: X-post – “Anti-Israel extremists are pressuring a venue to cancel the performance of an Israeli singer—not because of anything he has said or done, but simply because he is an Israeli Jew. Targeting someone on the basis of national or ethnic identity is blatant bigotry. There must be zero tolerance for invidious discrimination in New York City—or anywhere in America.” [reminder from last week – Ritchie Torres calls on NYC to cancel Central Park performance by anti-Israel artist Kehlani (Jewish Insider 5/5/25)]
• Stefanik (R-NY) 5/10/25: X-post – “Part one: I joined Mark Levin on his show Life, Liberty and Levin to discuss my continued fight against antisemitism in higher education nationwide and what it’s going to take to prevent the next generation of Marxists from dominating our classrooms with foreign dollars.“
• Stefanik (R-NY) 5/10/25) X-post – “Part two: I joined Mark Levin on his show Life, Liberty and Levin to discuss how the Far Left Democrat leaders in Congress are refusing to hold university presidents accountable for allowing vile antisemitism to flourish on campus.“
• Fine (R-FL) 5/8/25: X-post – “Every one of these Muslim Terror Raggies needs to be expelled and — if not a citizen — deported.” [in response to media report of protest at Columbia]

Defending Academia/free speech/right to protest

• Welch (D-VT) 5/10/25: X-post – “Mohsen’s case isn’t about whether you agree with his political beliefs or not. It’s about whether free speech is still a fundamental right in America.“

Iran & Houthis

• Gottheimer (D-NJ) 5/14/25: X-post – “The Houthis — a U.S.-designated terrorist group — continue to fire missiles at Israel, despite President Trump’s agreement with them. I’ve been demanding answers from President Trump on how his deal ensures the safety of our key democratic ally, Israel.”
• Graham (R-SC) 5/14/25: X-post – “I am very sad and disappointed to hear that after all the efforts to deal with the Houthis, they are still shooting ballistic missiles at our friends in Israel. I expect Israel will respond and I will not be surprised if they hold Iran accountable — not just the Houthis. It also appears that Russia is firing ballistic missiles at Ukraine. As Ukraine agrees to a ceasefire and direct talks between leaders, Putin’s Russia plays games and shoots missiles. I appreciate President Trump trying to pursue peace on multiple fronts, however we must hold bad actors accountable when they defy these efforts.“

Syria Sanctions

• Senate Foreign Relations Committee (minority) 5/14/25: Shaheen, Risch Statement on Syria Sanctions
• Warren (D-MA) 5/13/25: Warren Statement on Sanctions Relief for Syria

Other Stuff

• Sherman (D-CA) 5/14/25: ADL Report: Congressman Brad Sherman Named Top Target of Antisemitic Hate in the House of Representatives
• Graham (R-SC) 5/14/25: X-post with video message – “Turkey and Israel are important allies as we try to bring peace and stability to the region.”
• Graham (R-SC) 5/13/25: Graham Arrives in Turkey
• Shaheen (D-NH) 5/13/25: Ranking Member Shaheen Statement on Trump Administration’s Lifting of Syria Sanctions

5. Selected Media

On Qatar’s mega-bribe (sorry,  I mean gift of love & respect) to Trump

[note: there are many, many, many articles this week on this topic; included here are just a few – barely scratching the surface]

• Politico 5/15/25: Republicans want Congress involved in Trump’s Qatar jet push
• Jewish Insider 5/14/25: More Republicans voice concern about Qatari jet, as Dems pursue blocking efforts [“‘There are lots of lots of issues around that that I think will attract very serious questions if and when it happens,’ Senate Majority Leader John Thune said”]
• NPR 5/14/25: Republicans voice concern over Trump’s support for a new Air Force One from Qatar
• Jewish Insider 5/14/25: Sen. Kennedy: ‘I trust Qatar like I trust a rest stop bathroom’ [“A growing number of Republicans are speaking up to express concerns about the Qatari offer of a multimillion-dollar jet“]
• New York Times 5/13/25: As Trump Courts Gifts and Dangles Access, Congress Sits on the Sidelines [“Republicans on Capitol Hill seem unlikely to challenge President Trump as he pushes ethics guardrails around profiting from the presidency to the breaking point.“]
• Time 5/13/25: Democrats Seize on Trump’s Qatar Plane Deal to Galvanize Voters
• Jewish Insider 5/13/25: Most Republicans fall in line behind Trump’s defense of accepting Qatari plane [“Meanwhile, many Democrats are hesitant to strongly condemn Qatar directly despite criticisms of gift”]
• The Hill 5/12/25: Jeffries targets Trump over Qatari jet gift, citing ‘Wannabe Kings’ [also see X-post with video clip from Ken Klipperstein – “Hakeem Jeffries calls Qatar – which hosts the largest U.S. military base in the Middle East – ‘a close ally of Iran and Hamas.'”
• Jewish Insider 5/12/25: Trump defends Qatari jet acquisition, calls it a ‘very nice gesture’
• Jewish Insider 5/11/25: Congressional Democrats outraged by reports of Qatari Air Force One gift

Iran & Houthis

• Wall Street Journal 5/14/25: Republicans Unite to Thwart Iran — No nuclear enrichment for the ayatollahs, not even in a ‘joint venture.’
• Axios 5/14/25: Inside Tom Cotton’s pressure campaign on an Iran nuclear deal
• Jewish Insider 5/14/25: Graham highlights concerns about Houthi strikes on Israel amid U.S. ceasefire
• Free Beacon 5/13/25: GOP Senators Demand ‘Full Dismantlement and Destruction of Iran’s Nuclear Program’ as Trump Admin Negotiates With Tehran
• Jewish News Syndicate 5/9/25: Republican senators say dismantling nuclear program only acceptable outcome of Iran talks
• Jewish News Syndicate 5/9/25: More info needed on US deal with Houthis, five congressmen tell Trump [letter covered in last week’s Round-Up)

Free Speech/Right to Protest/Academia

• Jewish News Syndicate 5/13/25: A bill aimed at international groups seeking to boycott Israel [“Boycotters are not entitled to make up and execute their own contrived foreign policy or otherwise discriminate against a U.S. citizen in Israel.“]
• Philadelphia Citizen 5/13/25: Stop Using Antisemitism as a Weapon Against Higher Education
• Drop Site News 5/11/25: Dana Nessel Pins Blame for Failed Prosecutions on Rep. Debbie Dingell [“The Michigan attorney general provided no evidence for her claim, which Dingell rejected”]
• Religion News 5/9/25: At Jewish Voice for Peace conference, a balance of popularity and risk under Trump
• Mustang News 5/9/25: OPINION: House hearing was really about free speech and education, not antisemitism

Other stuff

• New York Times 5/15/25: Ben of Ben & Jerry’s Is Arrested at Senate Hearing After Protesting War in Gaza [“Ben Cohen, a co-founder of the ice cream brand, was among a group that interrupted a Senate hearing on Wednesday, protesting Congress’s funding of Israel’s military.“]
• Jewish Telegraphic Agency 5/15/25: Ben Cohen of Ben & Jerry’s is arrested for disrupting RFK Jr. Senate testimony with Gaza war protest [“Congress pays for bombs that kill children in Gaza,” Cohen yelled before being removed by police.]
• Jewish Insider 5/14/25: Sen. Katie Britt slams Democrats for not defending Fetterman [“The Alabama Republican argued their silence is out of fear of the party’s progressive base, discomfort over his outspoken support for Israel“]
• Jewish Insider 5/13/25: Syrian group’s Capitol Hill conference abruptly canceled amid anti-Israel, Assad regime concerns [“The event’s congressional sponsor withdrew their support after it had begun“]

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

1. Bills & Resolutions

Targeting Free Speech/Academia/Right to Protest

(THE RETURN OF THE ISRAEL ANTI-BOYCOTT ACT) HR 867: Introduced 1/31/25 by Lawler (R-NY) and currently having 19 cosponsors (15 Republicans and 4 Democrats), “To amend the Anti-Boycott Act of 2018 to apply the provisions of that Act to international governmental organizations,” aka, the “IGO Anti-Boycott Act.” Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. On 5/2/25, the GOP House leader published a list of bills to be considered by the House on 5/5/25 under suspension of the rules. That list included HR 867. This announcement sparked backlash on social media, including from some House Republicans and some major Republican influencers. Subsequently, on 5/4/25 the GOP House leader published a new notice listing bills to be considered 5/5/25 under suspension of the Rules – HR 867 was not on that new list. More details of this mini-drama are below:

• My viral 5/2/25 X-thread (posted minutes after House leadership sent out notice that the bill would be on Monday’s suspension calendar): “Love it or hate it – on Monday the House will vote on HR 1867 [yes, this is a typo – the correct bill number is HR 867, as reflected in the analysis and bill link included in the rest of the thread, and as reflected in the correction I posted moments after the thread went up, and then posted multiple times again over the weekend as the thread went viral], ‘The IGO Boycott Act’, the current iteration of the ‘Israel Anti-Boycott Act’ – to impose harsh penalties, incl fines/jail on Americans who, in line with their values/political views, boycott Israel or settlements. 1/ As covered in the 2/27/25 edition of the Round-Up: HR 1867, like its predecessors, seeks to amend/expand current US anti-boycott law. That law is based on the idea of preventing US citizens from being **compelled or coerced** into boycotting Israel… 2/…as a condition for doing business abroad under the Arab League Boycott of Israel (which included coercive secondary sanctions). 3/ this bill, like its predecessors, seeks to extend this law to ‘cover US citizens who boycott Israel &/or settlements NOT because they are being compelled/coerced, but because it reflects their own values/political views, including support for intl law… 4/ …with the hook being the EU’s policy urging companies to differentiate between Israel and settlements, and the UN’s database of companies working in settlements. As a reminder, the EU policy nor the UN database are entirely informational/advisory… 5/ …neither one includes any enforcement or accountability mechanism of any kind.’ [ie, they are entirely non-coercive, at most advisory measures] 6/ Yet under this bill, ‘anyone who violates or ‘abets’ what would be a ban on VOLUNTARY, VALUES-BASED decisions to boycott Israel or settlements, grounded in Americans’ personal & political views &/or informed by respect for intl law— could face massive CRIMINAL/CIVIL PENALTIES. 7/ What do I mean by ‘massive CRIMINAL/CIVIL PENALTIES’? I mean up to $1 MILLION in fines or up to 20 YEARS IN PRISON. Think I’m exaggerating? Read the legislation that it would amend.8/ The bill (on Monday’s suspension calendar) 9/ Deeper coverage in the 2/7/25 edition of the Round-Up: 10/ Announcement of Monday’s suspension calendar 11/ ACLU letter opposing this same legislation in the last Congress  12/ For further background/analysis on this legislation see this collection of resources: (link)“
• Viral thread from DropSite 5/2/25 (linking to my thread); follow-up viral thread from DropSite 5/3/25
• Members who came out in opposition to the IGO Boycott Act: Green (R-GA) 5/3/25: X-post – “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. But what I don’t understand is why we are voting on a bill on behalf of other countries and not the President’s executive orders that are FOR OUR COUNTRY???“; Massie (R-KY) 5/3/25: X-post – “I agree with @RepMTG. I’ll be voting No on this bill as well.“; Luna (R-FL) 5/4/25: X-post – “H.R. 867, up for a vote tomorrow, aims to curb antisemitism but threatens First Amendment rights. Americans have the right to boycott, and penalizing this risks free speech. I reject and vehemently condemn antisemitism but I cannot violate the first amendment.” Massie (R-KY) 5/4/25: X-post – “Apparently HR 867 has been pulled from the schedule for this week. Thank you for your vocal opposition on this platform. It was a ridiculous bill that our leadership should have never scheduled for a vote.” Responding to a comment that the GOP would now try to sneak the bill through some other way, Massie stated: “Correct. They buried the original smaller version of this bill inside the 2018 NDAA. Look for them to do something similar in the near future for this legislation to expand the 2018 version.” Luna (R-FL) 5/5/25: X-post – “H.R. 867, a blatant violation of our first amendment, has been pulled from the vote schedule. I’m grateful to everyone who stood with the few of us fighting it. Grifter X accounts claim that I sponsored the bill. That is a lie, and you can see online for yourself. Regardless: The bill HAS been pulled”; Davidson (R-OH) 5/4/25: X-post – “I oppose this foolish, unconstitutional bill, and will vote NO. Think of the logic: – Protest America – free speech – Protest Israel – jail & bankruptcy Insane.”
• Members who came out in defense of the IGO Boycott Act: Lawler (R-NY) 5/5/25: X-post- “This bill amends existing law and focuses on institutional pressures, not personal choices, ensuring that Americans are not forced to participate in unsanctioned boycotts promoted by IGOs, like the UN. I look forward to leadership bringing this critical legislation to a vote.”
• MAGA/right-wing forces weighing in against the IGO Boycott Act: Charlie Kirk 5/3/25: X-post – “Tomorrow the House will vote on HR 867, a bill that will criminalize private boycotts of Israel. Fines up to $1,000,000 and prison time up to 20 years. Bills like this only create more antisemitism, and play into growing narratives that Israel is running the US government. In America you are allowed to hold differing views. You are allowed to disagree and protest. We’ve allowed far too many people who hate America move here from abroad, but the right to speak freely is the birthright of all Americans. This bill should not pass. Any Republican that votes for this bill will expose themselves. We will be watching very closely.” Matt Gaetz 5/3/25: X-post – “Antisemitism is bad and should be categorically rejected. Not every idea cooked up to respond to Antisemitism is a good one. There’s a real danger in passing bills like this. Somewhere Democrats are writing a bill to imprison the rest of us for 20 years if we boycott countries who sign the Paris Climate Accords…or join the UN…or bribe the WTO/WHO. And they may get power again. Which is why we shouldn’t use ours to punish dissent or ‘thought crimes’ with prison. Antisemitism is a real problem. It deserves a response far more serious and thoughtful than this dangerous and unconstitutional Lawler virtue signal.”
• Best Media Coverage: Should Sharing Information About Israeli Businesses Get You 20 Years in Prison? [“The IGO Anti-Boycott Act would dramatically expand U.S. anti-boycott laws. The House quietly postponed a vote after running into unexpected Republican opposition.”] (Reason 5/5/25)
• Other Media: House Pulls Bill Prohibiting Anti-Israel Boycotts After Conservative Backlash (Daily Caller 5/7/25); MAGA Republicans Kill Pro-Israel Bill (Jewish Press 5/7/25); Why MAGA Republicans helped kill a bill that sought to punish critics of Israel (MSNBC 5/6/25); House leadership yanks Israel anti-boycott bill from consideration due to ‘issues’ (Washington Examiner 5/5/25);  AIPAC’s Anti-BDS Bill Is Derailed, at Least for Now (Sludge 5/5/25); House cancels vote on IGO Anti-Boycott Act following right-wing objections (Jewish Insider 5/5/25); House leadership nixes vote on Israel boycott bill (Jewish News Syndicate 5/5/25); MAGA Leaders Defend Americans’ Right to Boycott Israel (Newsweek 5/4/25); Rare Right-Wing Revolt Sinks Bill Punishing Boycotts of Israel With Prison (MintPress News 5/5/25); Marjorie Taylor Greene, Thomas Massie oppose bill to penalize some anti-Israel boycotts (KTUL 5/5/25)

(TARGETING FREE SPEECH/ACADEMIA) HR 3282: Introduced 5/8/25 by Fine (R-FL), “To amend title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to prohibit discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance on the ground of religion, to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for rigorous enforcement of prohibitions against discrimination by institutions of higher education on the basis of antisemitism, and for other purposes.” Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Workforce. NOTE: This is the House version of S. 826, introduced 3/4/25 by Scott (R-FL). Also see: Fine’s 5/8/25 X-post – “Today, I introduced my first bill as a US Representative, the Preventing Antisemitic Harassment on College Campuses Act. I’m proud to carry @SenRickScott’s legislation to the House. For too long, Democrats protected antisemitism on campus. Republicans are stepping in to stop it.” Also see: Randy Fine proposes first legislation as member of Congress to combat campus antisemitism (FL News Voice 5/9/25)

Targeting the UN

(CUT OFF US FINDING TO UN IF UNGA GIVES PALESTINIANS *ANY* NEW PRIVILEGES/STATUS) HR 3208 /S. 1612: Introduced 5/6/25 in the House by Baird (R-IN) and 8 Republican cosponsors, and in the Senate by Risch (R-ID) and 19 Republican co-sponsors, “To limit funds to the United Nations and other organizations that provide any status, rights, or privileges beyond observer status to the Palestine Liberation Organization, and for other purposes,” aka the “No Official Palestine Entry (NOPE) Act.“ Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Also see: Baird press release – Congressman Baird, Senator Risch Introduce the No Official Palestine Entry (NOPE) Act. NOTE: This same legislation was introduced in the last Congress (HR 8345 / S. 4311). Also see: press release –  McCaul, Baird Introduce the No Official Palestine Entry (NOPE) Act; Risch Introduces Bill to Fight Antisemitism at the UN. Also see: Republican lawmakers seek to block Palestinian upgrades at UN (Jerusalem Post 5/7/25)

Targeting Iran

(PERMANENT IRAN SANCTIONS) HR 1800: Introduced 3/3/25 by Mackenzie (R-PA) and now having 2 cosponsors (both Democrats), “To repeal the sunset provision of the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996, and for other purposes.” Passed by the House 5/5/25 under suspension of the rules by Voice Vote.  Also see: Feenstra (R-IA) 5/5/25: X-post – “Tonight, the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed legislation to make sanctions on Iran permanent. The world cannot have a nuclear Iran, and restricting its oil sales and cutting off its financial pipelines will limit Iran’s ability to fund terrorism and violence.”

(RED LINES FOR ANY TRUMP IRAN DEAL) S. XXX (bill text): On 5/8/25, Sen. Graham (R-SC) issued a press release – Graham, Cotton, Britt Introduce Resolution Outlining Acceptable Outcome of U.S. Negotiations with Iran on its Nuclear Program (also see: Britt, R-AL) press release). Also see video of press conference announcing the bill. NOTE: As of 12pm 5/9/25 the bill does not show up in the Congressional Record as having been introduced.

(BAD IRAN FOR NOT MEETING INTL NUCLEAR OBLIGATIONS) H. Res. 398: Introduced 5/8/25 by Baumgartner (R-WA), “Condemning Iran’s failure to comply with its international nuclear obligations.” Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Normalization

(EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN COOPERATION) HR 3307: Introduced 5/8/25 by Schneider (D-IL) and four bipartisan cosponsors, “To increase cooperation with countries in the Eastern Mediterranean region in order to strengthen energy security and defense capabilities, and for other purposes.” Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. NOTE: No text is available yet, but this appears likely to be the 2025 version of HR 2913/S. 1102, introduced in 2019.

Targeting Hezbollah

(NO HEZBOLLAH IN LATIN AMERICA) HR 3315: Introduced 5/8/25 by Wilson (R-SC) and Panetta (D-CA), “To counter efforts by Hezbollah to conduct terrorist activities in Latin America, and for other purposes.” Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and the Committee on Foreign Affairs. NOTE: This is the House version of S. 842: Introduced 3/4/25 by Curtis (R-UT) and Rosen (D-NV).

 2. Letters

Humanitarian Aid for Gaza

• (URGE BIBI TO ADDRESS HUMANITARIAN CRISIS IN GAZA – pandering to Trump/Bibi version) 5/9/25: 28 Democrats Urge President Trump to Call on Netanyahu to Address Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza (letter text in press release). Also see: Schneider leads House Dems to call for resumption of aid to Gaza [“The new letter is less strident toward Israel than a previous one and also includes significant praise of Trump’s own comments and work on the subject“] (Jewish Insider 5/9/25)
• (TRANSPARENCY RE AID TO GAZA – super duper pandering to Bibi version) 5/8/25: Congresswoman Nikema Williams Leads Call for Transparency in Humanitarian Aid to Gaza [letter text] – excerpt – “…We are requesting a briefing for our Offices by your government regarding the reported plans for humanitarian aid delivery. We fully understand the need for additional vetting and security around aid. Hamas has seized aid both to directly sustain their fighting and to resell to civilians to fund their continued operations: both monstrous displays of abuse of the people of Gaza. For all of these reasons, the need for humanitarian aid among the people of Gaza has increased markedly through the conflict. Given these challenges, we want to further understand your approach to managing humanitarian aid into Gaza.“
• (RESUME HUMANITARIAN AID TO GAZA – less pandering to Trump/Bibi version) 5/7/25: Carbajal, Bera Lead House Democrats [96 signers total] in Demanding Immediate Resumption of Humanitarian Assistance to Gaza [letter text]. Also see: 96 House Democrats say Israel must end ‘morally wrong’ Gaza aid cutoff  (Jewish Insider 5/8/25); Democrats urge Israel to resume Gaza humanitarian aid (The Hill 5/8/25)

Iran & Houthis

• (NEED ANSWERS RE: TRUMP DEAL WITH HOUTHIS) 5/9/25:  Gottheimer, Bacon Demand Answers from the Administration on U.S.-Houthi Agreement, Ongoing Threat to Israel [letter text] – excerpt: “We urge the Administration to engage closely with our Israeli partners to ensure that any diplomatic or military arrangements fully protect Israel’s security interests and do not embolden Iranian proxies. As Members of Congress, we have a constitutional responsibility to ensure that the use of American military force is both properly authorized and strategically effective. We expect a timely briefing rooted in a strategy that defends our allies, restores deterrence, and reaffirms our global leadership.” Also see: Bipartisan House group expresses ‘serious concern’ about U.S.-Houthi deal (Jewish Insider 5/9/25)
• (DISMANTLE IRAN’S NUCLEAR PROGRAM) 5/7/25: Jewish Insider published: Senate, House Republicans circulate letters calling for full dismantlement of Iran’s nuclear program [“The letters argue that Iran’s nuclear program has advanced to such a degree that reliable monitoring and verification is no longer a viable option”]

Criticism of Israeli Policy/Actions

• (GAO: INVESTIGATE LEAHY LAW VIOLATION!) 5/6/25: Van Hollen, Colleagues Call on GAO to Investigate U.S. Compliance with Laws Requiring the U.S. to Ensure Government Recipients of Foreign Aid Respect Human Rights, Facilitate Humanitarian Aid [letter text]. Also see: Senators seek probe of whether Israel follows US laws on humanitarian aid (Jewish News Syndicate 5/9/25)
• (ATTACKING TEXAS TOWN FOR NOT WANTING TAXES TO GO TO ISRAEL) 5/6/25: Rep. Roy Sends a Letter to the Mayor of San Marcos, Texas Condemning Anti-Israel Resolution [letter text] [ excerpt: “The resolution is filled with egregious falsehoods and promotes dangerous narratives. These include, but are not limited to, accusing the United States of ‘bankrolling’ genocide, and multiple references to Israeli ‘apartheid’ and ‘occupation’…“]
• (CONCERN FOR DETAINED SCHOLAR) 5/5/25: Beyer Urges ICE To Improve Treatment Of Detained Scholar Badar Khan Suri [letter text]. Also see Beyer’s 5/7/25 press release – Judge Giles Rejects Trump Administration Forum Shopping In Badar Khan Suri Case

3. Hearings

• Lawler (R-NY) X-post 5/6/25: “Terror threats are evolving, and our strategy must too. This week, I led a hearing on strengthening U.S. counterterrorism efforts and holding state sponsors like Iran accountable.”
• Lawler (R-NY) X-post 5/6/25: “Iran exported nearly 600M barrels of oil last year. That revenue fuels their terror proxies like Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis. In today’s hearing, I’ll press officials on how we’re disrupting the financial networks behind terrorism.“
• Kean (R-NJ) X-post 5/6/25 – “At today’s @HouseForeignGOP Middle East & North Africa Subcommittee hearing, I questioned witnesses on how the State Department’s counterterrorism programs are addressing the escalating threats to Israel from Iranian-backed proxies like Hamas and Hezbollah. We discussed how the Trump administration is leveraging sanctions, diplomacy, and foreign assistance to combat these terrorist groups—and how these tools can be used more strategically and effectively. We owe it to our allies, and to the American people, to ensure our counterterrorism efforts are focused, effective, and prepared to meet today’s growing threats.“

4. Selected Members on the Record

The Starvation & Annihilation of Gaza

• Coons (D-DE) 5/9/25: X-post – “When Trump took office, there was a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, hostages were being released, and aid was getting into Gaza. Now, none of that is true. The blockage of aid is causing a humanitarian crisis in Gaza and Israel is readying a long-term occupation of the Strip.“
• DeSaulnier (D-CA) 5/8/25: X-post – “Since early March, the Netanyahu government has been blocking all humanitarian aid to Gaza, which has exacerbated the already horrific conditions faced by Palestinian children and civilians. I joined my colleagues in urging the Israeli Ambassador to facilitate the Israeli government immediately allowing humanitarian aid to enter the Gaza strip.”
• Castro (D-TX) 5/8/25: X-thread about letter covered in Section 2, above — “I joined nearly 100 colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives to demand that the Israeli Government stop its months-long blockade of food and aid to Gaza. Many, including thousands of children, are starving. Intentional mass starvation is a war crime. We have repeatedly denounced Hamas’ brutality on October 7th, met with hostage families and demanded the release of all hostages, and supported Israel’s self-defense over the years. But this goes well beyond self-defense. Hamas leadership is mostly in bunkers or overseas with their own food supplies while civilians with little power to affect the course of the conflict suffer the consequences.“
• Sanders (I-VT) 5/8/25: PREPARED REMARKS: Sanders Confronts Congress’ Silence on Gaza (floor statement – also see video) – Also see: ‘Civilized People Do Not Starve Children to Death’: Sanders Rips US-Backed Israel’s 68-Day Gaza Aid Blockade (Common Dreams 5/8/25)
• Van Hollen (D-MD) 5/7/25: X-post – “For 66 days the Netanyahu govt has blocked ALL food & aid from going into Gaza. Now we’re told it plans to seize & reoccupy huge parts of Gaza, as it pushes for Trump’s plan to force 2M Palestinians to leave. That would be ethnic cleansing by another name. We can’t stand for it.“
• Tlaib (D-MI) 5/7/25: X-thread – “There is no denying that the Israeli apartheid regime is using starvation as a weapon of war. They proudly admit to these war crimes. Our country is an accomplice in this genocide, and the world is letting it happen. Don’t stop demanding accountability. Arms embargo now.”
• Tlaib (D-MI) 5/5/25: X-thread – “War Criminal Netanyahu has announced a plan to forcibly expel and ethnically cleanse the entire Palestinian population, flatten, and annex Gaza. This comes after 64 days of blocking food and aid. This was always their plan. The U.S. is an accomplice in this genocide. My colleagues always find the time to condemn students protesting genocide, but seem to lose their voices when the apartheid regime they support proudly brags about its war crimes for the world to see. Everyone who has unconditionally supported Israel bears responsibility.”
• Escobar (D-TX) 5/5/25: X-thread – “Netanyahu’s execution of the war in Gaza continues to disregard every moral red line and international humanitarian law. Amidst horrific suffering and starvation in Gaza, the Israeli government has approved of plans to seize and destroy it, which would result in the forced displacement of nearly 2 million Palestinians. This plan is one of brutal escalation, influenced by far-right extremists seeking the reoccupation of Gaza. It is the Trump administration’s obligation to use any and all leverage to immediately work to bring the hostages home, resume distribution of humanitarian aid and support, and prioritize a peace plan that does not involve Israel’s complete takeover of Gaza or the West Bank.”
• Omar (D-MN) 5/5/25: X-post – “No food, aid, or fuel have entered Gaza since March 2. Community kitchens have closed. Children are sick, thirsty, and starving. Now Netanyahu’s government wants to occupy Gaza and shut down the existing aid distribution system run by the UN and its humanitarian partners. Arms embargo now.“
• DeLauro (D-CT) 5/5/25: DeLauro Statement on Israeli Plan to Reoccupy Gaza
• Doggett (D-TX) 5/5/25: X-thread – “Netanyahu undermines Palestinian and Israeli futures, including his far-right government abandoning hostages. Focused on starving Palestinians with blockade of food, water and medicine, he continues bombing schools, hospitals and refugee camps. (1/2) Hamas’ evil cannot justify these horrible wrongs, as most of the world stays silent. (2/2)“
• Smith (D-WA) 5/2/25: X-post – “Since the limited ceasefire ended in March, Israel has blocked the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza. Israel must restart the flow of humanitarian aid into the region. The current humanitarian crisis demands that aid get turned back on now – not weeks from now.“

Defending Free Speech/Academia/Right to Protest

• Nadler (D-NY) 5/8/25: Nadler Statement On Columbia University Protests [“Vandalism is unacceptable. Occupying university buildings is unacceptable. Interfering with the rights of other students to study in the library is a violation of their rights. Columbia had to act to remove the protesters who occupied Butler Library. Those who interfere with the rights of other students must be penalized. Those who vandalize buildings must be prosecuted. Antisemitism on campus is a real concern, and Columbia is rightly taking it seriously. My Republican colleagues and the Trump Administration seek to stifle academic freedom and free speech, defund vital medical and scientific research, and attack institutions of higher learning under the false pretext of fighting antisemitism. Their real goal is control and authoritarianism. My grandstanding Republican colleagues and Trump Administration officials are not trying to protect students; they are weaponizing antisemitism to undermine academic institutions that stand as a bulwark against Trump’s backsliding into fascism.”]
• Tlaib (D-MI) 5/8/25: X-post – “University of Michigan students and faculty who are speaking out against genocide have faced threats, firings, and felony charges. But they’re not backing down. Free speech doesn’t end on campus and we won’t stay silent about selective repression.“

Targeting Free Speech/Academia/Right to Protest

• Sanders (I-VT) 5/9/25: X-post – “Judge Sessions is right. Neither Rumeysa Ozturk or anyone else in America should be in jail for authoring an op-ed critical of Israel, or on any subject. Trump and colleagues should read the Constitution and, especially, the First Amendment. Ozturk must be released immediately.“
• Scott (R-SC) 5/8/25: X-post – “Bold and unflinching leadership is the only way to deal with antisemitic aggression and violence on our college campuses. It’s time to pass my Antisemitism Awareness Act to give administrators a clear standard of intolerable behavior at their institutions.”
• Emmer (R-MN) 5/8/25: X-post – “Pro-Hamas, antisemitic agitators have no place in America. If you come to the United States—based on our good will—only to pose a national security and public safety threat, you WILL be sent home.“
• Onder (R-MO) 5/8/25: X-post – “Antisemitic actions against Jewish students must have consequences. Haverford President Wendy Raymond’s refusal to address such consequences is troubling considering the number of federal $$$ they receive. Hear my thoughts on this American manufacturing and more with @NTDNews“
• Moreno (R-OH) 5/8/25: X-post – “It is outrageous that some members of the United States Senate parrot Hamas propaganda, refuse to acknowledge Hamas is holding an American, and blame our ally Israel for defending herself. Israel is our greatest ally and Hamas started the war and can end it – period.“
• Fine (R-FL) 5/8/25: X-post – “Every one of these Muslim Terror Raggies needs to be expelled and — if not a citizen — deported.”
• Johnson (R-LA) 5/8/25: X-post – “Attention pro-Hamas rioters on college campuses across the country: you are on notice. America will no longer tolerate your antisemitic violence, destruction, harassment, and intimidation. Thank you @POTUS and @SecRubio.”
• Stefanik (R-NY) 5/8/25: X-post — “Police arrested about 40 radical, antisemitic agitators at Columbia. I hope they will face serious consequences for their unlawful actions. I applaud law enforcement for restoring law and order. No student should feel unsafe on campus, and universities must hold these extremists accountable. I will continue fighting to protect Jewish students and uphold the rule of law…“
• Stefanik (R-NY) 5/8/25: X-post (with video clip) – “WATCH: The Columbia riots were not protests. These are criminal acts. This is violence. This is rioting. This is disruption, destruction of property, and we’ve seen many of these individuals are on foreign visas. I fully support revoking those foreign visas and deporting them.”
• Baumgartner (R-WA) 5/8/25: X-post – “While it is welcome and notable that UW has taken this action to suspend these anti-Semitic imbeciles , it is also notable that it took Republican leadership threatening federal grant funding to force UW to take deeply rooted anti-semitism on their campus seriously.” Linked to University of Washington’s 5/7/25 Statement on federal Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism review
• Gottheimer (D-NJ) 5/8/25: X-post – “Violent anti-Israel protesters stormed Columbia’s library yesterday — pushing security guards to the ground and trapping students studying for finals. Acts of violence on our college campuses — especially those motivated by hate — are beyond unacceptable and must be condemned in the strongest of terms.“
• Foxx (R-NC) 5/7/25: X-post – “Expel every last one of them.” [in response to news of more Columbia students protesting for Palestine]
• Tenney (R-NY) 5/7/25: X-post – “Harvard is not above the law.  By ending federal funding, the Trump administration is setting a strong precedent that anti-Semitism will not be tolerated on any college campus.”
• Stefanik (R-NY) 5/7/25: X-post – “While Columbia students try to study for finals, they’re being bombarded with chants for a ‘global intifada.’ President @realDonaldTrump is right: not a single taxpayer dollar should go to a university that allows chaos, antisemitism, and civil rights violations on its campus. Columbia must act—enough is enough.“
• McClain (R-MI) op-ed Breitbart 5/6/25: Exclusive—Rep. Lisa McClain: Confronting Campus Antisemitism Requires Moral Leadership
• Ernst (R-IA) 5/6/25: X-post – “Harvard does not have a right to receive billions in taxpayer funding, but it does have a responsibility to comply with federal civil rights law.   Great work by the Trump admin to fight back against antisemitism on college campuses.”
• Torres (D-NY) 5/5/25: X-post – “The Central Park concert featuring Kehlani—an artist who has repeatedly called for the destruction of Israel as a Jewish state—has been cancelled. Antisemitism becomes unacceptable only when we, as a society, have the courage to reject it—clearly, consistently, and without compromise.“

Rep. Fine (R-FL) on starving Gaza, attacking Tlaib

• Last week Rep. Tlaib (D-MI) posted on X “The government of Israel is starving Gaza to death. It’s a war crime to use starvation as a weapon. The only way to end this genocide is with an arms embargo. Time for my colleagues to end their silence.” In response, Rep. Randy Fine (R-FL) posted a series of comments appearing to accuse Tlaib of being a terrorist or in league with terrorists, and cheering on/celebrating the deliberate starvation of 2 million people in Gaza: “Tell your fellow Muslim terrorists to release the hostages and surrender. Until then, #StarveAway”; and “Hey Muslim terrorists, cry harder. #StarveAway” and “I love blocking Muslim terrorists. They clearly aren’t too hungry. #KeepOnStarving” and “So much #ReligionOfPeace!” As noted by Dylan Williams of the Center for International Policy, “It’s remarkable that, having been in Congress for a single month, this guy managed to say something that is censurable incitement against a fellow lawmaker and did it in a way that is not protected by the Speech or Debate Clause, exposing him to suit and liability for defamation.”

Celebrating SecState Rubio’s Closure of the Office of Palestinian Affairs

• Blackburn (R-TN) 5/6/25: X-post – “Jerusalem is the undivided capital of Israel, and the Biden administration’s reversal only fueled acts of terror. I applaud this decision.“
• Diaz-Balart (R-FL) 5/6/25: X-post – “I commend President @realDonaldTrump and @SecRubio for standing firm with our ally, Israel. The Palestinian Affairs Office and its anti-Israel obsession ran counter to President Trump’s vision of a unified, America First diplomatic policy.“
• Daines (R-MT) 5/6/25: X-post – “I applaud @POTUS and @SecRubio for reversing the Biden attempt to create a de facto U.S. consulate to the Palestinians in Jerusalem. Today’s actions reaffirm Jerusalem is the eternal and indivisible capital of Israel.“
• McCormick (R-PA) 5/6/25: X-post – “The Biden State Deparment [sic] violated federal law to open the OPA and it only served to sabotage Israel at every turn in the wake of Hamas’s terror attacks. This is the correct move by President Trump, Secretary Rubio, and Ambassador Huckabee to support our great ally and reverse the previous administration’s undermining of Israel.“
• Hagerty (R-TN) 5/6/25: X-post – “‘I welcome Secretary Rubio’s efforts in the second Trump administration to reinforce President Trump’s historic first-term decision to fully implement the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 and relocate the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Israel’s eternal and indivisible capital of Jerusalem,’ Hagerty told the Free Beacon.“
• Tenney (R-NY) 5/6/25: X-post – “The Biden administration’s Office of Palestinian Affairs undermined Israel & emboldened Hamas. Thank you, @SecRubio & @USAmbIsrael, for dissolving this entity & reaffirming the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem as the sole diplomatic mission in Jerusalem as required by law.“
• Cotton (R-AR) 5/6/25: X-post – “The U.S.-Israeli relationship should be handled exclusively by the appointed representatives at our Embassy in Jerusalem, not by anti-Israel activists working with the terrorist-supporting Palestinian Authority. Great decision by @SecRubio.“

Iran

• Graham (R-SC) 5/8/25: X-post – “‘If Iran ever acquired a nuclear weapon capability … you’d have a nuclear arms race in the Mideast,’ said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. ‘But more importantly to me, I think they would use it.'”
• Senate GOP 5/8/25: X-post – “The terrorist Iranian regime has repeatedly lied about their nuclear program.   They are enriching uranium for one purpose: to obtain a nuclear weapon.   The only acceptable outcome is a complete and verifiable dismantlement of Iran’s nuclear program.“
• Cotton (R-AR) 5/8/25: X-post (with video clip) – “A nuclear Iran is an imminent threat not just to the United States but to the entire world. A full dismantlement of their nuclear weapons program needs to happen immediately.“
• Cotton (R-AR) 5/8/25: X-post (with video clip) – “7 years ago today, President Trump announced one of the best and most important decisions of his first term: Withdrawing the United States from Obama’s disastrous Iran nuclear deal.“
• Cornyn (R-TX) 5/8/25: X-post – “Satellite images reveal alleged secret Iranian nuclear weapons facility“
• Fallon (R-TX) 5/8/25: X-post – “President Trump’s strategy to stop Iran’s nuclear ambitions hinges on slashing its oil exports. China’s complicity, importing 1.6M barrels daily, undermines sanctions. Targeting executives of major companies will disrupt Iran’s cash flow and deter China’s involvement.“
• Wagner (R-MO) 5/8/25: X-post (with video clip) – “Under the Biden Administration, Congress required Treasury to determine whether any Chinese entities have engaged in oil purchases from Iran, which the Ayatollah uses to fund terrorist proxies around the world. The Biden Treasury Department never gave Congress that information, hindering our ability to enact secondary sanctions. Just last week, President Trump endorsed these secondary sanctions for any purchaser of Iranian oil. During our Financial Services Hearing, I asked Treasury Secretary Bessent when we can expect these determinations. The US must employ all measures to cripple Iran’s terrorist network and deter Chinese support for the Iranian regime.“
• Self (R-TX) 5/7/25: X-post – “TRUST BUT VERIFY! The current situation with Iran is extremely dynamic—the U.S. must stay vigilant. REP. KEITH SELF: ‘We need to make sure that we continue to monitor what Iran is doing. Actions speak louder than words when it comes to Iran.’“
• Senate GOP 5/7/25: X-post – “A nuclear Iran is a threat to America and our allies across the world. Total dismantlement of Iran’s nuclear program is the only path to peace and stability.“
• Green (R-TN) 5/7/25: X-post – “The Iranian regime is the greatest threat to the security of our servicemembers and partners in the Middle East. Unless its nuclear program is completely dismantled, that threat will persist.“
• Cornyn (R-TX) 5/6/25: X-post – “President Trump repudiates the views of those in his Administration who want to water down U.S. policy on Iran.” Linked to Wall Street Journal article, Read Trump’s Lips on Iran — He wants the nuclear program dismantled and sanctions pressure restored.
• Senate GOP 5/6/25: X-post – “For years, Joe Biden, Barack Obama, and Senate Democrats appeased Iran and gave the regime billions in sanctions relief. What was the result? More terrorism and Iran being weeks away from a nuclear weapon. President Trump has brought back strength and deterrence—making America and our allies safer.”
• Senate GOP 5/6/25: X-post – “Obama and Biden policies allowed Iran to come closer than ever to a nuclear weapon. Senate Republicans are working with @POTUS to completely dismantle Iran’s nuclear program.”
• Cotton (R-AR) 5/6/25: X-post (with audio clip) – “Any deal that lets Iran enrich uranium, keep centrifuges, or build missiles isn’t a deal—it’s a delay. Real peace requires real dismantlement.“
• Cotton (R-AR) 5/6/25: X-post (with audio clip) – “Iran equips the Houthi rebels with advanced weapons, drones, and missiles. When the Houthis strike, it’s Iran pulling the strings.”
• Green (R-GA) 5/6/25: X-post – “All the narratives are wearing off. Vietnam was a pointless war and we lost. There were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Afghanistan was a waste. And we gained nothing from any of those wars. Saudi Arabia has nuclear weapons [in fact it doesn’t] and the 19 terrorists from 9/11 were all Saudis. Did we go to war with them? Nope. North Korea has nukes. Little rocket man hasn’t blown us all up yet but we were told he was going to. Pakistan and China have nukes as well. And big bad Russia has nuclear weapons. We were told Putin was going to sweep across Europe, just like Hitler and that hasn’t happened yet either. And he couldn’t take Ukraine in 3 years. We’ve been told Iran is on the verge of having nuclear weapons at any moment for as long as I can remember. People just don’t care anymore because none of these things actually affected our lives unless they were in the military and shipped over to these foreign countries and blown up. But what has directly affected Americans and people that I know is the cartels constant flow of drugs into every single city in America and cartel crime and murder. I’ve never seen a Houthi. Nor has anyone else I know. But what everyone knows is that for some reason we don’t attack the real enemy that kills Americans every single day. No we have to runoff and bomb some country somewhere else in the world because we’re told they’re the bad guys even though they never did anything directly to Americans like the cartels have.”
• Fetterman (D-PA) 5/4/25: X-post – “We cannot negotiate with Iran. It’s time to destroy their nuclear program and neutralize the remaining capabilities of its proxies. I remain steadfast with Israel. Provide whatever is necessary to carry this out.”

The Houthis

• Graham (R-SC) 5/8/25: X-post – “To the Houthi leadership: If you are seeking a greater and wider conflict with America, be careful what you wish for. Your days of terrorizing the region, interfering with commercial shipping and trying to cripple Israel are going to come to an end one way or another.“
• Gottheimer (D-NJ) 5/7/25: X-post – “The Houthis continue to launch missiles at Israel — striking Ben Gurion Airport on Sunday and injuring six civilians. Yet, President Trump announced the U.S. is ending our campaign against the Houthis without Israel’s awareness. Abandoning our key ally isn’t just reckless, it’s dangerous.”
• Nunn (R-IA) 5/6/25: X-post – “The Houthi attack on Israel’s airport raises an important question: how did a JV terrorist group gain the capacity to launch a ballistic missile 2,000+ miles through one of the most sophisticated air defense systems in the world?“
• Green (R-TN) 5/6/25: X-post – “Despite being severely weakened by counter attacks from the United States and Israel, the Houthis are still an Iranian-backed terrorist organization. For that reason Congress should pass my Combating Houthi Threats and Aggression Act. This bill imposes sanctions on those complicit in or who materially support Houthi attacks, past or present.”
• Graham (R-SC) 5/6/25: X-post – “I am very pleased to hear that the Houthis have agreed to stop attacking American vessels. This has come about because of the decisive action @POTUS has taken against the Houthis – a terrorist group in Yemen. Peace through strength does work. As to the Houthis continuing to attack Israel – they do so at Iran’s own peril. Without Iran, the Houthis do not possess the capability to attack America, international shipping or Israel. To my friends in Israel, do what you have to do to protect your airspace and your people. It is long past time to consider hitting Iran hard. It wouldn’t take much to put Iran out of the oil business.“
• Green (R-TN) 5/5/25: X-post – “Just two months after President Trump designated the Houthis as a foreign terrorist organization, the United States has crippled the Iranian terror proxy and forced its surrender. This is a great victory for President Trump, the American people, and our ally Israel. The message is loud and clear: we will not tolerate attacks on our servicemembers.”
• Stevens (D-MI) 5/5/25: X-post – “There is still a major Iran backed terrorism problem facing the people of Israel. This is why I continue to stand by this sovereign state and her people. My office is standing by to assist any constituents whose travel has been affected by this attack.“
• Miller-Meeks (R-IA) 5/4/25: X-post – “The Houthi missile strike near Ben Gurion Airport is a stark reminder of the threats Israel faces from Iran and its proxies. The U.S. must stand firmly with our ally and support Israel’s right to defend itself.“

Pro-Israel Lobbying on the Hill

• [also see: Congressional Israel Allies Caucus celebrates Independence Day on Capitol Hill – Over 300 rabbis and pastors gather in Washington, D.C. for Israel Advocacy Day and Independence Day reception. (Arutz Sheva 5/7/25 – excerpt: “The event included keynote remarks by Israel’s Ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter, together with Congressional Israel Allies Caucus Co-Chairs Rep. Brad Sherman, Rep. Brad Schneider, and included Rep. Byron Donalds, Rep. Virginia Foxx, Rep. Andy Ogles, and others.”) & Rabbis, pastors attend Israel advocacy, Independence Day in Washington (Jerusalem Post 5/8/25 – excerpt: “Members of the Congressional Israel Allies Caucus headlined the event, which was also attended by representatives from the Israel Allies Foundation, Eagles’ Wings, the Zionist Rabbinic Coalition, American Christian Leaders for Israel, the Combat Antisemitism Movement, and more than 100 members of Congress. The event emphasized US support for Israel amid the Israel-Hamas war and against the Iranian nuclear threat.”)
• Thune (R-SD) 5/8/25: X-post – “Met with @AIPAC today to discuss ways we can continue to work with @POTUS, @SecRubio, @SecScottBessent, @SecDef, and their teams to achieve our shared goal of ensuring Iran never has a nuclear weapon.“
• Lawler (R-NY) 5/8/25: X-post – “Earlier this week, I attended the AIPAC New Leadership Network Summit. Thank you, Oren Adaki, for the opportunity to speak and answer some of your questions.“
• Cramer (R-ND) 5/8/25: X-post – “Grateful to meet with Yehuda Neuberger of @AIPAC to discuss the importance of the bilateral U.S.-Israel defense partnership and the need to tighten existing sanctions on Iran.“
• Malliotakis (R-NY) 5/7/25: “It was great to welcome Rabbi & Rebbetzin Sussman to Washington as they joined religious leaders to call on Congress to take more action against antisemitism on campuses, in cities and across America!” [Accompanied by a photo of the congresswoman standing with four visting activists holding signs that don’t mention antisemitism, but do say: RABBIS & PASTORS UNITED FOR ISRAEL”]
• Britt (R-AL) 5/7/25: X-post – “Honored to address @OrthodoxUnion today. Together, we stand against antisemitism, while strengthening US-Israel bonds, and protecting religious freedom. Our shared values unite us, and I’ll continue fighting to ensure Jewish Americans can live and worship in peace.“
• Hawley (R-MO) 5/7/25: X-post – “Senator Hawley had the privilege of speaking with the @OrthodoxUnion today! “If you know the history of this country, you know that this country is built on the spiritual and moral foundations of Israel. . . . “It is vital we stand up to this wave of antisemitism.”
• Fitzpatrick (R-PA) 5/7/25: X-post – “Great running into my friend Pastor George Matthew Clash of The Crossing Church in Washington Crossing—here in D.C. with over 300 faith leaders from diverse backgrounds, all united in purpose and speaking with one voice: standing with Israel and confronting antisemitism isn’t just a moral obligation—it’s an American imperative. As Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Antisemitism, I’m proud to have such an incredible young leader like Pastor Clash representing our Bucks County community on this critical initiative. Hatred, in any form it takes, has no place in our community or our country—and the only way we defeat it is by standing together, speaking out, and staying united in this fight.”
• Yakym (R-IN) 5/5/25: X-post – “Great to show our friends @AIPAC around the Capitol tonight!“

Normalization

• Rosen (D-NV) 5/8/25: X-post – “I’m deeply troubled by reports that the Trump Administration is dropping their request for Saudi Arabia to normalize relations with Israel as part of a deal for access to nuclear energy capabilities. Normalizing relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel has been a bipartisan effort for years. It would transform the Middle East and dramatically increase stability in the region. As a leading champion of the Abraham Accords, I urge the Admin to reconsider this misguided decision before losing the biggest leverage we have at this critical moment.“
• Graham (R-SC) 5/8/25: X-post – “I have been working on and supportive of normalization between Saudi Arabia and Israel for years. This historic agreement would effectively end the Arab-Israeli conflict and allow the region to march toward the light and away from darkness, building on the historic Abraham Accords. However, I would like to make it crystal clear that I will never support a defense agreement with Saudi Arabia or other elements of a proposed deal that does not include normalizing the relationship with Israel as a part of the package. Normalization between Saudi Arabia and Israel is an essential element.” [in response to Jerusalem Post article, US official: If Israel doesn’t wake up, US will advance Saudi deal without it – report — The official said that Trump is growing frustrated with Israel’s approach and that he intends to push on with a deal, regardless of Israel’s position.]
• Wilson (R-SC) 5/7/25: X-post – “I welcome the talks between our friends Türkiye & Israel in Azerbaijan on Syria. I support President Trump’s efforts to negotiate between Türkiye & Israel on an agreement to help facilitate Syria’s security stability and sovereignty. The entire region benefits from a stable Syria”

Other stuff

• Torres (D-NY) 5/9/25: X-post – “I know a hit piece when I see one. The only reason for the coordinated campaign against Senator John Fetterman is his unapologetic pro-Israel politics. Let’s call it what it is. As someone who has struggled with depression my whole adult life, I can tell you that if you truly care about someone’s mental health, leaking hit pieces against them is a strange way of showing it.”
• Fetterman (D-PA) 5/7/25: X-post – “These eliminations are important and necessary steps toward peace. Israel remains at war with a scourge committed to destroy their nation. We must support our ally until there’s true peace in Gaza and the region.” [accompanied by screenshot of a headline from Times of Israel: “Hamas, Hezbollah commanders killed in IDF strikes in Lebanon”]
• Sanders (I-VT) 5/6/25: X-post – “THE most important political issue facing us now is our corrupt campaign finance system & Citizens United. As long as Musk, AIPAC & crypto money can buy politicians, we’re not living in a democracy. We must end billionaire control of our politics and publicly fund elections.”
• Casar (D-TX) 5/6/25: X-post – “NEW: Trump’s sons are raking in billions while crossing the globe: A luxury hotel in Dubai. A tower in Saudi Arabia. A new golf course in Qatar. A new private club in Washington. Trump and his family get richer. Working families get screwed.“
• Welch (D-VT) 5/3/25: X-post – “Dylan Collins is a Vermonter and a journalist who was wounded by Israeli Defense Forces while reporting in Southern Lebanon. On World Press Freedom Day, I’m continuing to demand that the U.S. government investigate this terrible attack on an American journalist.”

5. Selected Media

Iran & Houthis

• Fox News 5/8/25: GOP senators: Congress should vote on Trump’s potential Iran nuclear deal
• Jewish Insider 5/8/25: Cruz: Iran doesn’t need a civilian nuclear energy program [“Cruz and House Speaker Mike Johnson both took firm stances against Iran maintaining any enrichment capabilities in a potential nuclear deal“]
• Algemeiner 5/8/25: US Sens. Tom Cotton, Lindsey Graham Unveil New Resolution Demanding Iran ‘Dismantle’ Nuclear Program
• Jewish Insider 5/8/25: Graham, Cotton warn Iran nuclear deal without ‘complete dismantlement’ won’t pass Senate
• Washington Examiner 5/7/25: Congressional Republicans to urge full dismantlement of Iran’s nuclear program
• Jewish Insider 5/7/25: Hawley insists on Iranian nuclear dismantlement, vows to push to revive AAA [“Hawley on Iran: ‘We need to strip them of their nuclear capacity, we need to isolate them, we need to put them in a box so firm, in a cage with bars so strong, that they cannot get out’”]
• Jewish Insider 5/7/25: Sen. Graham: ‘It’s long past time to hit Iran hard’
• Jewish Insider 5/6/25: GOP senators say U.S., Israel must escalate response to Houthis after Ben Gurion airport hit

Targeting (and defending) Criticism/Critics of Israel, Right to Protest

• Democracy Now 5/8/25: Jewish Students Lobby Congress Against Weaponizing Antisemitism to Silence Critics of Israel
• Haaretz 5/9/25: GOP’s ‘Woke Right’ Scuttles Antisemitism and Israel-boycott Bills [“Republicans foiled the Antisemitism Awareness Act and an anti-boycott bill, bringing into question the GOP’s strategy and pro-Israel groups’ ability to influence the party’s fringe“]
• Rolling Stone 5/6/25: Lawmakers Admit They Want to Ban TikTok Over Pro-Palestinian Content [“As a potential ban looms over the platform, some are admitting that they hope the app’s demise will help kill pro-Palestinian sentiments online“]
• Jewish Insider 5/5/25: Ritchie Torres calls on NYC to cancel Central Park performance by anti-Israel artist Kehlani

Elections/Politics

• Jewish Insider 5/8/25: Michigan state Sen. Jeremy Moss launches House campaign [“Moss said he wants to be a strong progressive voice against antisemitism and for Israel, rallying support from fellow progressives and speaking up for Jewish and pro-Israel constituents”]
• Jewish News Syndicate 5/6/25: Tlaib fundraises for campaign of anti-Israel NYC mayoral candidate
• Jewish Insider 5/6/25: Schakowsky retirement sets up Illinois Democratic primary battle over Mideast policy [“State Sen. Laura Fine is emerging as a pro-Israel front runner, among other Jewish candidates“]
• Jewish Insider 5/5/25: Kemp’s decision to pass on Senate race leaves Jewish voters up for grabs [“Many of the leading Republican alternatives would be a tough sell for moderate-minded Jewish voters in the state“]
• Jewish News Syndicate 5/5/25: Jewish representative with anti-Israel record to retire after 25 years [“The Jewish Democratic Council of America stated that Jan Schakowsky is a ‘staunch advocate for our Jewish and Democratic values.’“]

The Antisemitism Awareness Act

• Jewish Insider 5/7/25: Hawley insists on Iranian nuclear dismantlement, vows to push to revive AAA [“Hawley on Iran: ‘We need to strip them of their nuclear capacity, we need to isolate them, we need to put them in a box so firm, in a cage with bars so strong, that they cannot get out’”]
• Jewish Journal 5/7/25: Will Antisemitism Bill Survive? Party loyalties apparently come first, even before the fight against prejudice, intolerance and hate.
• Common Dreams 5/6/25: Pro-Israel Senators Show Their Hand By Opposing Free Speech Protections in Now-Delayed Antisemitism Bill
• Moment Magazine 5/5/25: What’s Holding Up the Antisemitism Awareness Act?
• Peter Beinart/Substack 5/5/25: Is the Antisemitism Awareness Act Antisemitic? [“In the Name of Protecting Jews, Politicians are Pushing a Definition of Antisemitism that Denies Jewish Humanity”]

YOU KIDS GET OFF MY LAWN

• The Hill 5/8/25: Carville: People like Omar ‘more trouble than they’re worth’

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

New:

• 4/30/25: How Pro-Israel Policy is Impacting Free Expression in the US (FMEP president Lara Friedman interviewed by Lee Fang for Glenn Greenwald’s System Update)

1. Bills & Resolutions

Targeting Campus Free Speech via Conflating Criticism of Israel w/ Antisemitism

(LEGISLATING THE IHRA CONFLATION OF CRITICISM OF ISRAEL & ANTISEMITISM) S. 558: Introduced 2/13/25 by Scott (R-SC) and 35 cosponsors (17 Republicans and 18 Democrats), “A bill to provide for the consideration of a definition of antisemitism set forth by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance for the enforcement of Federal antidiscrimination laws concerning education programs or activities, and for other purposes,” aka the “Antisemitism Awareness Act.” As a reminder, this bill seeks to codify into law, and enforce, the IHRA definition of antisemitism, including its “contemporary examples” that explicitly conflate criticism of Israel, Israeli policies/actions, and Zionism with antisemitism [with the targeting of such criticism the clear objective of the legislation]. Marked up in the Senate HELP Committee on 4/30/25, amended, and then DEAD IN THE WATER. For hearing details (and it was a doozy of a hearing) see Section 3, below.

(WEAPONIZING THE IHRA DEFINITION ON US CAMPUSES) S. 3580: Introduced 1/11/24 by Cassidy (R-LA) and Fetterman (D-CA), the “Protecting Students on Campus Act of 2024.” As a reminder, this bill seeks to encourage and make it easier for students to file complaints regarding alleged antisemitism on campus — an initiative that, when coupled with S. 558 (above), would quite literally encourage, enable, and arguably require the wholesale suppression and punishment of virtually all free speech/protest on campus related to Israel or Zionism. Marked up in the Senate HELP Committee on 4/30/25, and then seemingly DEAD IN THE WATER along with S. 558. For hearing details (and it was a doozy of a hearing) see Section 3, below.

Targeting Right to Boycott Israel/Settlements

(NO FEDERAL CONTRACTS WITH ENTITIES THAT BOYCOTT ISRAEL) HR 3050: Introduced 4/28/25 by Tenney (R-NY) and 4 Republican cosponsors, “To prohibit Federal agencies from contracting with companies engaged in a boycott of Israel, and for other purposes,” aka the “Countering Hate Against Israel by Federal Contractors (CHAI) Act.” Referred to the House Oversight and Accountability Committee. This same bill was introduced in the last Congress, by Tenney, as HR 4564, and garnered 23 cosponsors (including a grand total of 3 Democrats). The current bill has a Senate counterpart – S. 4770, introduced 7/25/25 by Risch (R-ID and currently having 13 Republican cosponsors. Also see: Tenney’s press release; CUFI leader: ‘No government contracts for Israel-haters’ [“The CHAI Act would finally codify into federal law that entities doing business with the U.S. government must not engage in or support BDS for the duration of their contract,” said Sandra Hagee Parker.] (Jewish News Syndicate 4/29/25); Tenney, Moskowitz reintroduce federal anti-BDS legislation (Jewish Insider 4/15/25); Bipartisan group reintroduces House legislation countering boycotts of Israel (Jewish News Syndicate 4/16/25).

Targeting the UN & UNRWA

(TARGETING UNRWA) S. 1487 (bill text): Introduced 4/10/25 (not previously reported in the Round-Up) by Cruz (R-TX) and 8 Republican cosponsors, “A bill to amend title 28, United States Code, to clarify that international organizations are not immune from the jurisdiction of the courts of the United States in certain cases related to terrorism,” aka the ““Limiting Immunity for Assisting Backers of Lethal Extremism Act” aka, the “LIABLE Act.” Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. Also see Cruz’s 4/14/25 press release touting the introduction of the bill and explaining that the bill “removes immunity from, and allows suits against, international organizations that provide material support to designated terror groups which commit terrorism against Americans.” The rest of the press release makes clear that the purpose of the bill is to enable Americans to sue UNRWA. Also see: Sen. Rick Scott, Colleagues Lead Legislation Targeting Organizations Enabling and Funding Terrorists; Scott (R-FL) 4/28/25: X-post – “For years, the UNRWA has been aiding Iran-backed Hamas in their spread of hateful antisemitism. Proud to join @SenTedCruz, to intro the LIABLE Act and ensure the victims and their families can finally bring UNRWA to justice.”

(TARGETING THE UN IN GENERAL) S. 1521 (text): Introduced 4/30/25 by Risch (R-ID) and 23 cosponsors (all Republicans, “To amend the United Nations Participation Act of 1945 to provide for a prohibition on contributions to the United Nations related to discrimination against Israel,” aka the “Stand with Israel Act.” As summarized in Risch’s press release, the bill would “cut off U.S. funding to UN agencies that expel, downgrade, suspend, or otherwise restrict the participation of the State of Israel.” Also see:

• Media: Senate Republicans aim to defund U.N. agencies that penalize Israel (Jewish Insider 4/30/25); Nearly half of Senate Republicans sponsor ‘Stand with Israel Act’ (Jewish News Syndicate 4/30/25)
• Social media & press releases: Ernst (R-IA) 4/30/25 X-post – “Not only has the UN become a breeding ground for antisemitism, but its OWN STAFFERS helped plan and execute Hamas’ October 7th terrorist attack on Israel that killed Americans. Our tax dollars should not be used to fund terrorism.” Fischer (R-NE) 4/30/25  X-post – “Despite receiving billions of dollars from the U.S., the UN has allowed antisemitism to spread unchecked within its ranks Pleased to join @SenatorRisch in introducing the Stand with Israel Act to hold the UN accountable.” Press releases: Fischer (R-NE), Boozman (R-AR) and Cotton (R-AR), Crapo (R-ID), Budd (R-NC), Scott (R-FL), Britt (R-AL),

Targeting Israeli/Settler Violence in West Bank & Ben Gvir

(TARGETING SETTLER VIOLENCE) HR 3045 (text): Introduced 4/28/25 by Nadler (D-NY) and two Democratic cosponsors, “To prevent violence in the West Bank and authorize the imposition of sanctions with respect to any foreign person endangering United States national security and undermining prospects for a two-state solution by committing illegal violent acts,” aka the “the West Bank Violence Prevention Act.“ Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and the Committee on the Judiciary. As summarized in Nadler’s press release, the bill “codifies and enshrines into law the Biden Administration’s Executive Order 14115, which sought to prevent acts of violence in the West Bank and to punish those who commit such acts. The legislation, like the Executive Order, applies to those committing acts of violence in the West Bank, regardless of their nationality.” Also see:

• Rep. Nadler (D-NY) 4/24/25 X-post: “Today I spoke at a rally in New York protesting Itamar Ben-Gvir’s visit and making clear that Ben-Gvir is not welcome here. We must be crystal clear about who Ben-Gvir is: he is a racist, terrorist, Jewish supremacist, bent on enacting Meir Kahane’s vision. He has prevented the hostages from coming home and pushed for an unending war in Gaza. Ben-Gvir is the inciter-in-chief of settler violence in the West Bank, and I invite my colleagues to join me in supporting new legislation I will introduce next week to combat all violence in the West Bank in response to Ben-Gvir’s visit.“
• Nadler 4/28/25 X-post: “I am proud to have led my colleagues @RepAdamSmith and @jahimes in introducing the West Bank Violence Prevention Act in response to the visit to the United States of Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir, the Leader of the Jewish Power Party. Violence in the West Bank has reached a fever pitch, and Itamar Ben-Gvir serves as inciter-in-chief of some of the deadliest settler violence. We must be crystal clear about who Itamar Ben-Gvir is: he is a racist, terrorist, Jewish supremacist. This legislation sends a message: Ben-Gvir’s incitement is not welcome in our communities and in the United States.”

2. Letters

• (TARGETING WIKIPEDIA & ACTUAL FACTS) 4/30/25: Bipartisan Lawmakers Demand Wikimedia Reign in Antisemitism [alleged by the ADL], Uphold Neutrality [letter text]. Also see: Lawmakers press Wikipedia to clarify and enforce editorial oversight to prevent anti-Israel bias [“The group of 23 bipartisan members of Congress told the Wikimedia Foundation: ‘It is clear that more needs to be done to ensure Wikipedia remains free of bias, antisemitism and pro-terrorist content’”] (Jewish Insider 5/1/25); U.S. Congress Members Call for Increased Oversight of Wikipedia Over Anti-Israel Bias (YNet – [Israeli media] 5/1/25); Members of Congress call on Wikipedia to curb its antisemitism (Arutz Sheva [Israeli media] 5/1/25)
• (TARGETING ACADEMIA) 4/28/25: Chair Walberg Calls in Northwestern President for Transcribed Interview [letter text]. Also see: House Committee calls Northwestern president for transcribed interview (Jewish Insider 4/28/25); House Ed Committee Demands Interview With Northwestern President Over Campus Anti-Semitism (Free Beacon 4/28/25)

3. Hearings

4. Selected Members on the Record

[not included here: the many, many posts standing with Israel in its back-to-back observances, April 29 & 30, of its memorial day and independence day]

Targeting Free Speech/Academia/Right to Protest

• Stefanik (R-NY) 5/1/25: X-thread — “@Harvard released a damning report on Antisemitism raging within its institution. What it found underscores longtime, deep-rooted, dangerous, & rampant antisemitism embedded in coursework, campus life, and faculty hiring.  Here are some highlights: (1/10)…“
• Gottheimer (D-NY) 4/30/25: PHOTO RELEASE: Gottheimer Speaks with Students at Rutgers Hillel and Rutgers University Chabad to Discuss Combatting Antisemitism on Campus
• Walberg (R-MI) 4/29/25: Chair Walberg Reacts to Scathing Report on Harvard’s Antisemitism [“This report shows what Committee Republicans have highlighted for years: antisemitism is running rampant on Harvard’s campus. Harvard’s president said the school will not abide bigotry, yet that’s exactly what the school’s feckless leadership did. I’m delighted we finally have an ally in the White House who is willing to hold schools accountable for their abject failure to protect students, as required by law.”]
• Gimenez (R-FL) 4/29/25: X-post – “Across our nation and around the world — from college campuses to city streets — antisemitism is on the rise. Let me be clear: there is no place for antisemitism. I am proud to stand with the Jewish community and with Israel. On this #EndJewHatred Day, let us condemn antisemitism wherever and whenever it appears.“
• Scott (R-FL) 4/29/25: X-post – “Proud to recognize April 29th as #EndJewHatred Day. Today and every day, Florida stands with our great ally, Israel and our state’s incredible Jewish community. Antisemitism and hatred of any kind have no place in our state or our country.”
• Stefanik (R-NY) 4/29/25: X-post – “Harvard’s own task force reveals longtime, deep-rooted, dangerous, & rampant antisemitism embedded in coursework, campus life, and faculty hiring. This is further confirmation of the significant moral crisis facing higher education that I have sounded the alarm on in Congress. There must be accountability and real reform to save American higher education — not just reports.“
• Stefanik (R-NY) 4/29/25: X-post – “Antisemitism must not be tolerated at American colleges and universities. Berklee College of Music correctly fired this professor due to his vile antisemitism following great investigative reporting by the @FreeBeacon’s @LevineJonathan. I will continue to lead with President @realdonaldtrump on holding these failing institutions accountable. Read more: Berklee College of Music Fires Professor Who Called Jews ‘Vile Predators’” includes link to: Berklee College of Music Fires Professor Who Called Jews ‘Vile Predators’ (Free Beacon 4/28/25)
• LaLota (R-NY) 4/29/25: X-post – “Democrats are defending an MS-13 gang member with a violent past while staying silent on Americans held hostage by Hamas. Their priorities are backwards. It’s time to stand up for American citizens — not criminals who should’ve never been here.”
• Sherman (D-CA) 4/25/25: Congressman Sherman Statement on Recent Arrests of Anti-Israel Protesters by the Trump Administration

Ben Gvir’s US Tour

• House Foreign Affairs Committee (GOP) 4/28/25: X-post – “Chairman @RepBrianMast met with @itamarbengvir today to discuss America’s shared national security interests with Israel.” [with photo of Mast and Ben Gvir, in which Ben Gvir is gifting Mast a menorah with a plaque saying “On behalf of the State of Israel | with complements [sic], | Itamar Ben Givr | Minister of National Security“]
• Nadler (D-NY) 4/28/25: X-post – “I condemn all of the violence that took place in Brooklyn outside of Ben-Gvir’s visit to Chabad World Headquarters. Violence is never the answer— whether by counter protesters in Brooklyn or by settlers in the West Bank. Attacking a lone female bystander and spewing antisemitic hatred are both cowardly and unacceptable acts. The bill I introduced earlier today aims to prevent violence in the West Bank, but it is up to all of us to keep such violence off our streets here at home. Ben-Gvir, Israel’s inciter-in-chief, spent his trip provoking violence wherever he went. I pray that all level headed leaders can come together to reject this violence and make clear that Ben-Gvir is not welcome here.“
• Nadler (D-NY) 4/24/25: Remarks of Rep. Jerry Nadler (NY-12) “Say No to Ben-Gvir” Rally, New York, NY, April 24, 2025, As Prepared for Delivery; video

US-Israel-Gaza

• Merkley (D-OR) 4/30/25: X-post – “The specter of famine looms over more than 2 million people in Gaza, including countless children. Israel’s blockade is starving communities, and as a key economic and security partner, the U.S. must use its leverage to DEMAND CHANGE NOW.”
• Omar (D-MN) 4/28/25: X-post – “We all knew they weren’t working tirelessly on a ceasefire and it was all a lie.” [In response to DropSite post 4/28/25: “REPORT: Biden Officials Admit They Never Pressured Israel for Ceasefire, as Israeli Leaders Boast of Playing Washington“
• House Foreign Affairs Committee (Dems) 4/28/25: X-post – “RM @RepGregoryMeeks: Held important meetings with PM Netanyahu, FM Gideon Sa’ar and Leader Yair Lapid in Israel to discuss the US-Israel strategic partnership, Congress’s support for Israel’s defense, ending the conflict in Gaza, and our shared vision for a peaceful Middle East.”
• House Foreign Affairs Committee (Dems) 4/28/25: X-post – “RM @RepGregoryMeeks: Securing a durable ceasefire & returning all those still being held captive by Hamas remains a top priority for the US. I’m always humbled by the courage & strength demonstrated by the families of the hostages & I reaffirmed Congress’s commitment to bringing them home.”
• Diaz-Balart (R-FL) 4/28/25: X-post – “It is crucial Congress remain united in support and solidarity with our ally, Israel, and continue our efforts urging for the remaining hostages to be freed. We will not stop working for the safe release of all hostages, and for their captors to be held accountable.”

Targeting UNRWA

• Stefanik (R-NY) 4/28/25: X-post – “President @realDonaldTrump’s action of stripping UNRWA of immunity is an important act of moral clarity. I strongly advocated for this decision to allow victims’ families to pursue justice and expose UNRWA’s shameful complicity in terrorism. America must never protect organizations tied to Hamas and the October 7th terrorist attacks.“
• Hern (R-OK) 4/25/25: X-post – “Great move from the Trump Admin! UNRWA was involved in the deadliest attack on the Jewish people since the Holocaust. The survivors and the families of those murdered on October 7th deserve justice.“
• Bacon (R-NE) 4/25/25: X-post – “UNRWA doesn’t deserve a penny from American taxpayers. Too many of their employees helped Hamas perpetrate the massacre of 1,200 innocents on 7 Oct.“

Other stuff

• Wagner (R-MO) 5/1/25: Wagner Advances American National Security Interests During Visit to Europe and Middle East
• Pressley (D-MA) 4/30/25: Pressley Applauds Release of Mohsen Mahdawi, Renews Call for Release of Rümeysa Öztürk, Mahmoud Khalil, and Others
• Blackburn (R-TN) 4/29/25: X-post – “Unlike Joe Biden, the Trump administration is standing with Israel and taking strong action against the Houthis and the Iranian regime. We will not back down to terrorists that want to murder Americans.” With link to article: US Treasury targets Houthi-linked vessels to disrupt efforts to fund ‘dangerous and destabilizing attacks’ (F0x News 4/28/25)
• Murphy (D-CT) 4/28/25: X-post – “Another win for this super competent national security team. I thought our strikes in Yemen were ‘restoring deterrence’.” Responding to news: US Navy loses $60 million jet at sea after it fell overboard from aircraft carrier
• Jayapal (D-WA) 4/25/25: X-post – “After Israel’s illegal blockade of humanitarian aid in Gaza, the World Food Programme has run out of food to feed people who have no alternatives. This blockade must be lifted and aid must resume.“

5. Selected Media

Targeting Free Speech/Academia/Right to Protest

• Yahoo News 5/2/25: Democratic rep fears party turning antisemitic protesters into ‘martyrs’ in battle against Trump deportations
• Jewish Insider 5/1/25: Dan Goldman: Democrats shouldn’t make antisemitic visa holders into ‘martyrs’
• Jewish News Syndicate 4/30/25: Nadler goes after rabbi for exposing Democrat’s antisemitism
• Jewish Insider 4/30/25: Bill Cassidy leans in to fight antisemitism as chair of key Senate committee
• Jewish Chronicle (UK) 4/29/25: Meet the Jewish Democrats opposing Trump’s war on antisemitism

Iran

• Jewish Insider 4/29/25: Rep. Greg Landsman: Ending Iran’s nuclear program, terrorism would transform the Middle East [“The Democratic lawmaker also said he’s working on legislation to create a bipartisan select committee focused on Middle East peace“]
• Jewish Insider 4/28/25: Wasserman Schultz: Arab, Israeli leaders say Iran deal must cover proxy activity

Ben Gvir in the US

• Jewish News Syndicate 4/29/25: Ben-Gvir concludes US visit with meetings on Capitol Hill [“The Israeli national security minister discussed mutual defense priorities with House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast in Washington, D.C.”]
• The Forward/Jewish Telegraphic Agency 4/29/25: Ben-Gvir says he met with 4 members of Congress, rebuffed protesters at US Capitol
• Jewish Insider 4/28/25: Far-right Israeli minister scores first meetings on Capitol Hill, none with Trump administration [“In an interview with JI, Itamar Ben-Gvir said he’s in the U.S. to push Trump’s plan for Gaza and expects to receive a meeting with the administration eventually“]

Israel, Gaza, Syria

• Jewish Insider 5/1/25: Ossoff highlights hostages and antisemitism, but says Trump is exploiting Jewish fears
• Jewish Insider 5/1/25: Sen. Jim Banks lays out his vision for the future of Republican foreign policy [“…The first-term Indiana senator argued that the U.S. has critical interests in the Middle East, in countering the threat from Iran and supporting Israel, even as he leaned into elements of President Donald Trump’s foreign policy that are controversial among Republican traditionalists. He framed that policy as a return to a Reaganite peace through strength approach. Banks said that the U.S. ‘cannot accept another bad deal with Iran,’ adding that he does not believe Trump would be interested in returning to a deal similar to the Obama-era Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. Iran, Banks argued, is its weakest position in decades and ‘the president knows that he holds all the cards, and he knows how to play them. He is also the most pro-Israel president that we’ve ever had, so I fully expect him to put America and Israel’s interests first when it comes to dealing with Iran.’ Responding to a question about media figures who argue the U.S. should not be focused on the Middle East, the threats from Iran or supporting Israel, Banks described Israel as ‘our most important ally in the world.‘”]
• Jewish Insider 4/29/25: Sen. Andy Kim seeks answers on Edan Alexander amid uncertainty over his condition in Gaza [“The New Jersey Democrat has asked diplomatic and intelligence officials for an update on the status of his constituent after Hamas claimed it had lost touch with his captors“]
• Jewish Insider 4/28/28: Ritchie Torres at AJC Global Forum: ‘A durable peace is possible’ in the Middle East [“Receiving the group’s inaugural Nita M. Lowey Congressional Leadership Award, the congressman said the ‘future of the Middle East belongs to Israel and the Abraham Accords’“]
• Jewish Insider 4/28/25: Syria’s al-Sharaa discussed prospects for normalization with Israel with GOP lawmaker [“Rep. Marlin Stutzman visited Syria last week as one of the first members of Congress to visit the country following the fall of the Assad regime“]

Elections

• Jewish Insider 5/2/25: Ken Martin: Democratic Party needs to stand with Jewish community, Israel
• The Intercept 4/28/25: Down Two Squad Members, Progressives Come for an AIPAC Democrat [“Justice Democrats, the group that helped elect the Squad, is backing a primary against AIPAC-backed incumbent Rep. Shri Thanedar.”]

Other stuff

• The National Herald 5/2/25: Reps. Malliotakis & Lawler on the 3+1 Framework- Greece, Cyprus, Israel-U.S.

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

New:

• 4/24/25: Arab Center Washington DC convened a webinar entitled, Washington Targets Dissent: Repression from the Academy to the Streets, ft., Asli Bali (Yale Law School); Tariq Habbash (A New Policy); Lara Friedman (FMEP) & Abed Ayoub (Arab-American Anti-Discrimination Committee), with Yousef Munayyer (Arab Center) moderating.

NOTE: Congress is on Spring Break this week.

1. Bills & Resolutions

S. 558, Antisemitism Awareness Act of 2025, and S. 163, Protecting Students on Campus Act of 2025 are back on the Senate HELP Committee schedule for markup on 4/30/25. See Section 3, below, for details.

(TARGETING SETTLER TERRORISM?) HR XXXX: On 4/24/25, Rep. Nadler (D-NY) posted on X: “Today I spoke at a rally in New York protesting Itamar Ben-Gvir’s visit and making clear that Ben-Gvir is not welcome here. We must be crystal clear about who Ben-Gvir is: he is a racist, terrorist, Jewish supremacist, bent on enacting Meir Kahane’s vision. He has prevented the hostages from coming home and pushed for an unending war in Gaza. Ben-Gvir is the inciter-in-chief of settler violence in the West Bank, and I invite my colleagues to join me in supporting new legislation I will introduce next week to combat all violence in the West Bank in response to Ben-Gvir’s visit.” [emphasis added]

2. Letters

• (CONCERN ABOUT ASSAULT ON ACADEMIA USING ANTISEMITISM AS THE EXCUSE) 4/24/25: With American Education Institutions Under Attack, Schumer, Blumenthal, Schatz, Rosen, And Schiff Demand President Trump Finally End Weaponization Of Antisemitism And Protect Students On Campuses Across The Country [letter text]. Also see: Jewish Senate Dems accuse Trump of weaponizing antisemitism to attack universities (Jewish Insider 4/25/25); Schumer tells Trump to stop weaponizing antisemitism against universities (Jerusalem Post 4/25/25); Jewish senators accuse Trump of exploiting antisemitism to target universities (The Guardian 4/24/25)
• (CONCERN ABOUT US KILLING CIVILIANS IN YEMEN) 4/24/25: Van Hollen, Warren, Kaine Press Hegseth on High Civilian Casualties in Yemen Strikes and Trump Administration’s Dismantling of Safeguards Against Civilian Harm [letter text]. Also see: Senators challenge Hegseth on civilian deaths in Yemen strikes (Washington Post 4/24/25)
• (BUILD RELATIONS WITH NEW SYRIAN GOVT!) 4/22/25: Ranking Member Shaheen Urges Administration to Remove Barriers to Engagement with Syrian Interim Government [text of Shaheen-Risch letter]
• (DEMANDING DOCS FROM 3 UNIVERSITIES BEFORE MAY KANGAROO COURT “HEARING”) 4/21/25: Walberg, Owens Request Information Ahead of Antisemitism Hearing with College Presidents [letters: California Polytechnic State University (San Luis Obispo), DePaul University, Haverford College]. Also see: House leaders address schools ahead of hearing on Jew-hatred (Jewish News Syndicate 4/21/25); Risch, Shaheen urge admin to consider additional Syria sanctions relief (Jewish Insider 4/23/25)

3. Hearings

4. Selected Members on the Record

Re: Israeli-imposed Humanitarian Catastrophe + Ethnic Cleansing in Gaza

• Fetterman (D-PA) 4/23/25: X-post – “What’s truly intolerable? Innocent civilians held in tunnels for 565 days and counting. European allies should demand the elimination of Hamas and for the release of all remaining hostages. These actions would quickly end the suffering in Gaza.“
• Welch (D-VT) 4/22/25: X-post – “This is wrong. I’ve spoken to Israeli families who described the agony they wake up to every day not knowing if their loved ones will come home safe. Reaching a ceasefire agreement so we can get hostages safely out and humanitarian aid to civilians in must be the top priority.” Responding to Washington Post X-post, “Israel’s far-right finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, drew outrage Monday when he said returning Israeli hostages still held by Hamas is not the war’s ‘most important goal.’”
• Van Hollen (D-MD) 4/22/25: X-post – “It’s been 50+ days since the start of a complete blockade on food & humanitarian relief to civilians in Gaza. Jose Andres is right: End the blockade & suffering. Release all the hostages. End the war. No more Oct 7ths. Security, dignity, human rights & self-determination for all.”
• Emmer (R-MN) 4/22/25: X-post – “Hamas still holds 59 hostages, including 5 Americans, in Gaza—God only knows under what conditions. America’s support for Israel’s efforts to confront Iranian aggression, destroy Hamas, and return the hostages will not waver. Not now, not ever.“
• Massie (R-KY) 4/21/25: X-post – “If you’re trying to make the case that Israel should continue bombing Gaza and America should pay for it, saying I support communism (or that I’m antisemitic) for not sharing your world view is ridiculous and will only hurt your case.“
• Sanders (I-VT) 4/21/25: X-post – “It’s been 51 days since ANY humanitarian aid has entered Gaza. Israeli Minister of Defense Katz has said: ‘Israel’s policy is clear: no humanitarian aid will enter Gaza.’  This is a war crime.   We must end our complicity. NO more military aid for Netanyahu’s war machine.” Also see lengthy response to Sanders on X from Israeli Defense Minister Katz — not denying that Israel is preventing entry of aid into Gaza, but insisting that it is all totally legal and that aid is not needed right now anyway.
• Tlaib (D-MI) 4/21/25: X-post – “Thank you for using your voice to recognize the human dignity of the Palestinian people, even in your final days. Your dedication to always lifting up immigrants, vulnerable, and oppressed people everywhere is an inspiration to us all.”
• Cruz (R-TX) 4/18/25: X-post – “Hamas are barbaric terrorists who gleefully use human shields as an instrument of war. In 2018 I authored and passed into law mandatory sanctions to hold them accountable for this practice. The Biden admin wouldn’t enforce those sanctions, because they wanted to falsely blame Israel for the deaths of Palestinian civilians. Thankfully, President Trump and Trump officials will change course.”

Members Visit Students Detained for Palestine Protest

• Pressley (D-MA) 4/23/25: WATCH: Pressley, Markey, McGovern Recount Harrowing Visit with Rümeysa Öztürk and Mahmoud Khalil at ICE Facilities in Louisiana
• Pressley (D-MA) 4/22/25: X-post – “I spent the day at the ICE Detention centers where Rümeysa Öztürk and Mahmoud Khalil are being unjustly detained. They’ve been taken thousands of miles away from home, and denied the dignity, medical care, and due process they deserve. This is not normal. No part of this is legal or just. My constituents deserve to live free from fear. Our freedoms and our destinies are tied.”
• McGovern (D-MA) 4/22/25: X-post – “Rümeysa Öztürk & Mahmoud Khalil broke no laws, yet have been denied due process & locked away for exercising their First Amendment rights. Make no mistake: they are political prisoners, detained not for what they’ve done, but for what they dared to say. We went to Louisiana to hear their stories & demand their release.”
• Markey (D-MA) 4/22/25: X-post – “After meeting with Khalil today, his story reminds us that this betrayal and injustice should have never happened. We have a moral obligation to stand with and unequivocally call out the injustices Mahmoud Khalil and too many others are suffering from at the hand of this administration. We demand justice.”
• Markey (D-MA) 4/22/25: X-post – “I filmed this yesterday on my way to Lousiana where my constituent Rümeysa Öztürk is being wrongfully held by ICE. I’m there now demanding her release. More to come.”
• Welch (D-VT) 4/21/25: X-post – “When I met with Mohsen Mahdawi today, we spoke about how appreciative he is to have the support of so many people in Vermont. He said one of the reasons he wanted to become a citizen was because of his belief in American democracy. He hopes that justice will prevail in his case.”
• Welch (D-VT) 4/21/25: X-post – “I just met with Mohsen Mahdawi where he’s being held in Vermont. He was detained when he showed up for his citizenship interview. He should be released so he can become a citizen.”
• Welch (D-VT) 4/21/25: X-post – “I just met with Mohsen Mahdawi where he’s being held in Vermont. He was detained when he showed up for his citizenship interview. He should be released so he can become a citizen.“

Targeting Anyone Who Dares to Protest for Palestinian Lives/Rights

• Stefanik (R-NY) 4/25/25: X-post – “DISGUSTING: Rutgers faculty defended Hamas terrorists after the Oct 7 massacre. They pushed vile anti-Israel propaganda & ‘contextualized’ the slaughter of Jews. Rutgers is now under federal investigation — and rightfully so. There is NEVER justification for terrorism.” Linked to article, Radical Rutgers University Faculty Defended Hamas Days After October 7 Attack (National Review 4/25/25)
• Lankford (R-OK) 4/24/25: X-post – “Thank you to the Trump administration for standing up for Jewish students and combating antisemitism on college campuses. No student should be afraid to go to school or face discrimination or harassment because of their faith or heritage.” Responding/re-posting X-post by the Department of Education touting “100 Days Strong: @POTUS and @EDSecMcMahon have made it clear: Antisemitism has no place in our classrooms or on our campuses.” (including a table laying of the Trump Admin’s accomplishments with respect to cracking down on academia in the name of fighting antisemitism)
• Lawler (R-NY) 4/25/25: X-post – “Antisemitism has no place in our schools, on our campuses, or anywhere in our society. AAA is a straightforward, bipartisan effort to codify an executive order to ensure that federal civil rights protections can be enforced.” Linked to image with headline, “The Antisemitism Awareness Act Is Back” with quote from Lawler.
• House Foreign Affairs Committee (GOP) 4/24/25: X-post – “If you are a foreign guest in OUR country trying to force Jewish students off their campus & rooting for terrorists, we are going to revoke your visa and force you out of our country.” [responding to post alleging that protesters at Yale were blocking Jewish students from moving around on campus; in reality what the video shows is a student demanding to walk through the middle of a circle of protesters, rather than walk around them, like other people are doing]
• House Committee on Education & the Workforce (GOP) 4/23/25: X-post – “When will schools wake up to the fact this is harassment of Jewish students? Blatant antisemitism? Schools like @Yale need to follow the law and protect all students—including Jewish students.” [with video alleging showing protesters at Yale blocking a Jewish student from moving around on campus; in reality what the video shows is a student demanding to walk through the middle of a circle of protesters, rather than walk around them like other people are doing]
• Malliotakis (R-NY) 4/23/25: X-post – “Unfortunately, this is not surprising. When New York colleges have allowed antisemitism to run rampant, people march in the streets waving Hamas and Hezbollah flags without accountability & hate crimes are reduced or dropped entirely, it allows antisemitism to fester. New York must do better.” With image reading: “New York leads the nation in reported antisemitic incidents in 2024: ADL“
• Scott (R-FL) 4/23/25: X-post – “This is the right move. Hamas terrorists have been holding Americans and Israelis hostage for 565 days. No one who sympathizes with these terrorists should be handed a platform to spread their hate and antisemitism.” In response to post: “#BREAKING @Cornell’s president has rescinded the invitation for antisemitic singer Kehlani to perform at the school’s annual Slope Day concert.” [her crime: opposition to Gaza genocide]
• Bost (R-IL) 4/22/25: X-post – “According to the Anti-Defamation League, antisemitism is on the rise in Illinois, with over 335 incidents reported in 2024 – a 59% increase. That includes 79 incidents on college campuses, ranking our state 5th nationally for antisemitic confrontations at institutions of learning. Antisemitism has no place in our state, and I will continue to do all I can to stop it.“
• House Committee on Education & the Workforce (GOP) 4/22/25: X-post – “Make no mistake: antisemitism skyrocketed on college campuses around the U.S.—not just at the Ivy Leagues. The Committee looks forward to bringing in these university leaders to testify about what they’re doing to address antisemitism and protect students—as the law requires.”
• Gottheimer (D-NJ) 4/22/25: Gottheimer Statement on the Anti-Defamation League’s 2024 Audit Showing Worst Year Ever for Antisemitic Incidents [“We cannot sit idly by while individuals in politics, pop culture, or sports openly spew antisemitic tropes and hatred — the magnitude of this crisis demands real action. That’s why I’m continuing fighting to pass my bipartisan Antisemitism Awareness Act to ensure our children can attend schools and universities without fear of intimidation, threats, and violence.“]
• Harris (R-MD) 4/21/25: X-post – “The US government should not use taxpayer dollars to subsidize the student loan debt of universities that preach, teach, and tolerate antisemitism.“
• McClain (R-MI) 4/21/25: X-post – “Eradicating antisemitism should not be a controversy. Instead of making their campus safe for ALL students, Harvard wants to let the problem continue. Our tax dollars shouldn’t go to universities that support antisemitism.”

Recess Travel to Israel/Middle East

• Moreno (R-OH) 4/23/25: X-post – “While some of my colleagues are trying to jailbreak a criminal illegal in El Salvador, I traveled to Israel to remind the world Hamas has held an American citizen hostage for 564 days. We cannot rest until Hamas is eradicated and EVERY hostage is home safe. #BringThemHome”
• Jeffries (D-NY) 4/22/25: JEFFRIES LEADS CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO THE UNITED KINGDOM, DENMARK, ISRAEL AND JORDAN
• Landsman (D-OH) 4/22/25: Landsman Joins Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Bipartisan Congressional Delegation to the United Kingdom, Denmark, Israel, and Jordan

Conflating the Holocaust with October 7. 2023

• Lankford (R-SC) 4/24/25: X-post – “Today is Holocaust Remembrance Day. In Israel, time stands still for a moment of silence. After October 7, old wounds have reopened. We stand with Israel today and every day as we combat antisemitism. As we say, Never Again, and remember all those lost to the Holocaust, we also remember those still being held hostage and pray for their safe release.”
• Mills (R-FL) 4/24/25: X-post – “On Holocaust Remembrance Day, we honor the 6 million Jewish lives lost and vow ‘ever Again.’ I stand steadfastly with Israel, our ally, against hatred and terror. After the October 7, 2023 attacks, I was privileged to help evacuate over 250 Americans from Israel. I urge all to pray for the hostages still held by Hamas. I will continue to fight for aid to strengthen Israel’s security and pursue lasting peace. Today, let’s honor the victims of the Holocaust and the resilience of its survivors.“

Iran

• Weber (R-TX) 4/22/25: X-post – “The Obama & Biden Administration played games with Iran—and it’s time to put that to bed. Iran is the world’s leading state sponsor of terror. They chant ‘Death to America’ and ‘Death to Israel’—and they mean it. Letting them enrich uranium is like handing a match to an arsonist. Under President Trump, I hope to see that threat shut down for good.“

Other stuff

• Rosen (D-NV) 4/22/25: Rosen Sounds Alarm on Disturbing Findings from ADL Antisemitism Report, Urges Congress to Take Action to Combat Rise of Antisemitism
• Ciscomani (R-AZ) 4/22/25: X-post – “I am disgusted by this antisemitic act against the Chabad Tucson-Young Israel Synagogue. Jewish residents in Tucson deserve to feel safe in their own communities and places of worship. I strongly and unequivocally condemn this despicable act.“

5. Selected Media

Genocide & the Annihilation of Gaza

• Al Jazeera 4/23/25: Ben-Gvir: US Republicans support bombing Gaza ‘food and aid depots’
• Jewish News Syndicate 4/22/25: Katz rebukes Sanders for calling Israel’s Gaza policy a ‘war crime’

Recess travel

• Israel – Office of the Prime Minister 4/25/25: PM Netanyahu Meets with Bipartisan US Congressional Delegation led by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries [“…The delegation, which attended Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes’ Remembrance Day events this morning, expressed unequivocal bipartisan support for the State of Israel and its actions against the terrorist organizations and the Iranian axis. Prime Minister Netanyahu emphasized Israel’s relentless efforts to advance a framework for the release of the hostages, the importance of the dialogue with the American administration in order to ensure that Iran’s nuclear program is completely dismantled, and the IDF’s determined campaign to destroy Hamas’s military and governing capabilities in the Gaza Strip. Participating in the meeting were US Representatives Ann Wagner (R-MO), Gregory Meeks (D-NY), Amata Coleman Radewagen (R-American Samoa), Madeleine Dean (D-PA), Marilyn Strickland (D-WA), Greg Landsman (D-OH), Laura Friedman (D-CA), and US Deputy Chief-of-Mission Stephanie Hallett.”]
• Jewish News Syndicate 4/22/25: Jeffries leading bipartisan House trip to Israel, Jordan

Targeting Protests/Protesters for Palestinian Lives/Rights

• Free Beacon 4/22/25: Dem Senator Visits Detained Columbia Activist Who Said He ‘Can Empathize’ With Hamas’s Decision To Massacre Jews
• CNN 4/22/25: Congressional delegation visits Mahmoud Khalil and Rumeysa Ozturk in Louisiana detention centers
• Campus Reform 4/22/25: Anti-Israel nonprofit attempts to block Congress receiving Columbia protester docs

Iran

• Philadelphia Inquirer 4/25/25: Sen. John Fetterman says nuclear ‘negotiations’ with Iran should come in the form of bombs and the Israeli military
• Free Beacon 4/23/25: ‘Waste That S—t’: In Interview With Free Beacon, Fetterman Tells Trump To Dump Iran Talks and Destroy Tehran’s Nuclear Facilities

Elections

• Jewish Insider 4/24/25: Jewish Georgia leaders say Ossoff is making amends, but still has more work to do
• Washington Examiner 4/23/25: Michigan Senate primary set to reopen Democratic wounds over Israel 
• Jewish Insider 4/23/25: Clash over Israel possible in Dem primary showdown for Haley Stevens’ House seat [“Former Rep. Andy Levin, an anti-Israel Democrat, is discussing a bid to reclaim his old seat“]
• Jewish Insider 4/22/25: Haley Stevens declares candidacy for Michigan Senate seat [“Stevens is a favorite within the state’s Jewish community for her outspoken support for Israel and condemnation of high-profile antisemitic incidents at a time when many Michigan Democrats have pandered to anti-Israel activists.“]
• New York Times 4/22/25 Rep. Haley Stevens Joins an Increasingly Crowded Michigan Senate Race [“In Congress, Ms. Stevens has been a vocal supporter of Israel, and she has received considerable backing from major pro-Israel groups including AIPAC’s political arm, which has spent heavily in Democratic primaries. Support from that group, a lightning rod in some Democratic circles, helped Ms. Stevens defeat former Representative Andy Levin, the more liberal candidate, in a primary in 2022. Debates over Israel and the war in Gaza tore apart the Democratic Party over the last year and a half, and some Democrats worry that such issues will be particularly divisive in the party’s primary for Senate in Michigan. The Middle East is an especially sensitive subject in the state, which is home to significant Arab American, Muslim and Jewish communities.“]
• Jewish Insider 4/21/25: Cait Conley brings deep knowledge of Middle East, counterterrorism to NY-17 primary
• NBC News 4/21/25: Rep. Byron Donalds’ town hall turns contentious over questions about DEI and Gaza

Other stuff

• Associated Press 4/18/25: Congress members pay an unofficial visit to Damascus as US mulls sanctions relief
• Congressional Research Service Report 4/17/25: Yemen: Conflict, Red Sea Attacks, and U.S. Policy