FMEP Legislative Round-Up December 6, 2024

Resource

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

New:

  • 11/27/24: New episode of the Occupied Thoughts podcast, A Cartography of Genocide, ft. FMEP fellow Peter Beinart in conversation with Eyal Weizman about his work at Forensic Architecture and the recently released “Cartography of Genocide” – an interactive platform that maps Israel’s genocidal bombardment of Gaza and use of mass evacuation orders to destroy civilian life. Along with the platform, Forensic Architecture released a 827-page report documenting Israeli war crimes and has presented its evidence and findings to the International Court of Justice.
  • Congressional Research Service – New Report 12/2/24 — Fact Sheet: Congressional Votes Relating to the Israel-Hamas Conflict
  • Open Secrets – Pro-Israel Recipients, 2024 – money to Congress [lots of detailed data available at the link, including the top 20 members of Congress: Rosen (D-NV) – $1,126,184; Menendez (I-NJ) – $1,105,652; Torres (D-NY) – $1,093,227; House Democratic leader Jeffries (D-NY) – $1,037,023; Gottheimer (D-NJ) – $1,001,273; Cruz (R-TX) – $868,545; House Speaker Johnson (R-LA) – $833,487; Bacon (R-NE) – $748,840; Calvert (R-CA) – $729,095; House Republican Conference Chair Stefanik (R-NY) – $708,944; Tester (D-MT) – $673,700; Casey (D-PA) – $655,218; House Majority Leader Scalise (R-LA) – $631,234; Democratic Caucus Chair Aguilar (D-CA) – $622,236; Schiff (D-CA) – $588,614; Lawler (R-NY) – $585,843; Cole (R-OK) – $572,156; House Majority Whip Emmer (R-MN) – $550,230; Gillibrand (D-NY) – $533,422; Ciscomani (R-AZ) – $528,806.]
  • Council on Foreign Relations 11/13/24: U.S. Aid to Israel in Four Charts

1. Bills & Resolutions

Introduced

  • (PUNISH UNIVERSITIES THAT BOYCOTT ISRAEL) HR 10257: Introduced 11/26/24 by Foxx (R-NC) and Gottheimer (D-NJ), “To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to prohibit an institution that participates in a nonexpressive commercial boycott of Israel from being eligible for certain funds under that Act.“ Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. Also see: press release 11/26/24: Foxx, Gottheimer: No Federal Student Aid for Colleges Who Boycott, Divest from Israel [bill text]; ‘Enough is Enough’: Foxx Introduces Bipartisan Bill Prohibiting Aid to Universities That Boycott Israel (Free Beacon 11/26/24); Lawmakers want to yank federal financial aid from colleges that divest from Israel (USA Today 11/26/24); US Lawmakers Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Strip Funding From Universities That Boycott Israel (Algemeiner 11/26/24)
  • (ANTI-SLAPP LEGISLATION) HR 10310 /S. 5438: Introduced 12/5/24 by Raskin (D-MD) and Kiley (R-CA) in the House, and Wyden (D-OR) in the Senate, “To amend title 28, United States Code, to establish a procedure to dismiss and deter strategic lawsuits against public participation, and for other purposes,” aka, the “Free Speech Protection Act.” Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary and Senate Committee on the Judiciary. Also see: Raskin, Wyden, Kiley Introduce Bipartisan Legislation Promoting Free Speech, Cracking Down on Frivolous “Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation” [bill text]. Endorsed by: American Booksellers for Free Expression; American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU); American Society for Collective Rights Licensing (ASCRL); Association of American Publishers; Authors Guild; California Anti-SLAPP Project; Center for Democracy & Technology; Committee to Protect Journalists; Earthjustice Action; EarthRights International; Electronic Frontier Foundation; First Amendment Foundation; Freedom of the Press Foundation; Greenpeace USA; Institute for Free Speech; International Corporate Accountability Roundtable (ICAR); Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University; Know Your IX, a project of Advocates for Youth; National Press Club; National Press Club Journalism Institute; National Press Club Press Freedom Committee; National Press Photographers Association (NPPA); National Women’s Law Center; News/Media Alliance; No Business With Genocide; PEN America; Public Participation Project; Reporters Without Borders; Society of Composers & Lyricists (SCL); Society of Professional Journalists; Songwriters Guild of America (SGA); Student Press Law Center.
  • (US MUST USE BIBLICAL NAMES FOR LAND THE BIBLE SAYS BELONGS TO ISRAEL) S. 5431 [bill text]: Introduced 12/5/24 by Cotton (R-AR), “A bill to prohibit the use of materials that use the term ‘West Bank’, and for other purposes,” aka, “Retiring the Egregious Confusion Over the Genuine Name of Israel’s Zone of Influence by Necessitating Government-use of Judea and Samaria Act” aka the “RECOGNIZING Judea and Samaria Act”. Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.  Also see: Cotton Introduces Legislation to Eliminate Federal Use of the Term “West Bank”; Cotton X-post – “Referring to Judea and Samaria as the ‘West Bank’ is a slap in the face to historical truth. It’s time to call this region by its rightful name and stop playing into anti-Israel propaganda.” NOTE: This bill was previously introduced in the House on 3/5/24 by Tenney (R-NY) and 2 Republican cosponsors (HR 7552). It has gone nowhere in the House and not attracted a single additional cosponsor since it was introduced. As noted in the Round-Up at that time, the bill raises the question: in this era of rising evangelical Christian political power, will there be legislation requiring that US laws/documents/statements refer to other areas of the Middle East by their biblical names? And also worth noting – Cotton’s bill and HR 7552, in substance, are both Greater Israel bills, in effect making it US policy to define Israel as spanning from the river to the sea. Notably, while both the Cotton bill and HR 7552 explicitly seek to compel the use of the terms “Judea and Samaria” to refer to the entire West Bank, the bills’ text specifies that it is referring to land “annexed by Israel from Jordan during the 1967 Six-Day War.” Which suggests either (a) very sloppy drafting on the part of whomever wrote the bill, (b) that Cotton and Tenney intend the word “annex” in a sense other than the legal one (since as of this writing Israel has not moved to formally annex any of the West Bank other than East Jerusalem and its West Bank environs; or (c) that the drafters of this bill are intentionally seeking to have the US formally recognize West Bank annexation by Israel in advance of – and in fact, irrespective of – a formal declaration of annexation by Israel. Also see: Cotton introduces bill to ban federal use of the term ‘West Bank’ (Jewish News Syndicate 12/5/24)
  • (TARGETING IRAN ACTIONS IN THE US) S. 5398 / HR 10256 [one-pager on the bill]: Introduced 11/21/24 in the Senate by Hassan (D-NH) and Ernst (R-IA), and 11/22/24 in the House by Wagner (R-MO) and 4 bipartisan cosponsors, “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).” Referred to the House and Senate Judiciary Committees. Also see: Hassan press release – Senators Hassan, Ernst Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation to Strengthen Criminal Penalties for Violent Crimes Directed by Foreign Adversaries; Wagner press release –Wagner, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral DETERRENCE Act; Jewish Insider 11/25/24: Bipartisan, bicameral bill aims to crack down on Iranian criminal activity in the U.S.

Updates on Pending Bills

Reported out of Committee

  • HR 5945, the “Freezing-HAMAS Act” (see amendment in the nature of a substitute), which “would negate any waiver of sanctions issued pursuant to a U.S. agreement with Iran, including the waiver transmitted to Congress on September 11, 2023, that permitted Iranian access to certain funds held abroad.” 11/14/24 – Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 37-13. 12/05/24: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Financial Services. H. Rept. 118-806, Part I.
  • HR 6000, the “Revoke Iranian Funding Act of 2023,” (see amendment in the nature of a substitute – text not available), which “would rescind the waiver transmitted to Congress on September 11, 2023, that released funds to Iran for humanitarian purposes. The legislation would also require a report on assets held by the government of Iran and certain sanctioned persons.” 11/14/24 – Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 37-13. 12/05/2024: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Financial Services. H. Rept. 118-803, Part I.

2. Letters

[CONCERN ABOUT 10/7  ROLEPLAY GAME] 12/5/24: Jewish Insider – Torres raises concerns about Oct. 7 roleplay game on Steam video game store [letter text] [more about the game here]

[APPLY LEAHY LAW TO ISRAEL] 11/27/24: Welch Leads Colleagues in Calling on State Dept. To Apply the Leahy Law to Israel [letter text]

[DUTCH GOVT MUST PUNISH PEOPLE INVOLVED IN CLASHES WITH ISRAEL SOCCER FANS WHO SPENT DAYS BEFORE CLASHING PROVOKING & ATTACKING THEM] 11/25/24: Jewish Insider – Lawmakers urge ‘swift action’ from Dutch government in response to anti-Jewish attacks [letter text]

[TARGET TURKEY OVER SUPPORT FOR HAMAS] 11/22/24: Gottheimer, Goldman, Bilirakis, & Malliotakis Lead Bipartisan Letter with 39 Members of Congress To Blinken and Haines Regarding Turkey Harboring of Hamas leaders [letter text]. Also see Gottheimer X-post 11/22/24 – “Turkey’s action to harbor senior Hamas members undermines NATO and Israel’s security.   I sent a bipartisan letter with several colleagues, including @RepDanGoldman, @RepGusBilirakis, @RepMalliotakis, to @SecBlinken & @AvrilHaines requesting a briefing on Turkey’s ties to Hamas.”

3. Hearings & Markups

December 4, 2024: The House Committee on Education and the Workforce’s Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education held a hearing entitled, “Back to Basics: America’s Founding, Civics, and Self-Government in K-12 Curricula.” Witnesses were: Ian Rowe, American Enterprise Institute (statement); Jed Atkins, University of North Carolina (statement); Brian V. Kennedy, International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers (statement); and Michael Weiser,  Jack Miller Center (statement). Also see: Chairman Bean (R-FL) opening statement [including: “...CRT’s framework is distorted and applied to sow division and foster animosity against the Jewish people. We have numerous examples that fails to give the full context of Jewish history or the Israeli-Palestinian conflict…“; hearing video. Also see: House hearing discusses radical indoctrination of young students (Jewish News Syndicate 12/4/24)

December 10, 2024: The House Committee on Natural Resources’ Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations will hold a 2-panel “hearing” entitled, “Desecrating Old Glory: Investigating How the Pro-Hamas Protests Turned National Park Service Land into a Violent Disgrace.” For a sense of what this hearing is going to be like, see the helpful hearing memo published by the Committee, which among other things laments that at the protest in question involved “burning American flags, assaulting police officers, and raising foreign flags on American soil.” As a reminder: (a) assaulting police officers is illegal; (b) whether some members of Congress like it or not, the Supreme Court has ruled that burning the American flag is protected free speech; (c) it is entirely legal to fly foreign flags on US soil — and it is so commonly done that it is totally unremarkable when people do so, as demonstrated in parades every year where various Americans celebrate their heritages, and as demonstrated every year during various international sporting events, and as demonstrated EVERY SINGLE DAY as supporters of Israel – in Congress, in synagogues, in churches, and anywhere else they can think of, raise/fly/wear the Israeli flag [there are rules regarding the flying of the US flag alongside a foreign flag]. The memo also asserts — as a matter of fact, rather than as an unsubstantiated allegation (which is what it is) — that the groups involved in these protests “have ties to foreign organizations like Hamas and the Chinese Communist Party”].  Panel 1 witnesses will be: Mark Lee Greenblatt, Inspector General, U.S. Department of the Interior; and Charles Cuevelier, Associate Director, Visitor and Resource Protection, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Panel 2 witnesses will be: Kenneth H. Spencer, III, Chairman, United States Park Police Fraternal Order of Police; Alex Goldenberg, Director of Intelligence, Network Contagion Research Institute [learn more about NCRI and its Israel-focused work]; Scott Walter, President, Capital Research Center [you can see their work on Israel-related issues here]; and Harry Dunn, Former United States Capitol Police Officer.

4. Selected Members on the Record

Responding to Amnesty Intl’s Report that Israel is, Indeed, Engaged in Genocide

  • Text of joint House statement [reportedly organized by Gottheimer (D-NJ) attacking Amnesty International for its report concluding that Israel is engaged in genocide in Gaza (joint statement is reportedly still circulating for signatures as of this writing). Also see: Lawmakers say Amnesty’s genocide report amplifies Hamas propaganda (Jewish Insider 12/6/24)
  • Fitzpatrick (R-PA) 12/6/24: X-post – “Amnesty International’s accusation of genocide against Israel is not only false but also dangerously irresponsible—amounting to a modern blood libel against the world’s only Jewish state. This unfounded claim overlooks Hamas’s brutal massacre of thousands of innocent civilians on October 7, its ongoing war crimes, and its reprehensible use of Gazan civilians as human shields, all in service of a genocidal agenda openly supported by Iran. Such inflammatory rhetoric undermines human rights advocacy, emboldens those who seek to destroy Israel, and fuels antisemitism. Today and always, the United States stands firmly with our friend and ally Israel, supporting its fight against terrorism and hatred to ensure its survival, security, and peace.“
  • LaLota (R-NY) 12/5/24: X-post – “Amnesty’s false accusations against Israel ignore the fact that Israel is defending itself from genocidal attacks by Iranian-backed proxies. Israel has taken steps to protect Gaza’s civilians, while Hamas exploits them and rejects ceasefires. Amnesty’s biased stance should be rejected by those who stand with Israel, the region’s only democracy“
  • Garbarino (R-NY) 12/5/24: X-post – “I condemn Amnesty International’s false accusation of genocide against Israel. Targeting the world’s only Jewish state while ignoring Hamas’s massacre on Oct. 7 and ongoing war crimes is blatant antisemitism. The U.S. stands firmly with our ally Israel against hate.“
  • LaMalfa (R-CA) 12/5/24: X-post – “Amnesty International has released yet another deeply flawed and frankly libelous report, this time accusing Israel of “genocide.” This baseless claim distorts reality and undermines our ally. Amnesty has a track record of biased, politically motivated attacks on Israel, from misusing terms like “apartheid” to redefining “genocide” to fit its narrative. Even its own branch in Israel has rejected the report as unfounded and misleading. While Amnesty focuses on these false accusations, it ignores the real atrocities committed by Hamas, including the October 7 massacre and their ongoing war crimes. We must stand firmly with Israel and call out these harmful and dishonest attacks.“
  • Torres (D-NY) 12/5/24: X-post – “It was once fashionable for the far left to label Israel as an ‘apartheid’ state. The false narrative of  ‘genocide’ has since become the fashionable lie to tell about Israel. Amnesty International is the latest to embrace this 21st-century blood libel. Calling Israel a genocidal state is as fictional as calling Amnesty International a human rights organization.“
  • Tlaib (D-MI) 12/5/24: X-post – “My colleagues can no longer deny that this is genocide. We must follow our own U.S. laws. We need an Arms Embargo now.”
  • Bush (D-MO) 12/5/24: X-post – “No matter how much money AIPAC & its affiliates spend to obscure & deny the facts on the ground, the truth will prevail. @amnesty now joins the @UN @IntlCrimCourt @CIJ_ICJ  & others in concluding that Israeli authorities are indeed committing genocide.”

Gaza

  • Tlaib (D-MI) 12/5/24: X-post – “My colleagues can no longer deny that this is genocide. We must follow our own U.S. laws. We need an Arms Embargo now.” [in response to Amnesty International’s new report concluding that Israel is engaging in genocide in Gaza]
  • Fetterman (D-PA) 12/4/24: X-post – “By continuing to hold hostages captive, Hamas owns these deaths and the entire humanitarian tragedy in Gaza. Send the hostages home NOW and surrender—end this regional misery and chaos.” [posted in response to headline noting that additional Israeli hostages had been killed by the IDF]
  • Welch (D-VT) 12/3/24: READOUT: Welch Convenes Meeting with Colleagues and Egyptian Amb. Zahran, Pushes for Medical Evacuations for Children in Gaza 
  • Durbin (D-IL) 12/2/24: X-post – “Three World Central Kitchen humanitarian aid workers were tragically killed in an Israeli airstrike this weekend. This must stop. Netanyahu continues to show that he cannot or will not protect innocent people in Gaza. We need a ceasefire and release of all remaining hostages“
  • Sanders (I-VT) 12/2/24: X-post – “Former Israeli Defense Minister Yaalon is right. Netanyahu’s government is committing war crimes & ethnic cleansing in Gaza. You don’t fight terrorism by starving people & killing tens of thousands of civilians. I hope more Israeli military leaders will join him in speaking up.“
  • Boozman (R-AR) 11/27/24: Standing with Israel
  • Budd (R-NC) 11/22/24: Budd, Wicker, Ernst Call on Turkey to Extradite Hamas Leadership to U.S.

Re: Death of US Citizen soldier in Gaza

Re: Israel-Hezbollah-Lebanon “Ceasefire” & US diplomacy

  • Many, many member weighed in on the Lebanon-Israel “ceasefire” agreement. To see what a specific member said, check out his/her website and social media accounts (there are just too many to include here).

Syria

Other stuff

  • Cohen (D-TN) 12/5/24: Congressmen Cohen and McClintock Condemn Iranian Death Sentences for Political Prisoners
  • Stefanik (R-NY) 12/4/24: X-post – “Great to catch up with @LindseyGrahamSC about our shared commitment to standing with our most precious ally Israel, combating antisemitism, and restoring President @realDonaldTrump’s America First peace through strength foreign policy!“
  • Graham (R-SC) 12/2/24: X-post – “Great visiting last night with President @realDonaldTrump and Prime Minister Netanyahu’s wife Sara and son Yair. I look forward to working with President Trump to achieve long-lasting peace and stability in the Middle East. May God Bless Israel and may God Bless the United States.“
  • Diaz-Balart (R-FL) 12/2/24: X-post – “>Senator @VoteRandyFine has been a fearless champion for Florida, a relentless voice against antisemitism, and a steadfast supporter of our ally, Israel. His leadership in Congress will strengthen Florida’s delegation and help advance @realDonaldTrump’s America First agenda.”
  • LaLota (R-IL) 12/1/24: X-post – “Had a great FaceTime with Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana! Honored by his congratulations on my re-election. We discussed strengthening U.S.-Israel relations and how a Trump Administration with GOP majorities brings renewed hope for a stable and secure Middle East“
  • Blackburn (R-NT) 11/29/24: X-post – “The United States must do everything in its power to support Israel as they fight for the right to exist in the Middle East.”
  • Graham (R-SC) 11/27/24: X-post – “I had a very productive meeting in Israel with Prime Minister Netanyahu and his team about my efforts with my colleagues to make it clear that any country, entity, or person that tries to enforce the ICC’s arrest warrants against Israel will pay a heavy price in America. During his first Administration, President Trump placed sanctions on the ICC for this very reason. Unfortunately President Biden removed President Trump’s ICC sanctions. I told the Prime Minister it is time for Congress to act, making it clear to countries what they face from America if they act against Israel. I believe there are strong bipartisan majorities for such legislation. I also stressed that it is Israel today and it will be America next if we don’t act. I intend to act to protect Israel and America.“
  • Tenney (R-NY) 11/25/24: X-post – “The ICC is a shill organization that has been taken over by Hamas sympathizers, focused solely on undermining the legitimacy of Israel. The Senate must pass the Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act & sanction the ICC officials who are working to erase Israel from existence.”
  • Fetterman (D-PA) 11/25/24: X-post – “The international community knows Iran can’t fight for shit. Israel has, and continues, to confirm that. Ask Hamas or Hezbollah, if anyone was left.”
  • Moore (R-AL) 11/25/24: X-post – “Today is International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. On October 7, 2023, Israeli women and girls experienced horrific and deliberate violence during a terrorist attack in Israel. Unfortunately, these crimes have largely been ignored by the international community and women’s organizations. Many of the victims of these brutal acts are no longer alive, having been murdered at the hands of these terrorists. We have a responsibility to ensure their voices are heard. We must stand together and never forget for the 13 Israeli women among the 101 remaining hostages who continue to endure unimaginable suffering at the hands of their captors. We demand an end to violence against all women, including Israeli women, and I hope you’ll join me in praying for them.”
  • Tenney (R-NY) 11/25/24: X-post – “Glad that the Anti-BDS Labeling Act, which ensures that goods produced in Israel are accurately labeled while blocking federal funds from supporting the BDS movement, was introduced in the Senate.  This bicameral bill delivers a powerful message of our support for Israel.“
  • McCaul (R-TX) 11/24/24: X-post – “CHM @RepMcCaul: ‘I strongly condemn the murder of Israeli Rabbi Zvi Kogan in the UAE, and I extend my condolences to his family and the State of Israel. I am deeply disturbed by reports that this brutal crime may have been committed by Iran-backed terrorists. The international community must do more to counter Iran’s global terrorist threat network.’”
  • Blackburn (R-TN) 11/23/24: X-post – “It is disturbing to hear Australia has barred former Israeli Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked from entering the country. She was set to attend a conference organized by the Australia/Israel and Jewish Affairs Council. I am calling on the Australian government to reverse this prejudiced decision.”

5. Selected Media