FMEP Legislative Round-Up June 12, 2026

Resource

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

My comment on the continuing top story this week:

  • Looking at Israel-related measures now in play on the Hill, one would be hard-pressed to avoid concluding that Israel’s govt & its allies in Congress & pro-Israel orgs want to ensure Israel’s PM will be functionally (& permanently) granted a seat in the US situation room.
  • Specifically, this means pursuing legislation—much of it built on an edifice of pro-Israel measures passed into law, with little or no debate, over many years—that will accomplish three inter-related and mutually-reinforcing goals:
  • Goal A: Establishing/expanding the role and position of Israel within US national security processes, policies, strategies, and procurements — including deepening interoperability and inter-dependence of core military and intelligence functions;
  • Goal B: Doing so in such a way that it cannot easily be undone (by either a future Congress or Administration);
  • Goal C: Codifying the transformation of Israel from a foreign state that enjoys US support & aid, into an actor whose interests, prerogatives, and entitlements are enmeshed, by law, with those of the US, such that Israel is legally woven into the fabric of U.S. national security apparatus functions — where its position will not only be less vulnerable to changing political tides (compared to today), but also even less transparent and accountable.
  • Whether you love or hate this effort, the fact is: vital US national security equities are in play & are being decided not via rigorous, transparent, informed deliberation/debate, but via text slipped into must-pass bills & defended, disingenuously, as non-consequential.

Also see media coverage of this legislative effort:

1. Bills & Resolutions

Expanding/Deepening/Cementing US-Israel Military & Intelligence Cooperation & Integration 

(FUNDING FOR ISRAEL IN FY27 DEFENSE APPROPS) HR XXXX: On 6/10/26 the House Appropriations Committee released the initial draft of the FY27 Depart of Defense Appropriations Bill [press release; bill text]. The bill includes:

  • Israel funding: Section 8068, hard earmarking $500 million for “Israeli Cooperative Programs”, sub-earmarked as follows: $20 million for the procurement of the Iron Dome defense system;$127 million for the Short Range Ballistic Missile Defense (SRBMD) program; $30 million for co-production activities of SRBMD systems in the United States and in Israel; $150 million for co-production activities of Arrow 3 Upper Tier systems in the United States and in Israel; $173 million for the Arrow System Improvement Program including development of a long range, ground and airborne, detection suite
  • Jordan funding: Section 8105 earmarks $150 million for Jordan; Section 8116 stipulates that up to $500 million “may be used to support the armed forces of Jordan.”
  • The bill also includes “For the ‘Counter-Islamic State of Iraq and Syria Train and Equip Fund’, $303,099,000″

(SENATE NDAA) S. XXXX: On 6/11/26 the Senate Committee on Armed Services completed its work on the FY27 NDAA (following a set of CLOSED subcommittee and committee markups, after which the Committee voted to send the bill to the Senate floor by a vote of 18-9 ). While the full text is not online as of this writing, the 33-page Executive Summary published by the Committee indicates that:

  • the bill “Establishes the United States-Israel Defense Technology Cooperation Initiative to expand and accelerate bilateral defense technology research, development, testing, evaluation, coordination, and industrial cooperation between the U.S. and Israel.” This appears to be the same as (or very similar to) the controversial Section 224 of the House version of the bill (covered in detail in last week’s Round-Up) — a measure that would which would expand, deepen, and mandate new US military cooperation and integration with Israel. As noted in last week’s Round-Up, some defenders of this provision argue that Section 224 really do anything new, and really isn’t a big deal. Technically speaking, they are maybe 80% correct — the provision does largely build on authorities that already exist in law — but the word “technically” is doing a lot of work here. Which is to say: the road to a lot of decisions for which people don’t want to be held to account is paved with arguments that ignore/dismiss highly relevant (and overwhelmingly self-evident) political context and intent. Indeed, arguing that this provision is “technically” doing nothing new is not unlike arguing that the Supreme Court gutting the Voting Rights Act is “technically” just about adopting race-neutral policies (so clearly nothing any rational person would be concerned about!). 
  • Authorizes increased funding for U.S.-Israel cooperation in countering unmanned aerial systems and subterranean warfare.
  • Directs an initiative to bolster defense cooperation among the United States and signatories of the Abraham Accords.
  • Conditions defense funding to the Lebanese Armed Forces on its willingness to counter Hezbollah.
  • Conditions defense support to the Syrian government on its efforts to disarm all foreign fighters and jihadists who remain in Syria.
  • Directs the continuation of Counter ISIS Train and Equip Funds (CTEF) defense to Iraqi Kurdish partners.

(DOUBLING DOWN ON ABRAHAM ACCORDS) HR 9147: Introduced 6/4/26 by Goldman (R-TX) and 22 cosponsors, “To amend the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to modify the duties of the Special Presidential Envoy for the Abraham Accords, Negev Forum, and Related Normalization Agreements, and for other purposes.” Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Targeting Free Speech, Right to Protest, Academic Freedom, Etc.

(TARGETING NON-PROFIT STATUS FOR POLITICAL REASONS) HR 9254 [bill text]: Introduced 6/10/26 by Roy (R-TX) and 4 Republican cosponsors, “To specify that the Southern Poverty Law Center shall not be treated as described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986” aka the “Stop Subsidizing Political Lawfare by Charities Act (Stop SPLC Act).” Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. Also see press release – Rep. Roy Introduces STOP SPLC Act to Revoke Left-Wing Group’s Tax-Exempt Status; FIRST ON FOX: SPLC’s tax-exempt status under threat after fiery Capitol Hill hearing (F0x News 6/10/26)

(WEAPONIZING FIGHT AGAINST ANTISEMITISM TO TARGET FREE SPEECH) HR 9211: Introduced 6/9/26 by Goldman (D-NY) and 29 bipartisan cosponsors, “To strengthen Federal efforts to counter antisemitism in the United States and protect the Jewish community,” aka the “Jewish American Security Act.“ Referred to the Committees on Education and Workforce; Judiciary; Homeland Security; Transportation and Infrastructure; and Energy and Commerce. NOTE: THIS IS THE HOUSE COMPANION TO S. 4576, Introduced in the Senate 5/20/26 by Rosen (D-NV) and 7 cosponsors (bipartisan). Also see: Goldman, Lawler Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Strengthen Federal Efforts to Combat Antisemitism

  • See the 5/22/26 edition of the Round-Up for details/analysis of the Senate version of the bill
  • My analysis on the bill (both House and Senate): “Love it or hate it, but absent an affirmative repudiation of the IHRA definition &/or the articulation of a clear alternative definition (something the forces behind this bill would never accept) any antisemitism legislation adopted under the Trump Admin will, 1st & foremost, codify into law & expand enforcement of the IHRA definition. This is not a hypothetical or even worst-case analysis; it is acknowledgment of fact. Simply stated: the IHRA definition & its conflating-criticism-of-Israel/Zionism-with-antisemitism examples **is at the core of Trump’s approach to antisemitism**, as reflected in the 2 Executive Orders on antisemitism that are explicitly cited in the framing of this bill. Likewise, adoption/enforcement of IHRA is a core objective shared by the main groups & leaders behind the current bill—the same groups & leaders who, if the bill becomes law, will no doubt work hand-in-hand with the Trump Administration to interpret & vigorously enforce it. Removal/omission of explicit references to the IHRA definition from the bill is entirely performative–doing little more than offering a pretext for some orgs/people who are ostensibly concerned about the IHRA definition to demonstrate they can be part of a big tent solution. This brings to mind a variation of an old adage: the road to legislating/enforcing IHRA—& all this means for delegitimizing, suppressing, & even criminalizing free speech—may well be paved, at least in part, with facile ‘it could have been worse’ rationalizations. Bottom line: some people are/will be very happy about what this bill does; others not. The point is to be HONEST about what it is about and what it will do.”
  • Jewish leaders throw support behind bipartisan House antisemitism bill (The Forward 6/10/26)
  • ADL X-post on press conference announcing the bill: “With antisemitism at record levels, Jewish communities deserve nothing less than a strong federal commitment to their safety. The Jewish American Security Act is the kind of bold, bicameral action this moment calls for. We thank @RepDanGoldman and @RepMikeLawler for leading this s to pass it without delay.“; Jewish Council for Public Affairs;

(TARGETING FREE SPEECH FOR PALESTINIAN LIVES/RIGHTS ON CAMPUS) HR 9203: Introduced 6/8/26 by Stefanik (R-NY) and Gillen (D-NY), “To increase the transparency of colleges and universities in carrying out their civil rights responsibilities, and for other purposes.” Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce. Also see: Stefanik, Gillen introduce bill to reform campus antisemitism adjudication procedures (Jewish Insider 6/10/26); Bipartisan bill would require colleges to investigate Jew-hatred complaints or risk losing federal funds (Jewish News Syndicate 6/10/26); Orthodox Union Advocacy Center Endorses Student Protection and University Accountability Act (Orthodox Union 6/9/26)

(HOLDING PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE FOR SINS OF THEIR RELATIVES AS PRETEXT TO KEEP PEOPLE OUT OF THE US) HR 9160: Introduced 6/4/26 by Steube (R-FL) and 4 cosponsors, “To establish a new ground for inadmissibility for close relatives of foreign terrorists.” Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. Also see: press release – Rep. Steube and Sen. Cotton Introduce No Safe Haven for Terrorist Families Act

Iran

(TARGETING IRAN) HR 2505: Introduced 3/31/25 by Keating (D-MA) and Wilson (R-SC), “To require the development of strategies and options to prevent the export to Iran of certain technologies related to unmanned aircraft systems, and for other purposes.” Considered on the House floor (here) under suspension of the rules and passed by Voice Vote 6/8/26.

(TARGETING IRAN) HR 6230: Introduced 11/20/25 by Self (R-TX) and no cosponsors “To designate certain individuals as specially designated global terrorists.” Considered on the House floor (here) under suspension of the rules and (here) and passed by Voice Vote 6/8/26.

(BEWARE IRANIANS COMING TO THE US FOR THE WORLD CUP!) H. Res. 1353: Steube (R-FL) and 9 cosponsors (all Republicans), “Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives supporting the Department of State’s efforts to prevent the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) from embedding themselves within the Iranian National Football Delegation during the 2026 FIFA World Cup and to limit the delegation’s presence in the United States to the minimum time necessary for scheduled match play.” Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Other

(REPORT TO CONGRESS ON COUNTRIES SHELTERING US FUGITIVES) HR 9202: Introduced 6/8/26 by Smith (R-NJ) and Bilirakis (R-FL), “To direct the President to submit to Congress a report on fugitives currently residing in other countries whose extradition is sought by the United States and related matters, and for other purposes.”  Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. NOTE: The issue of US fugitives taking refuge in Israel – thanks to Israel’s Law of Return – is probably NOT the intended focus of this bill, but would likely figure into such a report, if this passes into law).

————

Media related to previously-covered legislation:

2. Letters & Reports

3. Hearings & Markups

June 17, 2026: The Senate Foreign Relations Committee will hold a Business meeting to markup of various measures, including:

  • S. 3172 – Repeal certain Acts that impose sanctions upon Syria
  • S. 3900 – Iran Human Rights, Internet Freedom, and Accountability Act of 2026, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute
  • S. 4443 – Eastern Mediterranean Gateway Act, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute

June 9, 2026: The House Judiciary Committee held another kangaroo court-style hearing targeting the Southern Poverty Law Center, The Southern Poverty Law Center: Manufacturing Hate, Part II [video]. Witnesses were: Bryan Fair, Interim President and Chief Executive Officer, Southern Poverty Law Center (testimony); Alveda King, Chair of the American Dream, America First Policy Institute (testimony); Ryan Bangert, Senior Vice President for Strategic Initiatives and Special Counsel to the President, Alliance Defending Freedom (testimony); and Mary McCord Executive Director, Institute for Constitutional Advocacy Protection; Visiting Professor of Law, Georgetown University Law Center (testimony). Also see: House committee presses Southern Poverty Law Center on absence of Islamist, anti-Israel groups from Hate Map (Jewish News Syndicate 6/9/26); Congressman Cohen Condemns Rationale for Attack on the Southern Poverty Law Center (Cohen (D-TN) 6/9/26).

June 9, 2026: The House Foreign Affairs Committee held a mark-up of a various of measures [video], including HR 9087, “To direct the Secretary of State to take actions with respect to certain foreign affairs matters.” In the course of the markup —which is not over, and which recessed after 11+ hours without completing roll call votes on any amendments — a number of members introduced amendments to legislate policy matters related to the Middle East/Israel. Stay tuned for full coverage of these amendments in a future Round-Up. NOTE: It was reported this week that Lawler (R-NY) intended to attached the text of the IGO Anti-Boycott Act — the current version of the Israel Anti-Boycott Act, which seeks to impose fines and jail time on people for their personal, non-c0erced decisions to support boycott products from Israeli settlements — to HR 9087, but ultimately withdrew the amendment, possibly as the result of public outcry.

4. Selected Members on the Record

REMINDER: It is simply beyond the capacity of the Round-Up to track [let alone document] what every member of the House and Senate is saying about the US/Israel war with Iran. To see what a specific member has said, check their websites and social media accounts.

Elections & AIPAC, etc.

  • Sanders (I-VT) 6/10/26: X-post – “The flood of billionaire money that will come against Graham Platner is no accident. Whether it is AI, AIPAC or crypto, billionaire-funded super PACs will spend hundreds of millions to defeat candidates who stand with working people and challenge their power.”

Standing with Israel, Attacking Anything Related to Palestinians

  • Gottheimer (D-NJ) 6/10/26: X-post – “According to the chief oversight body for American foreign assistance, 101 more UNRWA employees — including schoolteachers and principals — have been identified as Hamas fighters who participated in the October 7 terror attack on Israel. This adds to clear evidence that UNRWA has been infiltrated by Hamas terrorist, an alarm I have raised over and over again. These individuals and all UNRWA employees involved with Hamas must be designated as terrorists. No more excuses.”
  • House Foreign Affairs Committee (GOP) 6/8/26: X-post – “Any dollar sent to UNRWA is a dollar sent to Hamas. American tax dollars should never be used to fund these terrorists.” Commenting on Adam Kredo/Free Beacon X-post – “SCOOP: Federal Probe Finds 101 More UNRWA Staffers Are Hamas Soldiers From Oct. 7 — “UNRWA school principals, teachers, security personnel, attendants, psychosocial counselors, and medical professionals” doubled as terrorists, @AidOversight concludes”

Egging on Israeli &/or US Attacks on Lebanon/Gaza

  • Fine (R-FL) 6/8/26: X-post – “Israel has every right to respond to rockets being fired at its civilians exactly as we would. Bombs away.“

Telling Another Country What Its Policy Must Be on Israel

  • Kean (R-NJ) 6/10/26: X-post – “In October, I signed a bipartisan letter expressing concern to Ireland over its proposed legislation which would unfairly target Israel. This bill is now scheduled for debate.   If enacted, this legislation would criminalize importing goods from many Israeli businesses and could significantly harm American businesses operating in Ireland.    I continue to stand with my colleagues in urging them to withdraw the bill.”
  • Gottheimer (D-NJ) 6/9/26: X-post – “In October, I led a bipartisan letter urging Ireland not to move forward with its Occupied Territories Bill, an anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) measure. I was encouraged when the bill was shelved. Surprisingly, it’s now scheduled to be debated this week. Let’s be clear about what this bill is: a one-sided measure that singles out Israel while ignoring territorial disputes everywhere else in the world. And, it could come with a real cost. U.S. companies in Ireland could be forced to choose between complying with Irish law and complying with anti-boycott laws in thirty-eight American states. I continue to stand with my colleagues in urging them to withdraw the bill.”

Concerns re: West Bank/Gaza/Jerusalem/Palestinians & Lebanon 

  • Lynch (D-MA) 6/11/26: X-post – statement announcing co-sponsorship of Block the Bombs
  • Jayapal (D-WA) 6/10/26: X-post w/ video clip: “White phosphorus is a dangerous chemical that the Israeli military has improperly used across Lebanon, harming civilians. I introduced an amendment to prevent the sale or transfer of white phosphorus munitions to Israel because it is the moral and strategic thing to do.” [in unfinished HFAC business meeting this week; no recorded vote yet on her amendment]
  • Merkley (D-OR) 6/11/26: X-post – “Last night, Israeli settlers set the historic Palestinian Christian village of Taybeh ablaze in an arson attack. When I traveled to the West Bank last year, I met with Taybeh residents advocating for dignity and security. Israeli authorities are failing to hold extremist settlers accountable for this rampant violence.”
  • Stansbury (D-NM) 6/10/26: Floor statement, including, “Congress must assert not only our Constitutional authority but reclaim our moral compass. As we stand here in this Chamber, violence continues abroad. Over the weekend, bombs and firefights shelled communities in Lebanon,  Israel, and Iran. In Lebanon, more than 3,500 people have been killed, nearly 11,000 injured, and more than a million people have been displaced and lost their homes. Families have lost loved ones. Communities have been uprooted. Entire neighborhoods have been reduced to rubble. Across the region, innocent people are paying the price for decisions they did not make and conflicts they did not create. As this violence rages on, it happens against the backdrop of a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, ongoing human rights violations in the West Bank, human suffering that has reached unimaginable levels. Children are facing hunger, displacement, and the constant threat of violence. Families are struggling to access food, clean water, medicine, and shelter. In the West Bank, Palestinian families continue to face violence daily. A 7-month-old baby was shot and killed by a soldier just days ago in a car. Entire villages and sacred olive trees have been destroyed. There are restrictions on movement, indignities in everyday life, and unfathomable cruelty.”
  • Merkley (D-OR) 6/10/26: X-post – “In the West Bank, Palestinians are being cut off from water sources, from their orchards, from their vineyards.    It’s unjust, and I’m pressing for the U.S. to act.”
  • Pocan (D-WI) 6/8/26: X-post – “Most people have been paying attention to the genocide in Gaza, but fewer people have been focusing on what’s going on in the West Bank. If we allow Israel to build these illegal settlements, the chance of a unified Palestine becomes much more difficult.”

Other stuff

  • Welch (D-VT) 6/10/26: X-post – “President Trump is waging a war in the Middle East to appease Prime Minister Netanyahu.  American families are paying the price.”
  • Ramirez (D-IL) 6/10/26): X-post – “Salah must be released. Wrongfully detained for exercising his right to dissent, the Trump administration used immigration detention to silence him. As his health declines in ICE custody, I joined @RepGwenMoore to demand his immediate release. We will not give up on our constitutional rights nor abandon our neighbors!” Commenting on article, Wisconsin Muslim community leader in immigration detention due to pro-Palestinian speech, attorneys allege
  • Massie (R-KY) 6/10/26: Floor speech on U.S.S. Liberty – RECOGNIZING LIVES LOST AND SURVIVORS OF 1967 ISRAELI ATTACK ON U.S. OBSERVATION SHIP
  • Walberg (R-MI) & Green (D-TX) 6/10/26: in context of House floor debate on HR 5408 (Faster Labor Contracts Act), asserting: “President Trump is a strong supporter of Israel, but millions of dollars of union dues from unions like the SEIU, United Electrical Workers Union, and United Auto Workers are going to a pro-Hamas, anti-Israel agenda.” Green (D-TX) responded, “...we should not engage in insidious prevarications to solicit the support of legislation. It is not true, and I defend all the unions, especially SEIU and AFSCME. It is not true that any of those unions support Hamas. That is below the belt. There is no empirical evidence to indicate that any of the unions support Hamas. When I heard that, it really touched a nerve. We can debate these issues without the prevarications that can become incitive. This is about whether we should have collective bargaining, that it should be fair, and that the industry and labor should compromise and work together. I can support compromise, but I cannot support language indicating that labor unions are supporting Hamas. It is not true.” Walberg responded: “…my exact words were: President Trump is a strong supporter of Israel, but millions of dollars of union dues from unions like SEIU, the United Electrical Workers, and the United Auto Workers are going to support a pro-Hamas, anti-Israel agenda. I stand by that.” Also see Green’s press release in the exchange.
  • Sanders (I-VT) 6/9/26: X-post – “Netanyahu is lobbying for Section 224 in the national defense bill, a provision that quietly expands U.S.-Israel military cooperation and weapons development with almost zero oversight. The American people do not want more U.S. military aid to Israel. We must defeat Section 224.”
  • Gottheimer (D-NJ) 6/4/26: X-post – “No foreign government should be influencing what our kids are taught in American classrooms. We need transparency, accountability, and strong safeguards against foreign interference in our education system. American students should be learning facts, not Qatari-funded narratives.”

5. Selected Media

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

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – California

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Florida

  • Israel Hayom 6/7/26: ‘Too fat to fit in the ovens’: the congressman facing down Dan Bilzerian [“Jewish Republican congressman Randy Fine, ‘the Hebrew Hammer,’ has become Congress’s loudest voice against antisemitism – and faces accusations of anti-Muslim racism. In August he faces a primary against ‘Instagram king’ Dan Bilzerian, who Fine says called him ‘a fat Jew’ and claimed ‘a lot of soap’ could be made from him.“]

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Maine

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Maryland

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Michigan

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – New Jersey

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – New York

Iran

Other Stuff