FMEP Legislative Round-Up June 20, 2025

Resource

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:

(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:

(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:

Media regarding all three of the above measures:

(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:

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:

Defining Violence Related to Israel’s Genocide in Gaza as “Antisemitism”
S. Res. 288 (resolution text): Introduced 6/18/25 by McCormick (R-PA), Fetterman (D-PA), and 34 cosponsors, “A resolution 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 commitment of the Senate to combating antisemitism and politically motivated violence.” Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. Also see: press release – Pennsylvania Senators Introduce Bipartisan Resolution to Condemn Antisemitic Violence Across the United States; Bipartisan Senate resolution denounces rising Jew-hatred (Jewish News Syndicate 6/20/25)

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:

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.

4. Selected Members on the Record

There’s just too much this week regarding Israel/Iran — mostly with members of both parties competing for who can express the most fulsome, passionate, unconditional support of Israel, making the case in favor of the war Israel started against Iran (literally on the eve of US-Iran negotiations), and with many many making clear their support for an expanded U.S. role in that war — for folks old enough to remember the run-up to the Iraq War, this all feels very familiar… If you want to see what a particular member said/didn’t say regarding Iran, Gaza, or anything else related to the Middle East, check their website and social media accounts. To get a sense of some of the lobbying in support of such positions, see: American Jewish Committee: Congress: Support Israel in Ending Iran’s Nuclear Threat; AIPAC: Tell Congress: Stand With Israel As It Protects Its Families; ADL: Tell Your Elected Officials to Stand With the Jewish Community; CUFI: Urge Congress to Stand with Israel and Against Iran

There are, of course, voices in Congress taking different positions — for examples, see this useful resource from Dylan Williams at the Center for International Policy, collecting “what pro-diplomacy U.S. lawmakers have been saying about Israel’s initiation of military strikes on Iran.” For other prominent dissenting Republican voices, check out the X accounts of Greene (R-GA), Massie (R-KY), Davidson (R-OH)

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.“

5. Selected Media

Rallying Support & Manufacturing Consent for Israel Starting a War with Iran &/or US Joining the War

Opposition/Concern Over Israel Starting a War with Iran &/or US Joining that War (incl media spin manufacturing consent)

Other Stuff Related to Israel Starting a War with Iran &/or US Joining that War

US Free Speech

Other stuff