FMEP Legislative Round-Up March 28, 2025

Resource

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

1. Bills & Resolutions

Disapproving of Military Aid/Sales to Israel

S. J. Res. 40: Introduced 3/27/25 by Sanders (I-VT), “A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of the proposed export of certain defense articles to Israel.” Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

S. J. Res. 41: Introduced 3/27/25 by Sanders (I-VT), “A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of the proposed export of certain defense articles to Israel.“ Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

S. J. Res. 42: Introduced 3/27/25 by Sanders (I-VT), “A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of the proposed export of certain defense articles to Israel.” Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

Also see:

  • Press release: Sanders Announces Senate Votes to Block Arms Sales to Israel
  • Jewish Insider 3/27/25: Sanders to force two votes on blocking arms to Israel next week
  • Sanders (I-VT) 3/27/25: X-post – “Netanyahu’s illegal war has killed 50,000 Palestinians. Now, Trump wants to force out 2 million more to build a billionaire’s playground in Gaza. That is ethnic cleansing — and it’s a war crime. Next week, I will force votes to block $8.8 billion in new arms sales to Israel.”
  • Sanders (I-VT) 3/24/25: X-post – “Netanyahu has not allowed any aid into Gaza in 22 days. He broke the ceasefire, resuming a bombing campaign that has killed more than 50,000 people. Now he is threatening a long-term occupation of Gaza. NO MORE MILITARY AID TO NETANYAHU’S WAR MACHINE.“
  • Welch (D-VT) 3/24/25: X-post – “We’ve reached a grave milestone. More than 50,000 Palestinians have died in Gaza. Yet the Trump Administration continues to send more offensive weapons to Israel without congressional approval that they know will be used on civilians. Congress should vote to block more sales.”
  • Pocan (D-WI) 3/27/25: X-post – “Donald Trump is moving ahead with more than $8 billion in weapon sales to Israel. At least 50,000 people have been killed in Gaza, more than 2% of the population. My office used to get a lot of calls about this, but unfortunately, it has fallen off the radar for too many of us. Speak out and make your voices heard!“

Targeting Free Speech/Protest/Academia

HR 2446 // S. 1182 [bill text]: Introduced 3/27/25 in the House by Lawler (R-NY) and 13 cosponsors (11 Republicans plus Gottheimer, D-NJ, and Souzzi, D-NY), and in the Senate by Scott (R-SC) and 5 Republican cosponsors, “To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to prohibit institutions of higher education that authorize antisemitic events on campus from participating in the student loan and grant programs under title IV of such Act,” aka the “Stop Antisemitism on College Campuses Act.”  Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce. This bill was introduced in the last Congress by Lawler and Scott: HR 3773 (drawing 29 cosponsors) and S. 3078 (drawing 9 cosponsors). This bill would legislate the IHRA definition of antisemitism, including its examples, into law as the basis for stripping campuses of labeling criticism of Israel as antisemitism and punishing campuses for it. Also see:

HR 2272 [bill text]: Introduced 3/21/25 by Pfluger (R-TX) and having 3 Republican cosponsors, “To make certain individuals ineligible to receive any Federal financial aid under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965,” aka the “Freeze Aid for Student Assaulters (FAFSA) Act of 2025.” Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce. Also see: press release – Rep. Pfluger Introduces Bills to Strip Visas and Federal Student Aid from Individuals Convicted of Assaulting Police Officers or Rioting; Exclusive: GOP Rep. Pushes Bills That Would Strip Rioting Students Of Visas And Financial Aid (The Federalist 3/21/25)

HR 2273 [bill text]: Introduced 3/21/25 by Pfluger (R-TX) and having 5 Republican cosponsors, “To direct the Secretary of State to revoke the visa of any alien admitted to the United States under section 101(a)(15)(F) of the Immigration and Nationality Act who has been convicted of assault in a police officer or an offense related to rioting,” aka the “Uproot Rioting International Students Engaged in Radical Subversion (UPRISERS).”  Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. Also see: press release – Rep. Pfluger Introduces Bills to Strip Visas and Federal Student Aid from Individuals Convicted of Assaulting Police Officers or Rioting; Exclusive: GOP Rep. Pushes Bills That Would Strip Rioting Students Of Visas And Financial Aid (The Federalist 3/21/25)

HR 1048 (not previously covered in the Round-Up): Introduced 2/6/25 by Baumgartner (R-WA) and having 21 cosponsors [19 Republicans plus Davis (D-NC) and Perez (D-WA)], “To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to strengthen disclosure requirements relating to foreign gifts and contracts, to prohibit contracts between institutions of higher education and certain foreign entities and countries of concern, and for other purposes,” aka the “DEFEND Act.” This bill, which is focused on funding from China and Qatar, but also has become framed in terms of stopping foreign funding that is allegedly fueling anti-Israel sentiment, was brought to the floor this week for debate and amendments, and ultimately passed 3/27/25 by a mostly party-line vote of 241-169 (31 Democrats voted “yes: and just 1 Republican voted “no”). Notable Middle East-related amendments offered on the bill include:

  • an amendment offered by Gillen (D-NY) and Ogles (R-TN), requiring a report “on Iran’s influence on anti-Israel campus protests since the Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023” [NOT IN ORDER];
  • an amendment offered by Gottheimer (D-NJ), requiring “universities to disclose any foreign gifts or contracts that support faculty or staff who have publicly endorsed a statement or petition in favor of an academic boycott of Israel” [NOT IN ORDER];
  • an amendment offered by Gottheimer (D-NJ), “Adds anywhere it says a ‘foreign country of concern’ to insert immediately thereafter any country where an Iranian-backed proxy plays a role in the government” [NOT  IN ORDER];
  • an amendment offered by Ogles (R-TN) to add Qatar to the definition of ‘foreign country of concern’ [NOT IN ORDER];
  • an amendment offered by Ogles (R-TN) “Adds the “Palestinian territories” to the definition of ‘foreign country of concern’.” [yes, for the sake of putting sanctions on Palestinians, Ogles apparently was prepared to classify the “Palestinian territories” as a country…].  [NOT IN ORDER];
  • an amendment offered by Tlaib (D-MN), “Amends the definition of “Investment of Concern” to include any entity that the Secretary of State determines consistently, knowingly, and directly facilitates and enables state violence and repression, war and occupation, or severe violations of international law and human rights.” [MADE IN ORDER – defeated by a vote of 4 – 404, with 1 voting “present”]
  • an amendment offered by Tlaib (D-MN), “Amends the definition of “Foreign Country Of Concern” to include any country that is defending a case before the International Court of Justice relating to an alleged violation of the Geneva Conventions of 1949 or their Additional Protocols or the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide; and to include any country the government of which includes officials that have outstanding arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court.” [MADE IN ORDER – defeated by a vote of 3-410]

NOTE: The Rules Committee’s decision to make Tlaib’s two amendments “in order” [i.e., to allow them to be debated and voted on by the House — floor consideration of both amendments is here] sure feels like a Republican tactic to force Democrats into what Republicans assumed — correctly — would be a politically awkward vote, in which most Democrats would feel forced to betray the supposed principles and vote “no” on what should be uncontroversial measures, because to vote “yes” would be treated as anti-Israel and antisemitic]. Indeed, one might even wonder a key objective of giving these amendments a vote was to enable headlines like this one in the Jewish Insider: House overwhelmingly blocks anti-Israel Tlaib amendments to university funding bill.

Supporting Palestinian Humanitarian Needs

HR 2411: Introduced 3/27/25 by Carson (D-IN) and 55 Democratic cosponsors, “To restore funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).“ Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Targeting Palestinians – Both Terror Orgs & All Palestinians, for Being Palestinian

S. 1159: Introduced 3/26/25 by Daines (R-MT), “A bill to make aliens who are holders of a passport issued by the Palestinian Authority ineligible for visas, admission, or parole into the United States.“ Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

S. 1128 [bill text]: Introduced 3/25/25 by Scott (R-FL) and 5 Republican cosponsors, “A bill to prohibit any direct or indirect United States funding for the territory of Gaza unless certain conditions are met,” aka the “Stop Taxpayer Funding of Hamas Act.” Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. This bill would bar any U.S. funding for Gaza (including humanitarian aid) unless the President can certify that such funds won’t benefit any FTO or anyone associated with an FTO.  It would also bar US funding to Gaza via any UN entity or office, unless the president certifies that “such entity or office is not encouraging or teaching anti-Israel or anti-Semitic ideas or propaganda.” Also see: 2025 press release – Sen. Rick Scott Reintroduces Stop Taxpayer Funding of Hamas Act. Note: this bicameral legislation has been introduced (with slight permutations) in multiple congresses, and dates back to before 10/7/23 — see: 2023 (HR 599 // S. 489); 2021: S. 1899. It has also been introduced as a (failed) amendment to the multiple pieces of legislation. 

HR 2346 // S. 1126 [bill text]: Introduced 3/25/25 in the House by Sherman (D-CA) and 5 bipartisan cosponsors, and in the Senate by Ricketts (R-NE) and Schiff (D-CA), “To require the imposition of sanctions on the Popular Resistance Committees and other associated entities, and for other purposes,” aka the “Accountability for Terrorist Perpetrators of October 7th Act.” Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on the Judiciary; and the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. This bill was previously introduced in the 118th Congress as HR 7194. Also see:

(UPDATE) HR 176: Introduced 1/3/25 by McClintock (R-CA) and now having 19 cosponsor (all Republicans), “To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act with respect to aliens who carried out, participated in, planned, financed, supported, or otherwise facilitated the attacks against Israel”, aka the “No Immigration Benefits for Hamas Terrorists Act.” HR 176 was marked up in the House Judiciary Committee on 2/26/25, and reported out of Committee on 3/21/25, and placed on the Union Calendar (paving the way for a floor vote).

Other Stuff

(TARGETING THE ALLEGED SECRET DUAL NATIONALS IN ELECTED OFFICE) HR 2356 [bill text]: Introduced 3/26/25 by Massie (R-KY) and 3 Republican cosponsors, “To require that the statement required under the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 for a candidate to designate a principal campaign committee include information with respect to whether the candidate is a citizen of any country other than the United States, and for other purposes,” aka the “Dual Loyalty Disclosure Act.” Referred to the House Committee on House Administration. NOTE: The bill does not mention Israel but yeah, sure feels like this is about conspiracy theories about Jewish elected officials secretly holding Israeli citizenship – the short title feels like a pretty clear/deliberate signal… Also see press release – Rep. Massie Introduces Legislation Requiring Political Candidates to Disclose Dual Citizenship; Massie X-post 3/27/25:  “Today I introduced HR 2356, the Dual Loyalty Disclosure Act. If we continue allowing dual citizens to run for federal office, candidates should disclose to voters ALL countries in which they hold citizenship. Thank you cosponsors @RepAndyBiggsAZ, @RepMTG, and @RepClayHiggins“. Media: Rep. Thomas Massie Introduces Bill Requiring Federal Candidates to Disclose Dual Citizenship (American Greatness 3/27/25); Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie Introduces ‘Dual Loyalty Disclosure Act’ (Information Liberation 3/27/25 – article makes pretty clear what this is about…)

(US-ISRAEL EXPANDED ENERGY COOPERATION) HR 2280 [bill text]: Introduced 3/21/25 by Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) and 12 bipartisan cosponsors, “To amend the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to expand and reauthorize the United States-Israel Energy Cooperation program, and for other purposes.” Referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, Committee on Foreign Affairs, and the Homeland Security Committee. Also see: press release – Bipartisan Legislation Reintroduced to Strengthen U.S.-Israel Energy Cooperation; Bipartisan House members set to reintroduce U.S.-Israel energy cooperation legislation (Jewish Insider 3/21/25). Per the press release, “This legislation has been endorsed by AIPAC.”

(TARGETING IRAN) HR 2468: Introduced 3/27/25 by Steil (R-WI) and Moore (R-AL), “To prohibit the issuance of licenses or other waivers from sanctions imposed pursuant to certain authorities relating to the conduct of Iran, and for other purposes.” Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

(TARGETING IRAN) S. 1136 // HR 2394: Introduced 3/26/25 in the House by Wagner (R-MO) and 3 cosponsors (bipartisan), and in the Senate 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).” Referred to the House and Senate Committees on the Judiciary. Also see Wagner press release – Wagner, Colleagues Reintroduce Bipartisan, Bicameral DETERRENCE Act. NOTE: This legislation was introduced in the last Congress S. 5398 / HR 10256 [one-pager on the bill]. From that time around: Jewish Insider 11/25/24: Bipartisan, bicameral bill aims to crack down on Iranian criminal activity in the U.S.

(US-MOROCCO FRIENDSHIP) H. Res. 251: Introduced 3/25/25 by Schneider (D-IL) and Wilson (R-SC), “Recognizing the longstanding friendship between the Kingdom of Morocco and the United States of America.” Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. Also see: press release – SCHNEIDER, WILSON INTRODUCE BIPARTISAN RESOLUTION HONORING HISTORIC US-MOROCCO PARTNERSHIP

(GIVE CONGRESS INFO ON SIGNAL CHAT/HOUTHI STRIKE SCANDAL) H. Res. 255: Introduced 3/26/25 by Meeks (D-NY) and 23 Democratic cosponsors, “Of inquiry requesting the President and directing the Secretary of State to transmit to the House of Representatives any record created on or after January 20, 2025, under the control of the President or the Secretary, respectively, relating to strikes on the Houthis in Yemen and the disclosure of confidential information to a journalist on the Signal application.”  Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

UPDATE (NO HEZBOLLAH IN LATIN AMERICA) S. 842: Introduced 3/4/25 by Curtis (R-UT) and Rosen (D-NV), “A bill to counter efforts by Hezbollah to conduct terrorist activities in Latin America, and for other purposes,” aka the “No Hezbollah in Our Hemisphere Act.”  Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. Also see: Curtis, Rosen introduce legislation to combat Hezbollah activities in Latin America (Jewish Insider 3/7/25). Marked-up in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on 3/11/25; reported out of the SFRC 3/27/25.

 

2. Letters

3. Hearings

March 27, 2025: The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee held a hearing entitled,Antisemitic Disruptions on Campus: Ensuring Safe Learning Environments for All Students. Witnesses were: Ms.Carly Gammill, StandWithUs (statement); Rabbi Levi Shemtov, American Friends of Lubavitch (statement); Dr.Charles Asher Small, ISGAP (statement) [Reminder re ISGAP: Think tank failed to disclose six-figure grant from Israeli government (The Forward 8/31/20] — reporting how Israeli government documents show that ISGAP “…received $445,000 from the Israeli government in 2018. That value equals nearly 80% of its reported revenue that year. A separate ministry document said the grant was for the institute’s annual seminar at Oxford University that trains professors to teach about antisemitism, as well as ‘conducting research in the field of antisemitism and delegitimization against Israel.’”]; Rabbi David Saperstein, Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism (statement); and Professor Kenneth S. Stern, Bard Center for the Study of Hate [and lead drafter of the IHRA definition of antisemitism] (statement). Also see:

March 26, 2025: The House Select Intelligence Committee held an open hearing entitled, Annual Worldwide Threats Assessment Hearing (Open). Witnesses were: ODNI Director Tulsi Gabbard, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, FBI Director Kash Patel, NSA Director Timothy Haugh, and DIA Director Jeffrey Kruse. No written/prepared statements were made available. Also see:

March 25, 2025: The Senate Foreign Relations Committee held a hearing to consider the nominations of Mike Huckabee to be the US ambassador to Israel (along with two other nominees) – hearing video.  Also see:

4. Selected Members on the Record

Targeting Students/Free Speech/Protest (incl propagating insane conspiracy theory)

  • Fallon (R-TX) 3/27/25: X-post – “Evidence suggests anti-American, anti-Israel groups that spurred violent protests on college campuses last year may have even deeper ties to Hamas than is publicly known. We must get to the bottom of this and keep terrorist influences out of America.”
  • Van Duyne (R-TX) 3/27/25: X-post – “At places like my alma mater and at Columbia, disruptive student activists have purposefully created chaos on campus while supporting Hamas, advocating for violence against our ally Israel, and creating unsafe learning environments for Jewish students. I fully support the President’s efforts to remove those responsible for antisemitic, terror-sympathizing activity. Now, terror supporters like Momodou Taal are hiding from ICE despite no longer having an active student visa.”
  • Torres (D-NY) 3/25/25: X-post – “The families of the hostages are suing pro-Hamas organizations operating here in the US. The lawsuit contains a bombshell revelation: ‘three minutes before Hamas began its attack on October 7th, Columbia SJP posted on Instagram ‘We are back.’ Before the 10/7 posting, Columbia SJP’s account had been inactive for months, only to be suspiciously reactivated minutes before the 10/7 terror attacks. The timing seems too coincidental to be a coincidence. If there are organizations here in the US that had advance knowledge of the 10/7 attacks, which led to the murder of American citizens, the American people have a right to know the full truth.”

Defending Students/Free Speech/Protest

  • Auchincloss (D-MA) 3/26/25: X-post – “Massachusetts has been welcoming students and immigrants for four centuries. The footage I saw today of Tufts graduate student Rumeysa Ozturk being detained by masked officers is contrary to that tradition. Ms. Ozturk has no reported record of violence or harassment; she did co-write an op-ed about Israel, with which I disagree. I have written about my opposing view. That’s how America works. Revoking her visa because of her political viewpoint is not how America works.”
  • Pressley (D-MA) 3/26/25: X-post – “Rumeysa was kidnapped in plain sight & sent to Louisiana to be locked in the same detention center Mahmoud Khalil was sent to. She’s a peaceful protestor, grad student, & my constituent who has a right to free speech & due process. Now she’s a political prisoner. Free her now.“
  • Velazquez (D-NY) 3/26/25: X-post – “One by one, the Trump admin is going after people for speech they don’t like. Rumeysa Ozturk, a Fulbright Scholar, was ambushed on the street for criticizing U.S. foreign policy. This isn’t immigration enforcement. It’s political repression. She must be released immediately.“

Concern for Israeli Military Actions in Gaza

  • Watson Coleman (D-NJ) 3/25/25: Rep. Watson Coleman Hosts Press Conference After Israel Breaks Ceasefire, Resumes Bombing Gaza [“NJ-12 Constituent Has Lost 40 Family Members to Bombings in Gaza, Including Newborn“]. Also see X-post – “Last week, Prime Minister Netanyahu broke the ceasefire that the United States negotiated at the beginning of this year. Hundreds of Palestinians were killed by Israeli airstrikes, including the cousin of one of my constituents, and their infant son. Today, I held a press conference to draw attention to this unspeakable tragedy, and renew calls for an immediate and lasting ceasefire and return of the hostages.”

Other Stuff

Barrasso (R-WY) 3/26/25: Barrasso: Republicans are Restoring Peace Through Strength [“U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Senate Majority Whip, today spoke on the Senate Floor about his recent visit to the Middle East…]

Torres (D-NY) 3/24/25: X-post- “Hamas murdered, maimed, mutilated, raped, tortured, and abducted thousands of innocent civilians. The Bibas children—an infant and a child—were murdered in cold blood by the bare hands of terror. Calling Hamas a terrorist organization is neither ‘racist’ nor ‘racially loaded,’ as Peter Beinart claims. The terrorism of Hamas is as glaringly obvious as the blueness of the sky.”

Fetterman (D-PA) 3/24/25: X-post – “Hamas’ leadership has the choice to free the hostages or face swift elimination. The Palestinian tragedy was designed and maintained exclusively by Hamas. This war is Hamas’ choice and my full support follows Israel.”

5. Selected Media

Israel Support & Elections

Other Stuff