1. Bills, Resolutions
2. Letters
3. Hearings & Markups

New episodes of FMEP’s Occupied Thoughts podcast:

• 5/20/26: Anti-Zionism, Antisemitism, and White Nationalism ft. FMEP fellow Ahmed Moor in conversation with analyst Ben Lorber about the definition of antisemitism today and how it compares to Islamophobia as well as the dynamics around finding common cause with white nationalists.

NOTE: Due to extenuating circumstances, this week FMEP is publishing an abbreviated version of the Round-Up.

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1. Bills & Resolutions

(WEAPONIZING FIGHT AGAINST ANTISEMITISM TO TARGET FREE SPEECH) S. 4576 [bill text]: Introduced in the Senate 5/20/26 by Rosen (D-NV) and 7 cosponsors (bipartisan), “A bill 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 Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Press release: ROSEN, LANKFORD INTRODUCE COMPREHENSIVE BIPARTISAN BILL TO FIGHT ANTISEMITISM; also see: VIDEO: ROSEN GIVES MAJOR SPEECH ON ANTISEMITISM, BIPARTISAN BILL TO COMBAT IT AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL

• NOTE: Some have suggested that the drafters omitted language to explicitly legislate/enforce the IHRA definition in order to avoid IHRA-related controversy and with the hope that IHRA will be legislated separately in the future. This may be true, but in terms of actual impact it is a distinction without a difference, so to speak. To wit: the bill cites in its findings Trump’s 2019 Executive Order 13899 — the Trump EO, left in place by Biden, that invokes the IHRA definition and it conflating-criticism-of-Israel/Zionism-with-antisemitism examples in connection with Title VI. The bill’s findings also cite Trump’s 2025 Executive Order 14188, which cites and builds on EO 13899. By invoking these EO’s in the framing of this new bill, the bill’s drafters quite clearly lay the groundwork for implementation of the bill to involve weaponization of the IHRA definition and its examples, both via the parts of the bill focused explicitly on Title VI and via the other sections of the bill (like the section targeting social media), where it will likely be simply asserted that the IHRA definition, consistent with the 2019 and 2025 EOs, is US policy. In this way, the bill seeks to cement in law a new US paradigm for “fighting antisemitism” that is clearly grounded in the IHRA definition and its examples, irrespective of whether separate IHRA legislation is passed at some point in the future or even if the 2019 and 2025 EOs are at some point rescinded.
• Also note: while one quote in the official press release touting the bill, many quotes/descriptions about the bill in media reports, and the text of some supportive press releases refer to – and laud – the bill as “bicameral,” as of 5am ET on 5/22/26, no House version of the bill has been introduced.
• The bill has been endorsed and/or is being lobbied by various pro-Israel groups including the ADL, America Jewish Committee, the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, Jewish Federations of North America, Agudath Israel [see press release for full list, which notably does not include several names that are usually on such legislation – for more see comment, below]
• Media coverage: Politico, Jewish Insider, JNS, the Forward
• Off-the-record comment shared with the Round-Up by a well-connected observer: “There are two interesting things I see about the bill’s introduction. First, for all the talk about bicameral nature, the fact that such a high profile effort, with the level of endorsement and senior senate sponsorship, failed to get a house companion introduced is telling. Second, why are the traditional endorsers on antisemitism bills not endorsing? Where is the Brandeis Center? Where is the Combat Antisemitism Movement? Where is CUFI? Is the lack of their support why the House GOP is reticent? Time will tell.”

(TARGETING AIPAC & OTHERS) S. 4602 (bill text) // HR XXXX: Introduced 5/20/26 by Sanders (I-VT), “A bill to amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to place reasonable limits on contributions to super PACs which make independent expenditures, and for other purposes.” Referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration. Also see 5/20/26 press release from Rep. Lee (D-PA): Rep. Summer Lee, Sen. Bernie Sanders Unveil Bill to Abolish Super PACs, Stop Billionaires From Buying Elections [same press release from Sanders], which opens: “With AIPAC, crypto and AI super PACs already spending over half a billion dollars this primary season, Congresswoman Summer Lee (PA-12)and Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) today introduced legislation to ban super PACs from buying our elections”]. Also see: bill summary. NOTE: as of 7am ET on 5/22/26 the House version of the bill does not appear to have been introduced (ie, it’s not in the Congressional Record).

(CONFLATING PROTEST WITH TERRORISM) HR 8843: Introduced 5/15/26 by McGuire (R-VA) and 2 cosponsors, “To amend title 18, United States, to include property damage in acts that constitute domestic terrorism, and for other purposes,” aka the “Federal Accountability for Felony Obstruction (FAFO) Act”. Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. Also see press release: McGuire introduces Federal Accountability for Felony Obstruction Act.

(ISLAMOPHOBIA/RACISM) H. J. Res. 188: Introduced 5/20/26 by Mace (R-SC), “proposing a constitutional amendment to require Members of Congress, federal judges, and Senate-confirmed officers of the United States to be natural born citizens. NOTE: Mace’s press release singles out – you guessed it – Rep. Omar (D-MN), and her X-post focuses on Omar; Thanedar (D-MI) and Jayapal (D-WA), alleging: “All born in foreign countries, none were citizens by birth. All sitting in the United States Congress. All making clear every single day their loyalty is not to America.” Notwithstanding her focus on these three, per the House Clerk, currently there are 26 foreign-born members of the House (from both parties; some of whom are citizens by birth, some of whom are naturalized citizens). There are also currently 4 foreign-born US Senators, 2 of whom are naturalized citizens. 

(ISLAMOPHOBIA/RACISM) HR 8905 [bill text]: Introduced 5/19/26 by Roy (R-TX), “To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to prohibit leaders of certain religious denominations from being admitted to the United States under section 101(a)(15)(R) of that Act, and for other purposes,” aka “the Inhibiting Militant Adversarial Mullahs (IMAN) Act.” Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. 

(ISLAMOPHOBIA/RACISM) HR 8906[bill text]: Introduced 5/19/26 by Roy (R-TX), “To prohibit the purchase of American Housing supply by Foreign Countries, Adversaries, and Entities of Concern and to require the divestiture of existing housing ownership,” aka “The Ban Chinese Communist and Islamist Home Ownership Act.” Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Iran War Powers

1. J. Res. 185: Introduced 4/26/26 by Kaine (D-VA) and having 9 cosponsors, “A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress.” On 5/19/26, the Senate voted 50-47 to discharge the bill from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (a procedural vote that to a great degree, in this case, represents a vote on the underlying bill—all previous efforts to bring an Iran War Powers to the floor have been blocked by such procedural votes). Also see media reports: New York Times, Jewish Insider
2. Con. Res. 86: Introduced 4/20/86 by Meeks (D-NY), “Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to remove the United States Armed Forces from hostilities against the Islamic Republic of Iran.” Brought to the floor 5/20/26 and voted on (Voice Vote) — Chair declared the resolution defeated by voice vote; Meeks demanded a roll call vote, which was postponed by the chair. Subsequently Republican leadership on 5/21/26 cancelled voting on the measure, when they apparently realized they lacked the votes to defeat the measure. See: Meeks Statement on Republicans Pulling Iran War Powers Vote
3. Con. Res. 102:  Introduced 5/15/26 by Randall (D-WA)
4. Con. Res. 103: Introduced 5/20/26 by Amo (D-RI) and 30 cosponsors
5. Con. Res. 104: Introduced 5/20/26 by Brown (D-OH) and 2 cosponsors
6. Con. Res. 105: Introduced 5/21/26 by Jackson (D-IL)

2. Letters

• [TARGETING UNRWA] 5/19/26:  Cotton, Senators to Trump: Eliminate UN Agency That Employs Hamas-Terrorists [letter text]. Also coverage in the New York Post.

3. Hearings & Markups