FMEP Legislative Round-Up October 24, 2025

Resource

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

Of note:

  • 10/24/25: New episode of FMEP’s Occupied Thoughts podcast – Media, BDS, and Lessons from 25 Years of Solidarity Work, ft. FMEP Fellow Ahmed Moor speaking with Mondoweiss editor Adam Horowitz about the role that Mondoweiss, an independent news organization, has played in the struggle for Palestinian rights over the past 25 years. They also discuss the moral case for the cultural boycott of Israel and what constitutes justice after genocide.
  • 10/22/25: New episode of the Quincy Institute’s “Always at War” podcast, The Gaza Ceasefire – Will It Last? Ft. hosts Courtney Rawlings and Alex Jordan in conversation with FMEP’s Lara Friedman.
  • 10/20/25: New episode of FMEP’s Occupied Thoughts podcast – Attacks on the First Amendment Continue, ft. FMEP fellow Ahmed Moor in conversation with Jenin Younes, National Legal Director at the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC).

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1. Bills & Resolutions

(TRUMP IS THE HUGEST PEACEMAKER EVER!) HR 5766: Introduced 10/17/25 by Barr (R-KY) and no cosponsors, “To require the Secretary of State to annually award an honorary Trump Peace Prize.” Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. Also see press release –Barr Calls for Trump to Receive Nobel Peace Prize [“Barr will also introduce legislation directing the State Department to establish the “Trump Peace Prize,” an honor given to peacemakers. The bill would designate President Trump as the first awardee.”]

(TRUMP IS THE HUGEST PEACEMAKER EVER IN THE MIDDLE EAST!) HR 5789: Introduced 10/17/25 by Van Orden (R-WI) and having 25 cosponsors (all Republicans), “To award a Congressional Gold Medal to President Donald J. Trump, in recognition of his extraordinary peacemaking efforts throughout the world and in facilitating the Trump peace agreement to end the war in Gaza and bring lasting peace to the Middle East.” Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services

(HONORING AMERICANS TAKEN HOSTAGE BY HAMAS & IRAN) HR 5772: Introduced 10/17/25 by Kean (R-NJ) and Moskowitz (D-FL), “To amend title 36, United States Code, to require the Hostage and Wrongful Detainee flag to be displayed on key historical dates, and for other purposes.”  Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. Also see: Kean and Moskowitz Introduce Bipartisan Bill Honoring American Hostages and Wrongful Detainees Abroad [“Key dates for display under the bill include: November 4 and January 20: Marking the beginning and the end of the Iranian hostage crisis. August 19: Commemorating the life and legacy of journalist James Foley, who was kidnapped during the Syrian Civil War and murdered by ISIS in 2014. October 7: Honoring the victims of Hamas’ unprovoked terrorist attack on Israel in 2023, where more than 240 individuals were taken hostage, including 12 Americans.” — to be clear, those are the ONLY dates explicitly noted in the act, notwithstanding the many instances around the world of Americans wrongfully detained/held hostage; and of course no mention of Israel’s detention of Palestinian-Americans]. Also see: Bipartisan House bill calls for marking dates US hostages taken, including Oct. 7 (Jewish News Syndicate 10/22/25)

2. Letters

3. Hearings & Markups

October 28, 2025: The Senate Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on the Constitution will hold a hearing entitled, “Politically Violent Attacks: A Threat to Our Constitutional Order”. No further details are yet available.

October 23, 2025: The Senate Foreign Relations Committee held a hearing to consider, among other things, the nomination of Amer Ghalib (mayor of Hamtramck, Mich., who endorsed Trump, only to be attacked for allegedly being insufficiently pro-Israel and antisemitic to be US Ambassador to Kuwait. Also see:

October 21, 2025: The Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control  held a hearing entitled, “Global Gangsters: Hezbollah’s Latin American Drug Trafficking Operations [hearing video]” Witnesses were Nathan Sales, Atlantic Council (statement); Marshall Billingslea, Hudson Institute (statement); Matthew Levitt, WINEP (statement); and Robert F. Clifford, retired FBI (statement). An overarching objective of the hearing seemed to be making the case for additional military action against Iran. Also see:

  • Cornyn’s (R-TX) opening remarks; also see Cornyn’s X-thread – “Hezbollah’s threat to the U.S. & Israel is not geographically confined to the Middle East.   Its illicit activities in Latin America – oil smuggling, money laundering, black market money exchange, counterfeiting, & illegal weapons procurement – are chiefly focused on raising funds for its terrorist operations in the Middle East & elsewhere. @POTUS’ decision to restore maximum pressure on Iran could dry up a key funding source for Hezbollah, which would force it to rely upon its Latin America drug trafficking & money laundering networks further. Our hearing examined that as well as the current threats posed by Hezbollah at our southern border, measures the U.S. government has taken to counter threats, & the best way to respond.   Thank you to our distinguished witnesses for lending your expertise to this conversation.“
  • Senate Hezbollah hearing spotlights Venezuela’s strategic partnership with Iran and terror ties (Jewish Insider 10/22/25)

4. Selected Members on the Record

Swalwell (D-CA) 10/24/25: X-post – “Trump pardons Hamas’ banker. Spare me the ‘Trump is pro-Israel’ nonsense. Trump is pro-grift. Sometimes Israel benefits from his greed. Sometimes he pardons their enemy’s banker.”

Mace (R-NC) 10/24/25: X-post w/ video clip – “From the Abraham Accords to the Gaza Peace Framework, President Trump achieved what many said was impossible: fostering peace in a region long defined by conflict. Blessed are the peacemakers.”

Risch (R-ID) 10/23/25: X-post – “Once again, another flawed and deeply problematic @UN report is issued with outdated and biased information. The purpose? To undermine Israel’s campaign for self-defense AND give UNRWA a free pass for its documented and historical ties to terrorists. To be absolutely clear: the U.S. will NEVER support in dollars or spirit UNRWA ever again.”

Sanders (I-VT) 10/23/25: X-post w/ video posted by Jeremy Slevin – “Bernie Sanders: “AIPAC has been playing a horrific role. You’re seeing support change now because what we have done in Gaza is unacceptable, and you’re seeing even moderate-type Democrats saying, ‘Excuse me, thank you, I don’t want your money anymore.’ That’s a good thing.”

Beyer (D-VA) 10/23/25: X-post – “This man’s company facilitated financing of terrorist organizations like Hamas, ISIS, and Al Qaeda, helped evade sanctions on Iran and North Korea, and enabled ransomware attackers. He put money in the pockets of the Trump family and Trump pardoned him.”

Nadler (D-NY) 10/23/25: X-post – “Binance CEO CZ allowed Hamas’ Al-Qassam Brigades and other terrorist groups to use his platform, pled guilty, and owed billions in fines. Then Trump pardoned him, just months after a $2 billion stablecoin deal between Binance and his family’s crypto venture. Trump is selling pardons to anyone who can personally profit him. It’s a shameful abuse of power and a mockery of justice.”

Bacon (R-NE) 10/23/25: X-post – “National Populists are not conservative. They don’t have a conservative moral compass. Those who sympathize with Putin are not conservative. Those who hate Israel are not conservative. Those who want heavy government intervention in the free markets are not conservative.”

Gimenez (R-FL) 10/23/25: X-post – “The United States will always stand with the democratic Jewish state of #Israel!”

Welch (D-VT) 10/23/25: X-post w/ video clip – “I’m relieved that a ceasefire agreement has been reached in Gaza. But we can’t just go back to the way things were before October 7. America must help cement a path to lasting peace in the Middle East.”

Cortez Masto (D-NV) 10/23/25: X-post – “Naked corruption is par for the course for this President, yet it’s still shocking. Changpeng Zhao deliberately ignored terrorists like Hamas and Al Qaeda who used his platform to fund their operations. He belongs in jail, but Donald Trump doesn’t care as long as he can make a quick buck.”

Pressley (D-MA) 10/23/25: X-post – “No one should lose a child to violence. I was deeply impacted by the Palestinian American fathers who met with me to talk about their children who were violently killed by Israeli settlers in the West Bank. The US has an obligation to urgently investigate the murders of US citizens Sayfollah Musallet & Tawfic Abdel Jabbar. Their families have my steadfast support and my deepest condolences.”

Cassidy (R-LA) 10/22/25: X-post – “It seems President Trump has had an easier time negotiating with Hamas than with Chuck Schumer. That’s why we’re in the Schumer Shutdown.”

Fallon (R-TX) 10/22/25: X-post – “We have always known that Hamas is not a legitimate government–they are genocidal terrorists, plain and simple. The Pro-Palestine crowd continues to ignore this fact, even as Hamas is carries out reprisal killings against Gazans.”

Kennedy (R-LA) 10/22/25: X-post – “The Biden Administration allowed an October 7th terrorist who lied on his visa application to move to Lafayette, La. That’s a national embarrassment. Louisianians and the American people deserve immediate answers.”

Greene (R-GA) 10/22/25: X-post – “Israel can’t silence me. They can try to primary me, smear me, or take me out. I’ll never back down. I didn’t run for Congress to fight for Israel, I ran to fight for the American people. I’ve introduced amendments to strip billions in funding to Israel and other foreign countries like Ukraine and Egypt. The American people see through the lies. We’re putting America First again.”

Frost (D-FL) 10/22/25: X-post – “Recently, I met with the family of Mohammed Ibrahim and his cousin, Sayfollah “Saif” Musallet — two young Palestinian-American citizens from Florida. Today, I am demanding the immediate release of Mohammed, who has been in an Israeli prison pre-trial for over eight months and has lost a quarter of his body weight and been denied all outside contact, including with his family, without any public evidence of a crime. Additionally, I continue to call for an independent U.S. investigation into Saif’s murder after he was brutally beaten to death by settlers in the West Bank. This family’s suffering is unimaginable. We must free Mohammed and secure justice.”

Graham (R-SC) 10/22/25: X-post – “I categorically reject the International Court of Justice’s advisory opinion and I’m confident the Trump Administration will also. When it comes to Israel, the ICJ is a joke and should be treated as such.”

Smith (D-WA) 10/21/25: X-post – “Trump would rather negotiate with Hamas, Putin, and North Korea than Democrats.”

Blackburn (R-TN) 10/21/25: X-post – “This is the most peace-oriented administration our country has seen. President @realDonaldTrump and Vice President @JDVance are ensuring the next steps of the Gaza Peace Deal are fulfilled.”

Beyer (D-VA) 10/21/25: X-post – “The backslide into violence in Gaza is unacceptable. The U.S. must ensure all parties end the violence, adhere to the agreement, and proceed with its next phases. These efforts must also extend to the West Bank, where escalating settler attacks are jeopardizing peace.”

Bacon (R-NE) 10/21/25: X-post w/ pix – “Some kind-hearted soul put a bumper sticker on our Stand with Israel board. We agree! Free Palestine…from Hamas.”

Fleischmann (R-TN) 10/21/25: X-post – “My ‘Stand with Israel’ sign is replaced and back up! I will proudly display this sign on my office door as Israel and Gaza rebuild and prosper under President Trump’s Peace Plan. Never forget that Trump has done more for peace in the Middle East than any pro-Palestine radical!” Following up on previous X-post – “Today, pro-Hamas supporters came by my office and vandalized my sign supporting Israel that has been up since the evil Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas terrorists. These Hamas supporters hate Jews, hate Israel, hate America, and hate that @POTUS has ended the war in Gaza. All these so-called ‘Pro-Palestine’ supporters care about is the destruction of Israel. They are antisemites, and every Tennesseean and American free of bigotry will always condemn these acts of incivility and violations of free speech.”

Alford (R-MS) 10/21/25: X-post – “Hamas must be eradicated from regrouping. Our partners want action — & that means precise, effective operations, intelligence, and pressure so this threat can’t come back. We’ll keep standing with Israel and fighting for American security.”

Cruz (R-TX) 10/21/25: X-post w/ video  – “We are facing a choice between good and evil, between civilization and barbarism. And every one of us has a choice to make: With whom do you stand? My full remarks at the 45th Annual Night to Honor Israel, here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txmvh2QTIOo”

Blackburn (R-TN) 10/21/25: X-post – “Hamas must return the remains of every hostage so families can properly lay their loved ones to rest. @VP @JDVance’s trip to Israel is putting more pressure on Hamas to hold up their end of this deal.”

Cruz (R-TX) 10/20/25: X-post – “George Soros is writing the checks behind the ‘No Kings’ rallies and countless other groups who engage in or facilitate riots and political violence. It’s time to hold the financiers of political violence accountable. It’s time to pass my Stop FUNDERs Act.”

Bacon (R-NE) 10/20/25: X-post – “This weekend, I had the pleasure of meeting with Elad Strohmayer, the Consulate General of Israel to the Midwest! We had a great discussion about important topics like the ceasefire and the release of hostages, plus the exciting opportunity for soybean trade with Israel and Gaza!”

Boozman (R-AR) 10/20/25: (blog) Peace Through Strength Leads to Middle East Breakthrough

Budd (R-NC) 10/20/25: X-thread – “President Trump is making historic progress toward peace in the Middle East—working tirelessly to bring home American hostages, protect Israel, and restore stability in Gaza. But Hamas is trying to destroy it all—violating the ceasefire deal and spilling more innocent blood. Over the weekend, I spoke with the families of deceased American-Israeli hostages Omer Neutra and Itay Chen. Their heartbreak is deepened by Hamas’ failureto return their sons’ bodies, in direct violation of the U.S.-brokered agreement. Hamas is “making themselves as if they are not able to find the bodies”—a cruel, deliberate act that prolongs the suffering of grieving families. This is not diplomacy. It is deception. Just days after the ceasefire began, Hamas operatives assassinated two IDF soldiers—an unmistakable breach of the deal and proof that Hamas did not negotiate in good faith. Hamas is also brutally executing Palestinian civilians because they suspect that they collaborated with Israel, or because they are afraid that they and their families might oppose Hamasin the future. Hamas fears a future where their power & terror come to an end. That time is coming. In our undertaking to cement peace in the Middle East, the U.S. must use every ounce of leverage to hold Hamas accountable, ensure the return of all hostages including Americans, & defend Israel’s right to security.”

Greene (R-GA) 10/19/25: X-post – “American taxpayers spent billions and our President and his team put in a tremendous amount of effort to end the Israel/Gaza and Ukraine/Russia wars, yet the wars still continue. Enough! Everyone is sick of these wars and sick of paying for them. It’s time to put all the attention on the American people and solving our problems.”

Panetta (D-CA) 10/19/25: X-post – “With the hostages returned and hope for the return of all the deceased hostages, the work must continue to have a regional partnership for security and financial support to rebuild and provide humanitarian aid in Gaza. A strong will and a stronger commitment are necessary to defeat the enemies of peace.”

Goldman (D-NY) 10/19/25: X-post – “Recent videos of extremist settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank are horrifying. I have demanded an explanation from the Israeli Embassy. @POTUS and @USAmbIsrael must ensure that this violence stops immediately and that the perpetrators are brought to justice.”

Sanders (I-VT) 10/19/25: X-post – “Gaza has 2.2 million people. In 2 years, 10% of the population has been killed or wounded. Their entire infrastructure has been destroyed.  Instead of giving more military aid to Netanyahu’s extremist government, the US must work with the international community to rebuild Gaza.”

Fine (R-FL) 10/19/25: X-post – “They don’t hold living hostages anymore. Glass.” [NOTE: In this context, “glass” means to utterly destroy Gaza such that the ground is turned to glass, as would be the case after a nuclear attack – see: Urban Dictionary] 

Walker (R-NC) 10/19/25: X-post – “An honor to meet in Tel Aviv today with American hostage families. Ruby Chen is bravely fighting for the return of the body of his son, Itay. I was moved by fellow North Carolinian Keith Siegel’s first hand account of pure evil and he suffered for 483 days. Keith continues to be grateful for President Trump’s work to bring him home earlier this year.”

Emmer (R-MN) 10/18/25: X-post – “At today’s Soros-funded Hate America rally, we’ll see the far-left base that has Chuck Schumer cowering. The same base that supports Hamas terrorists, uses violent rhetoric like ‘fascists’ and ‘gestapo,’ and is demanding the American people be held hostage to their demands. Don’t be fooled. The far-left is now the Democrat party’s mainstream.”

Webster (R-FL) 10/17/25: X-post – “Shameful that Hamas is failing to abide by the peace agreement by not releasing the 19 hostage bodies. We will not forget them and join our friends in Israel in praying for the families still waiting to receive and put to rest their loved ones.”

5. Selected Media

Politics/Elex

NOTE: This political season continues to see a number of candidates running on explicitly as anti-AIPAC, or anti-pro-Israel/pro-genocide policies of the incumbent. To follow this trend, check out @TrackAIPAC on X.

Also note: this week a Texas congressional candidate famous for burning the Quran, heckling a Muslim event, and making an ad where she acted out the extrajudicial execution of an illegal alien went to Israel, where in a powerful display of shared values she was welcomed in the Knesset (indeed, celebrated!); by the Western Wall Rabbi; by families of victims of the 10/7 attacks; and more! Also see: Jerusalem Post 10/21/25: ‘Let the fireworks begin’: Quran-burning Texas politician looks on as IDF strikes in Gaza [video]; 5PillarsUK 10/23/25: Israel rolls out red carpet for far right influencers

Shifts in Political & Electoral Landscape on Israel & AIPAC

AIPAC/Israel in IL Elex

  • Evanston Roundtable 10/22/25: 13 candidates at forum, new internal poll in Evanston’s congressional race [“…there were also references to fundraising details recently disclosed in third quarter reports filed by each candidate with the Federal Election Commission. In particular, Abughazaleh said in her closing statement that she’s ‘not taking Republican funded cash, like from AIPAC,’ referring to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. AIPAC has been active in the IL-9 primary, according to recent emails released to the public. One shared to social media in September shows the lobbying group calling Fine the “one clear pro-Israel candidate” and Biss and Abughazaleh “dangerous detractors. Another from August posted recently by Abughazaleh directly solicits readers to donate to Fine, calling her ‘a fighter of our own.’ Abughazaleh has directly confronted the messaging, referencing ‘AIPAC’s attacks against me’ in a statement attached to the MDW poll and posting a fundraising call to social media asking to ‘oppose the anti-democratic organization known as AIPAC.’ Biss, for his part, simply told reporters after the forum ended that he’s ‘not gonna take AIPAC’s money, and I’ll leave it at that.’ Fine left the forum’s venue shortly after it ended. Her representatives still on-site declined to provide reporters a response to questions concerning the AIPAC emails soliciting donations to her campaign.“]
  • X-thread from journalist Matthew Eadie (with receipts) 10/21/25: “NEW: Evanston mayor and #IL09 candidate Daniel Biss told me tonight he would not accept AIPAC money in the future if elected to Congress, in response to the email I’ve obtained that calls him and Kat Abughazaleh “dangerous detractors.” More on what he told me below“
  • X-post from journalist Matthew Eadie 10/20/25: “Comment from Kat Abughazaleh about this email —>> “AIPAC calls me ‘anti-American’ for standing up for human rights, Palestinian statehood, and international law. I think AIPAC is anti-American for supporting insurrectionists and advocating for the violation our own Leahy laws.”
  • X-thread from journalist Matthew Eadie (with receipts) 10/20/25: “NEW: I’ve obtained TWO emails sent directly from AIPAC on Aug. 21 and Sept. 15 fundraising for State Sen. Laura Fine in IL-09 Both emails include links to a hidden webpage called “pro-Israel Network” with live (and hidden) donation pages. But the homepage to the site is dead. The first email, sent on Aug. 21, calls @KatAbughazaleh a ‘anti-Israel detractor’ with a ‘radical foreign policy agenda’ and a ‘anti-America agenda.’ This confirms my reporting that there WAS an email before the Sept. 15 AIPAC email soliciting donations for Fine. As I reported Friday, over 150 of Fine’s donations making up over $300,000 came through donors with deep ties to AIPAC and histories of supporting candidate through AIPAC But none of Fine’s donations I identified were earmarked through ANY organization or conduit. The site appears to be using Democracy Engine LLC as the vendor, meaning they may be able to skirt FEC requirements to ‘earmark’ the donation, but what’s also clear is that donors are being sent this link from AIPAC driving donations without any transparency of that happening. Here’s my original story that explains this discrepancy. Many (maybe even most) of her donors are marked by ‘ActBlue,’ but over 150 are unmarked meaning they appear as individual donors in FEC filings [https://evanstonnow.com/aipac-donors-flood-fines-campaign/]. The second email on Sept. 15, also sent by AIPAC, encourages donations to Angie Craig in MN, Haley Stevens in MI and Laura Fine in IL-09 Links to all three of these candidates lead to the same ‘Pro-Israel Network’ donation page using Democracy Engine as the vendor. The Sept. 15 email references @DanielBiss as well as Kat Abughazaleh. This was the email @JDCocchiarella scooped in late September Daniel Biss, mayor of Evanston and the son of an Israeli mother, criticized the Israeli government on Aug. 22, the day after the first AIPAC email. Here’s my story from Aug. 22 on Biss’ call for U.S. recognition of Palestine, which may explain why he wasn’t named in the initial email but was in the next. As I said at the top, the ‘pro-Israel Network’ site that includes donation pages for Craig, Stevens and Fine, but the homepage says: ‘The resource you are looking for has been removed, had its name changed, or is temporarily unavailable.’ Here’s the link https://candidates.proisraelnetwork.org/page/home. But fundraising pages for the candidates remain live through the site… I’ve asked a representative from @AIPAC for clarity on this site and if they operate it. They’ve read my text but have not responded Stevens’ and Craig’s campaign both also appear to be using this same site the same way. I also found a page for Rep. Eric Sorsensen (IL-17). So…what appears to be happening here is this: AIPAC is soliciting donations to campaigns through its emails to donors, including links to hidden webpages using Democracy Engine LLC as a vendor and the donations show in FEC filings as direct donations from donor to candidate. Fine and her campaign have not answered my (several) questions about AIPAC supporting her campaign, if she was aware of the email(s) and if she agrees with how AIPAC is portraying her primary opponents“
  • Evanston Now 10/17/25: AIPAC donors flood Fine’s campaign [also see Matthew Eadie X-thread with details]

AIPAC/Israel in ME Elex

AIPAC/Israel in elex/politics – General

AIPAC-linked Org Sends Members to Israel

  • Legistorm 10/20/25: August sets spending record for congressional travel [“Congressional travel spending reached a new monthly record in August, with more than $4.1 million spent on privately funded trips…The American Israel Education Foundation accounted for about $1.43 million of August’s spending, by far the largest contribution from any sponsor that month. The group sponsored 63 trips to Tel Aviv in August, accounting for about 63% of its $2.28 million in total spending so far this year. The AIPAC-affiliated nonprofit regularly leads congressional travel activity and often schedules its largest delegations to Israel during the August recess, when Congress is out of session.“]

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