FMEP Legislative Round-Up September 3, 2026

Resource

September 3, 2026

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

New episodes of FMEP’s Occupied Thoughts podcast:

9/1/26: Navigating Bad-faith Accusations of Antisemitism, featuring FMEP fellow Peter Beinart in conversation with Ben Lorber, Senior Research Analyst at Political Research Associates, about the “bad-faith disinfo[rmation] attacks” against Hasan Piker and others, which cast critiques of Israel as antisemitism.

1. Bills & Resolutions

(UNIVERSITIES MUST COOPERATE WITH GREATER ISRAEL – OR ELSE!) HR 4795: Introduced 7/29/25 by Foxx (R-NC) and Gottheimer (D-NJ), “To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to prohibit an institution that participates in a nonexpressive commercial boycott of Israel from being eligible for certain funds under that Act, to require an institution that participates in certain programs under that Act to certify that students are not unreasonably obstructed from participating in academic programs in Israel, and for other purposes.” As previously reported in the Round-Up, HR 4795 was passed by the House Committee on Education and the Workforce 6/25/26, and reported out of the Committee on Education and Workforce on 8/27/26 with a report – H. Rept. 119-780. PASSED BY THE HOUSE 9/3/26 by a roll call vote of 237-169, with 33 Democrats voting YES and 2 Republicans voting NO.

Foxx (R-NC) X-post celebrating passage of the bill 9/3/26: “The House just passed my bipartisan bill, the Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act, that takes a strong stand against the BDS movement on college campuses across the nation. Thank you, @RepJoshG, for your partnership in helping lead this legislation alongside me. This legislation has true teeth and completely severs any possible taxpayer support of these concrete campaigns of antisemitism in the form of BDS and academic boycotts of Israel. The Senate should take it up immediately!”
Gottheimer press release celebrating passage of the bill: House Passes Gottheimer, Foxx Bipartisan Bill to Hold Higher Education Accountable for Hate-Driven BDS Activity that Targets Jewish Students and Professors — BDS Attacks Academic Freedom; Legislation Protects Free Speech
Republican Jewish Coalition X-post celebrating passage of HR 4795: “We commend the Republican-led House of Representatives for passing @virginiafoxx’s H.R. 4795, the Protecting Academic Freedom Act of 2026. For years, the “Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions” (BDS) movement has singled out and targeted Israeli products and Israeli academics in an antisemitic effort to vilify and ultimately destroy the world’s only Jewish State. With this vote, the House affirmed that no taxpayer dollars should support colleges that boycott Israel. Unfortunately, the overwhelming majority of Democrats in the House chose to stand with the haters of Jews and Israel, and opposed H.R. 4795. This is yet another reminder that the Republican Party is the ONLY party that unequivocally stands with the American Jewish community and Jewish students who seek higher education free from antisemitic hate.”
My short comment on passage of this bill: “…The road to erasing US right to free speech/protest of ANYTHING in the US is quite literally being paved with laws to protect/promote Greater Israel/Israeli impunity.”

What’s the big deal about HR 4795?

As reported in the 8/1/25 edition of the Round-Up, under this bill, US universities MUST work with Israel/settlements or they will be punished for boycotting, even if they do not have a policy of boycotting. To review:

Forcing Universities to Normalize West Bank Settlements: This language of this legislation – which mirrors language developed in connection with state-level anti-BDS legislation – is clearly designed to apply not only to Israel but also to Israeli entities in settlements in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Golan Heights (and perhaps some day in Gaza, when Israel starts re-settling there). This is accomplished via the language defining the term “a major strategic partner” to include not only key countries but “an entity licensed or regulated by, or organized under the laws of, such a country.“
Forcing Universities to Prove a Negative: This legislation sets up an situation in which the alleged absence of engagement with any Israeli partner/party, including in settlements, will become the basis for an accusation of boycott, putting universities in the position where, if they universities want to avoid being accused of boycotting Israel/settlements, they will need to adopt an affirmative policy of prioritizing maximal engagement/partnership with Israeli entities (including in settlements).
Setting Up a Cause for Legal Action: The requirement that universities certify they are not boycotting Israel/settlements leaves universities vulnerable to attacks by ideologically motivated private parties using the False Claims Act [i.e., those parties will search for and point to the absence of some relations with Israel to allege that a university lied in that certification, with the potential for massive financial judgments against the schools, of which they will receive a substantial portion].
Cementing in law the dismantlement of any US right to boycott: The Report published by the committee explicitly uses, as the anchor for its logic, a previous ruling on an anti-BDS law. This is the 2022 ruling by the 8th Circuit (en banc), which holds that while the First Amendment protects “expressive” elements of boycott (e.g., calling for boycotts, holding up or posting signs in support of boycotts, stating that one supports boycotts), the actual ACT of boycotting constitutes “non-expressive” conduct that is NOT protected by the First Amendment. Under this ruling — which was celebrated as a victory for Israel and largely overlooked by anyone not focused on Israel/BDS — Americans’ right to boycott ANYTHING based on their deeply held views is dismantled. As I wrote in an analysis for the University of the Pacific’s Law Review: this ruling “is based on an alarming and novel interpretation of the Supreme Court’s prior decisions upholding the right to boycott. According to this interpretation, the Constitution protects a right to call for or express support for boycotts but does not protect the right to actually boycott anything, viewing the act of boycotting not as expressive political speech but as an unprotected economic action. This re-interpretation of Supreme Court precedent, in effect, renders the whole notion of a ‘right to boycott’ meaningless, with alarming implications going far beyond Israel-Palestine issues.” This dismantling of a core free speech right — undoing what until the 8th Circuit’s 2022 ruling was, since the civil rights era, considered settled law that boycotts are protected free speech — is the foundational justification for HR 4795, and it is the legal principle that HR 4795 is now seeking to cement in U.S. law.

What’s Interesting About the Way HR 4795 Got to the Floor for a Vote?

On 8/28/26, the House Majority Leader published the House schedule for the week of 8/1/26; and included on it a list of measures, including HR 4795, to be considered under suspension of the Rules [reminder: passage of legislation on by the House under suspension of the Rules requires a 2/3 majority]. But then things got even more interesting: on 8/31/26, the House Rules Committee passed H. Res. 1499 – a Rule that to bring HR 4795 (as well as other measures, including a resolution denouncing the DSA) to the floor for votes under normal order (enabling their passage via a simple majority). Republican leaders then brought H. Res. 1499 to the floor, where–in a political shocker that calls into question the current Democratic leadership’s ability to lead–it passed 9/1/26 by a vote of 210-208, thanks to two Democrats, Golden (D-ME) and Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA) voting against their party to support the Republican rule (votes that were decisive because 5 Republicans voted “no”).

With the passage of H. Res. 1499, only a simple majority was now required to pass HR 4795 (and the other measures covered by the Rule). This is a very big deal, given that the final vote of HR 4795 was 237-169 — meaning that if the bill had been brought to the floor under suspension of the Rules, it would have FAILED (a 2/3 majority would have meant it needed 270 votes to pass).

And to be clear: the decision of two Democrats to vote with Republicans on this Rule — thereby enabling the Rule to pass, thereby enabling the GOP to pass several pieces of highly controversial legislation — is both highly unusual and a Very Big Deal. As a reminder, the House is a majoritarian body, and House leadership runs the House through the Rules Committee. Membership of the Rules Committee is sufficiently lopsided to guarantee that whatever comes out of the Committee reflects the will/strategy/judgement of House leadership (the Rules Committee is currently composed of 9 Republicans and 4 Democrats). The Rules Committee holds a hearing on the bill and then votes on/approves a RULE governing how the bill will be dealt with on the House floor. The Rule covers things like: which amendments will be considered on the floor; how debate time will be divided; and pretty much anything else the House leadership, working through the Committee, wants to try to get away with. Once this Rule is adopted by the Committee, it is turned into a resolution (an H. Res. XXX), which is then brought to the House floor for a vote. No further action on the underlying legislation is possible until the Rule is passed. Members of the minority are NEVER presumed or expected to support a rule (that just isn’t how the House works). Party-line votes are common on Rules brought to the floor. A speaker who can’t pass a rule on the House floor (meaning he/she cannot corral his/her own caucus to support his/her decisions) can’t run the House.

(Belated) Opposition to HR 4795

The Report that accompanied the bill makes absolutely explicit the intent of the bill (which to be fair was clear already). Notably, while the Minority views (i.e., the views of Democrats on the Committee) included at the end of the report take a strong position on free speech/First Amendment rights, those views also boil down to the complaint that Republicans didn’t work with Democrats to ensure that the bill was formulated in a way that could have gotten bipartisan support [i.e., a formulation that does not so blatantly violate the First Amendment]. Also notably, the Minority views don’t even mention the bill’s conflation of Israel and the West Bank.

As it became clear that HR 4795 was coming to the floor for a vote, opposition to the bill belatedly began to ramp up. This includes from outside groups (including A New Jewish Narrative; MPAC & A New Policy; J Street, CAIR); Democratic Members of the House Education and Workforce Committee; and Rep. Nadler (D-NY). Read Nadler’s 9/2/26 X-post; Nadler’s full statement below. In the end, it was not enough to prevent passage (which was a foregone conclusion once the Rule was passed).

Nadler statement:

“When the House votes on H.R. 4795, I will vote no. H.R. 4795, the so-called Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act, prohibits universities from engaging in ‘non-expressive commercial boycotts,’ and requires institutions of higher education to certify they are not boycotting Israel in order to access certain federal funds.

“I strongly oppose the global Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement and I ardently oppose BDS as a strategy to secure change in the Middle East. I also recognize that those who advocate for BDS can veer into antisemitism if they should use antisemitic tropes or stereotypes, hold Jews collectively responsible for Israel’s actions, target or exclude Jews because they are Jewish, use opposition to Israel or Zionism as a proxy for hostility toward Jews, or advance an eliminationist vision that denies Jews in Israel equal rights, physical safety, or the ability to remain in the country as equals.

“But no matter how strongly I oppose the BDS movement, I also believe that those who engage in BDS have a First Amendment right to do so. The First Amendment right to free speech does not apply only to agreeable speech. No matter how much I may disagree with BDS, and find it strategically stupid and morally repugnant, I will always fight to protect Americans’ right to speech with which I disagree. It is the only way to ensure speech I do agree with is equally protected.

“In my view, H.R. 4795 is a direct and gross violation of the First Amendment. The proponents of this bill hide behind an inadequately defined term of ‘non-expressive commercial boycotts,’ but, as the ACLU wrote in a letter to Congress, ‘Many of those engaged in boycotts of Israel do so not for commercial reasons, but because they wish to express their political opposition to the policies of the Israeli government – matters of overwhelming public concern and debate in the present moment. HR 4795’s labeling such boycotts as ‘non-expressive’ does nothing to change this reality.’ Moreover, as the Supreme Court has noted in Chiles v. Salazar, ‘the First Amendment is no word game. And the rights it protects cannot be renamed away or their protections nullified by ‘mere labels.’’

“Additionally, the language in H.R. 4795 treats the entire West Bank as part of Israel, erasing the Green Line and undermining efforts to promote a two-state solution. The United States and Congress must recognize the difference between the State of Israel and the territory it occupies beyond the Green Line. Imposing penalties on institutions of higher education for opposing activities that advance annexation, blur that crucially important distinction, and undermine prospects for a two-state solution would establish a deeply troubling precedent.

“H.R. 4795 is the latest assault by the Trump Administration and Congressional Republicans on American colleges and universities. Supporting this bill does nothing to support students on campus, prevent hate, or improve the reality in the Middle East. Instead, it feeds the political arson being committed by the Trump Administration against institutions of higher education and endeavors to limit Americans’ First Amendment freedoms in service of Republicans’ partisan political agenda.”

2. Letters & Reports

[TARGETING MAX BLUMENTHAL — AKA, TIME TO STOP ASKING WHETHER THE RED SCARE IS BACK. IT IS. AND FOLKS SHOULD RECALL HOW THAT WENT] On 8/29/26, Laura Loomer published a long post on X, opening with: “GOP Members of Congress call for State Department and DOJ to investigate Radical Left Islamic Terror Sympathizer Max Blumenthal Following His Return From Iran.” The post includes gifs (page 1, page 2) of a letter, dated 8/28/26, sent to Secretary of State Rubio and Attorney General Blanche by Reps. Fine (R-FL), Self (R-TX), and Weber (R-TX). The letter urges the Trump Administration to investigate an American journalist, Max Blumenthal, for “participating in Ali Khameni’s funeral in Iran.” The letter goes on to enumerate Blumenthal’s alleged grievous sins, including criticism of Israel and being the son of Sid Blumenthal. It concludes by characterizing Blumenthal as someone who “sympathizes with America’s enemies and is a threat to United States national security.” The letter asks the Trump officials to “promptly investigate” Blumenthal to “ensure the American public is safe from this traitor.” As a reminder: the U.S. law regarding “treason”: “Whoever, owing allegiance to the United States, levies war against them or adheres to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort within the United States or elsewhere, is guilty of treason and shall suffer death, or shall be imprisoned not less than five years and fined under this title but not less than $10,000; and shall be incapable of holding any office under the United States.” [See also: Sacco and Vanzetti; Julius and Ethel Rosenberg]. Also see: response from Max Blumenthal on X: “A federal judge has clearly stated that my Fourth Amendment rights were violated through the seizure of my phones. She framed the DHS action as an attack on my First Amendment rights as well, situating it within the Trump administration’s wider assault on press freedom. Loomer and a trio of Israel First backbenchers have responded by escalating their attack on my First Amendment rights. It’s a desperate bid to silence me and The Grayzone – not for breaking any laws, but for journalism which exposes wanton corruption and war crimes. They are particularly incensed by my reporting on the crimes of a certain foreign apartheid state whose lobbying proxies guide their careers. Indeed, their letter is packed with hysterical complaints about my journalism, demanding that I be “investigated” for producing a documentary on Iran’s Jewish community and for clinically exposing official Israeli deceptions about October 7 designed to generate public support for genocide in Gaza. The letter also contains blatantly false, libelous statements. For instance, its authors claim I was “cultivated by an agent of influence by an FTO and current military adversary.” This is textbook defamation, and I don’t think it’s protected by congressional immunity. Finally, it’s impossible to ignore the irony of Randy Fine falsely accusing an American journalist of unspecified crimes just days after Fine was filmed rummaging through a private citizen’s mailbox while he was campaigning for reelection. Breaking into a mailbox is a federal crime. Journalism is not.”; House Republicans Demand Investigation Into Liberal Activist Who Attended Ayatollah’s Funeral (Daily Wire 8/29/26); Republicans Want Probe of Journalist Attending Ayatollah’s Funeral (American Faith 8/31/26); Paid by Hostile Regimes? The Foreign Funding Trail That Should Force Max Blumenthal Onto The FARA Registry (Loomered 8/31/26); MAGA trio’s new probe into journalist gets blistering response: ‘Desperate to silence me’ (Raw Story 8/29/26); The Totalitarian Israel Lobby Comes For Max Blumenthal. (The Dissident 8/29/26);

3. Hearings & Markups

September 1, 2026: The House Foreign Affairs Committee Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa held a hearing entitled, Countering Houthi Terrorism: Protecting U.S. Interests and Security in the Red Sea. Witnesses were: Nadwa Al-Dawsari, Middle East Institute (statement); and Allison Minor, Atlantic Council (statement).

4. Selected Members on the Record

Israel/AIPAC in US Elex & politics

Massie (R-KY) 9/1/26: X-post – “Good commentary on my race by @takenaps. Neither of the lobbying organizations bragging about taking me out are saying I was bad for Kentucky or America. They’re saying they did it because I wouldn’t send your money to Israel. Take them at their word.”
Van Hollen (D-MD) 9/1/26: X-post w/ video clip – “AIPAC is spending $50,000 on attack ads against me – and I’m not even on the ballot this year. Why? Because I refuse to give a foreign government a blank check or your tax dollars. Their attacks won’t stop me from standing up for what’s right.”
Tlaib (D-MI) 8/31/26: X-post – “The attacks on Angie & Abdul are all about being against the genocide of the Palestinian people. The genocide deniers are scared that their “kill them all” position is losing everywhere in our country. They already lost when they have to come after the color of their skin & their faith.”
Fine (R-FL) 8/31/26: X-post w/ video clip from Chris Menahan – “Rep. Randy Fine gloats with the Republican Jewish Coalition that “we” drove Rep. MTG and Rep. Thomas Massie out of the GOP. “If Massie needed a real reason to hate the Jews, well, we gave him one!” “We have expelled [Tucker Carlson] and his filth from the [GOP]!” he boasts. (Trump’s approval rating fell to 33% this month, the lowest of his presidency.)”
Gottheimer (D-NJ) 8/29/26: X-post w/ video clip – “I’d love to get back to the issues elections should be about: making life more affordable and holding the administration accountable. But we can’t ignore that members of our party are embracing a hate spewing streamer like Hasan Piker. We can’t deliver for American families unless we’re willing to call out the hate and stand up for the values of the Democratic Party.”
Rogers (R-FL) 8/29/26: X-post – “I’m grateful to have the support of Brian Hermelin and so many significant leaders in Michigan’s Jewish community! Thanks to all of you who have reached out to us. My wife, Kristi, and I could not be more grateful. As antisemitism rises and Jewish families worry for their safety, it’s critical that we have leaders who will confront hatred — not inflame it. That’s where my opponent and I couldn’t be more different. Abdul El-Sayed fans the flames of antisemitism. We’re fighting to extinguish it. He sympathized with the terrorist who tried to mass murder 140 kids in Temple Israel. And refused to disavow Hasan Piker, who called for violence towards American Jews. I have a record of, and will continue to, fight for unconditional support for Israel’s right to defend herself. And work to make sure Jewish Americans do not fear the hate and antisemitism that Abdul and his allies are pushing. I pledge to work for the safety and security of all students, especially the Jewish students in our great Michigan universities.”
Sherman (D-CA) 8/28/26: X-post – “Ben. You don’t speak for Democratic voters. If you did, I wouldn’t have prevailed in my June primary over an opponent you were strongly backing (he got 15% of the vote). Democratic voters are pro-Israel and pro-peace. As are Moskowitz and I. Notwithstanding your efforts to tear down a Democrat in a toss-up seat, Moskowitz will be an outstanding Ranking Member. I am proud to have given up my position as Ranking Member to allow Moskowitz to take over the subcommittee.” Responding to Ben Rhodes post criticizing the naming of Moskowitz (D-FL) as the new Ranking Minority Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa

WE STAND WITH ISRAEL

Banks (R-IN) 9/1/26: X-post w/ video clip – “I was proud to put on the uniform and serve my country in Afghanistan. I am proudly pro-Trump. I am proudly America First. And as a next generation Republican leader, I am proudly and unapologetically pro-Israel.”
Scott (R-FL) 8/30/26: X-post – “Calling for genocide against Israel is despicable. Israel is a great friend and ally of the United States, I’d advise Qatar not to forget that. The real question is how much are they going to shell out to try to paper over this one?”
Fallon (R-TX) 8/28/28: X-post – “We cannot hand Gaza’s future to an authority that trains kids to hate Jews and celebrate bloodshed. The Palestinian Authority’s schools prove they remain committed to the same ideology as Hamas. Peace requires removing that poison, not empowering it.”

Concern for Palestinians

Khanna (D-CA) 9/2/26: X-post – “The destruction of Palestinian homes in the West Bank is not a matter of rogue settlers in isolated incidents. It is a coordinated operation legitimized by Israeli law & protected by Israeli soldiers. This will not end until we stop sending aid & weapons used to kill civilians.”
Van Hollen (D-MD) 9/2/26: X-post – “After our trip to the Gaza-Egypt border last year, @SenJeffMerkley & I released a report entitled, ‘The Netanyahu Government is Implementing a Plan to Ethnically Cleanse Gaza of Palestinians.’ Now the Israeli Min of Defense confirmed that’s the goal. We must end our complicity.” Linked to France 24 article: Israel ‘organised and prepared’ to remove Gaza population if US gives green light, Katz says
Kamlager-Dove (D-CA) 9/2/26: X-post – “I vehemently condemn the settler violence in the West Bank, which has escalated this year with more than 3,200 Palestinians displaced, 76 killed, and countless more harassed and harmed. For far too long, these violent settlers have acted with impunity. Netanyahu and his government must take immediate action to rein in this violence by stopping settlement expansion in the West Bank and holding perpetrators accountable. The global community, including the U.S., cannot continue turning a blind eye to these atrocities. We must remain committed to a two-state solution that delivers lasting peace and security for both Palestinians and Israelis.”
Beyer (D-VA) 9/1/26: X-post w/ video clip – “More than 2 million Palestinians in Gaza continue to face displacement, destruction, disease, and death. It’s an appalling humanitarian catastrophe, and we have a responsibility to help end the suffering by ensuring the people in Gaza have access to the food, medicine, and aid they need to survive.”
Min (D-CA) 9/1/26: press release – “I was pleased to participate in a community forum last week with Jewish American constituents. As I stated clearly at the outset of a forum, I have a long history of condemning antisemitism and will continue to do so. I believe in Israel’s right to exist and defend itself and will keep supporting the provision of defensive weapons so that Israel can protect itself and its people. But I strongly oppose what Netanyahu is doing in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, and Iran and believe these are contrary to US interests and to Israel’s own long-term stability and peace. The Netanyahu government appears clearly to be seeking to, either through military action or by condoning settler violence, expand Israel’s borders, and to prolong and expand military conflict in the Middle East. These actions run contrary to the longstanding goal of a two state solution with self-determination and security for both Israelis and Palestinians. I will not support US taxpayers providing or subsidizing offensive weapons to Israel unless and until there is a meaningful change in Israeli policy, just as I will not support Trump’s illegal war in Iran. To be clear, my opposition to Netanyahu’s military agenda does not mean I do not care about the safety of Israel, nor does it mean I will be any less vocal about confronting antisemitism and trying to keep Jewish Americans safe here at home. I realize it is a frightening time for Jewish Americans right now. I have heard many of your stories and I am sorry that we are dealing with such a frightening rise in hate right now. But as someone who has been on the front lines, year after year, in efforts to confront hate in Orange County, I know we need as broad a coalition as possible if we want to meaningfully deal with antisemitism. This is something I learned firsthand as we tried to confront the anti-Asian hate epidemic that arose a few years ago. Unfortunately, there are people right now trying to make antisemitism a political wedge issue, including many who have never spoken out against hate before this year. We must reject this message of division and stand together against hate and religious bigotry.”
Tlaib (D-MI) 9/1/26: X-post – “They pretend they want to make llfe easier for their residents, yet they spend time attacking colleagues instead of Trump who ripped health care away from our families. Why? Because they are also war mongers & will fund genocide before taking on their corporate donors who are the ones really hurting our families.”
Sanders (I-VT) 8/31/26: X-post – “Listen to the words of retired Israeli generals speaking out against Israeli settlers terrorizing Palestinians in the West Bank. ‘This is ethnic cleansing.’ ‘Once a society behaves this way, that society is doomed.’ Not another nickel for the extremist Netanyahu government.”
Pocan (D-WI) 8/30/26: X-post – “And maybe the US media should treat covering Gaza and the West Bank more critically under Netanyahu and the Israeli government. This shit ain’t new.” Responding to X-post by Jake Tapper, “Hideous: In “the West Bank town of Jalud, masked settlers attacked an NBC News crew as they were interviewing a Palestinian woman.” Sending prayers to the NBC crew.” [but no prayers for the Palestinian woman who as also attacked and knocked unconscious]
Fine (R-FL) 8/30/26: Republican Jewish Coalition X-post w/ video clip – “Congressman @VoteRandyFine, the Hebrew Hammer, received a thunderous standing ovation at the RJC Leadership Summit in Las Vegas: “In the 1930s, there were only two kinds of Jews – those who left, and those who died. Today, both in the State of Israel – and here in the United States – there is a third kind. Those who fight. I am proud to be one of those.”:
Gallego (D-AZ) 8/28/26: press release – Gallego Leads Colleagues in Opposing Israeli Government’s E1 Settlement Tenders; also see – Gallego leads Senate Democrats calling for halt to E1 settlement construction plans [“The 30 Senate Democrats called on Israel to rescind the settlement construction permits, halt settlement expansion and take action to halt settler violence”] (Jewish Insider 8/28/26)
Warren (D-MA) 8/28/26: X-post – “It’s long past time for the U.S. government to stand up for human rights, investigate this violence against Americans and Palestinians, and hold the perpetrators accountable. I’m grateful for Senator Van Hollen’s leadership and proud to stand with him in pressing for answers.”

Free Speech/Right to Protest

Jayapal (D-WA) 9/2/26: X-post – “Tomorrow, or perhaps even today, targets may include anyone in the United States who exercises their freedom of speech to simply express opinions the government does not like. This downward spiral is antithetical to our Constitution that recognizes our right to speak freely.” — A Judge in San Jose ruling against Donald Trump’s violation of freedom of speech. I came to the U.S. at 16 years old, all alone, to pursue the best education in the world. My parents put everything on the line to give me that opportunity. Today, immigrant students are being forced to choose between speaking their minds and feeling safe in this country. This isn’t just about immigration; it’s about protecting the constitutional right of every person to challenge those in power. Not just for people the government agrees with. For everyone. We cannot let the Trump Administration continue to weaponize immigration law against anyone who disagrees with their policies. We must continue fighting in the courts and everywhere else for the Constitution and the First Amendment.” Linked to screenshot of Associated Press 8/29/26 headline: Trump cannot deport students for criticizing Israel, judge rules

Islamophobia

Self (R-TX) 9/1/26: X-post – “Members of a Foreign Terrorist Organization are intimidating Americans on the Texas State Board of Education. This is their playbook: accommodation, intimidation, and then total conquest. BAN SHARIA.”
Fine (R-FL) 9/1/26: X-post – “Nearly 25 years later, NYC’s Mayor is in bed with Muslim terrorists and refuses to call out evil for what it is. Unfortunately, it seems the city forgot when they elected Jihadi Mamdani mayor. But we never will.”
Fine (R-FL) 8/31/26: X-post – “Sharia law has no place in the United States of America.”
Fine (R-FL) 8/31/26: X-post – “Sharia and the Constitution cannot occupy the same country. One of them has to lose and it will NOT be our Constitution.”
Fine (R-FL) 8/31/26: X-post – “NYC’s Mayor is an apologist for Hamas and has made it a priority to advance Islam. Dearborn’s Muslim Mayor said that Christians aren’t welcome in his city. The Democrats Senate candidate in Michigan said that America deserved 9/11 and is supported by Hasan Piker. And now the Governor of New York is wearing a hijab 11 days before the 25th anniversary of 9/11. Don’t try to tell me that the threat of Mainstream Islam isn’t real in the United States of America.”
Roy (R-TX) 8/31/26: X-post – “U.S. Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX-21) sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Wednesday, outlining concerns regarding a ‘planned Islamic development’ being built near U.S. military training base Camp Bullis in San Antonio. In his letter, Roy voiced concern that, in fundraising efforts for the expansion project, NICSA Islamic leaders have partnered with the Muslim Brotherhood.”
Tlaib (D-MI) 8/31/26: X-post – “To all who have attacked Hasan Piker, I’m going to check to see if you said anything about Laura Loomer calling a Black woman running for Senate in Florida, Representative Angie Nixon, a ghetto b**** and said that she should tug on her leash. I STAND WITH @AngieNixon“
Jeffries (D-NY) 8/31/26: X-post w/ video clip – “Laura Loomer is a stone-cold racist, pathological liar and nutjob. We stand with Angie Nixon, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, Rep. Pressley and those public servants she attacked. Every single Republican should denounce her vile behavior and end their relationship with this extremist immediately.”
Fine (R-FL) 8/30/26: X-post w/ video clip – “The Governor of New York is now wearing a hijab to appease Islamists 12 days before the 25th Anniversary of 9/11. This is what surrendering to Mainstream Islam looks like. New York has now been conquered.”
Tuberville (R-AL) 8/30/26: X-post – “Radical Islam is not a race or a religion. It is a DEATH CULT. Americans need to WAKE UP.”
Self (R-TX) 8/28/26: X-post – “We have one foundation of law in America: the United States Constitution. Everything else—from the federal government to state and local governments—must adhere to our constitutional system and the rule of law. Any effort to establish Sharia law as governing is completely incompatible with this fundamental principle.”

Israel-Greece

Malliotakis (R-NY) 8/31/26: X-post – “As Vice Chair of the Congressional Hellenic Caucus and member of the Hellenic Israel Alliance Caucus, I’m happy to see Greece and Israel working together to strengthen Greece’s national defense and regional security through the Achilles Shield air defense network. In May, the @HouseForeignGOP Committee overwhelmingly advanced our bipartisan H.R. 8019, the U.S.-Greece Defense Cooperation Advancement Act, to deepen military training, strengthen interoperability, and ensure the United States remains a strong partner as Greece modernizes its armed forces to further contribute to a more secure Eastern Mediterranean.”
Gimenez (R-FL) 8/30/26: X-post – “In the US Congress, we welcome this phenomenal deal to protect the Mediterranean from threats posed by terrorist extremists funded by the regime in #Iran & Erdogan in #Turkey!”
Gimenez (R-FL) 8/30/26: X-post – “NEWS—> The new defense partnership between the Jewish State of #Israel & the Hellenic Republic of #Greece is very welcome news in the US Congress. Under Erdogan, #Turkey has abandoned any semblance of democracy & is funding terrorist extremists across the region.”
Gimenez (R-FL) 8/29/26: X-post – “Erdogan’s continued support of anti-American terrorist groups in the Middle East is a direct to the safety & wellbeing of the American people. Erdogan’s pathetic rhetoric & calls for violence against #Israel undermines #Turkey’s role in NATO & will not be tolerated.”