Produced by the Foundation for Middle East Peace in cooperation with Americans for Peace Now, where the Legislative Round-Up was conceived
- Bills, Resolutions, & Letters
- Hearings
- On the Record
1. Bills, Resolutions, & Letters
(3 BIPARTISAN CHEERS FOR ISRAELI AMERICANS!) H. Res. 376: Introduced 5/10 by Zeldin (R-NY), Meng(D-NY), Wilson(R-SC), and Rose(D-NY), “Recognizing Israeli-American heritage and the contributions of the Israeli-American community to the United States.” Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Reform.
(WE *HEART* IRANIAN PEOPLE, esp if they want to change the regime) H. Res. 374: Introduced 5/10 by McClintock (R-CA), “Condemning Iranian state-sponsored terrorism and expressing support for the Iranian people's desire for a democratic, secular, and non-nuclear republic of Iran.” The final resolved clause states that Congress “recognizes the rights of the Iranian people and their struggle to establish a democratic, secular, and non-nuclear republic of Iran.” Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
(UM, TURKEY, CAN WE TALK?) H. Res. 372: Introduced 5/10 by Engel (D-NY) and 7 bipartisan cosponsors, “Expressing concern for the United States-Turkey alliance.” Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, Oversight and Reform, Ways and Means, and the Judiciary.
(DISAPPROVING OF ARMS SALES TO BAHRAIN) S. J. Res.20: Introduced 5/13 by Pal (R-KY) and no cosponsors, “A joint resolution relating to the disapproval of the proposed sale to the Government of Bahrain of certain defense articles and services.” Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
2. Hearings
5/15: The House Financial Services Committee will hold a hearing entitled, “Assessing the Use of Sanctions in Addressing National Security and Foreign Policy Challenges.” No further details are available at this time.
5/10: The House Appropriations Committee marked up the draft FY2020 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs bill. Video is here. Bill text is here; press release is here. Stay tuned for next week’s Round-Up for a full analysis of Middle East-related provisions in the House text and report.
3. On the Record
Cruz (R-TX) 5/14: Tweet 1 - “Today we celebrate the one-year anniversary of the United States signaling to the world that #Jerusalem is the eternal and undivided capital of #Israel with the opening of our #US Embassy in #Jerusalem.” Tweet 2 - “It was a true honor to witness the historic opening of our new #US Embassy in #Jerusalem in person in #Israel on this day one year ago” (w/ pics incl w/ Joe Lieberman). Tweet 3 - “I have long fought for the United States to recognize #Jerusalem as the rightful capital of #Israel and move its embassy there and am grateful for @realDonaldTrump's leadership in making this historic move.”
McCollum (D-MN) 5/13: 26 Advocacy and Faith-based Groups Supporting McCollum Legislation Promoting Human Rights for Palestinian Children Living Under Israeli Military Occupation
Rashida Tlaib insanity
Cruz (R-TX) 5/14: Tweet 1 - “The Holocaust revisionism of @RashidaTlaib is simply FALSE. This article gives the real history. Key excerpt: ‘The Arab leadership was also openly pro-Nazi. Haj Amin al-Husseini, the mufti of Jerusalem and a respected figure…’ (link)” Tweet 2 - “‘...in Palestinian circles to this day, met with Hitler & visited German troops. According to the German transcript...the mufti said: ‘An appeal by the Mufti to the Arab countries . . . would produce a great number of volunteers eager to fight.’ (link)’”
Pelosi (D-CA) 5/13: Tweet - “Republicans’ desperate attempts to smear @RepRashida & misrepresent her comments are outrageous. President @realDonaldTrump & House GOP should apologize to Rep. Tlaib & the American people for their gross misrepresentations.”
Jayapal (D-WA) 5/13: Tweet - “Republican leadership is spreading straight-up lies about a Congresswoman in a way that is inciting hate. This isn’t just incredibly disrespectful– it’s dangerous. They should be ashamed. (link)”
Velazquez (D-NY) 5/13: Tweet - “.@realDonaldTrump & the GOP are attempting to twist the words of my colleague,@RashidaTlaib. Not only is it offensive & disgraceful to play politics with these issues, but it is dangerous. The American people will not fall for this! The President should apologize immediately.”
Mast (R-FL) 5/13: Tweet - “Over the weekend, Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib tried to rewrite history to make her ‘Palestinian ancestors’ the heroes of the Holocaust and said that the Holocaust gave her a ‘calming feeling.’ When will Speaker Pelosi stop enabling anti-Semitism?”
Duncan (R-SC) 5/13: Tweet - “These comments are disgusting & horrifying, & have absolutely no place in our society. The anti-Semitism coming from some Democrats in Congress is dangerous & should be 100% condemned. (link)”
Scalise (R-LA) 5/12: “There is no justification for the twisted and disgusting comments made by Rashida Tlaib just days after the annual Day of Holocaust Remembrance. More than six million Jews were murdered during the Holocaust; there is nothing 'calming' about that fact. Unfortunately, this is far from the first display of heinous anti-Semitic comments coming from Democrat House members this year, and it’s clear this is now the norm for their caucus. It’s long past time for Speaker Pelosi to take swift action and make it clear that these vile comments have no place in Congress."
Estes (R-KS) 5/13: Tweet 1 - “Anti-Semitism by members of her caucus continues to go unchecked by Speaker Pelosi. On Sunday, a representative said they get a ‘calming feeling’ when thinking of the Holocaust and denied Jewish people’s ancestral claim to Israel. (link)” Tweet 2 - “On Thursday, another representative invited the opening prayer for the U.S. House to be given by an Imam with a history of anti-Semitism, support for the Muslim Brotherhood and calls for violence against Israelis. (link)” Tweet 3 - “I condemn these disgraceful comments and the presence of this divisive figure in the U.S. House. I stand with Americans in denouncing all forms of anti-Semitism and once again call on Speaker Pelosi to urge members of her caucus to do the same.”
Zeldin (R-NY) 5/13: “Answering a ? re her push for a 1 state solution removing Jews from power in Israel, Tlaib said thinking about the Holocaust gives her “a calming feeling” bc of a “safe haven” Palestinians provided to Jews. It’s a sick take & rewrite of history. The proposal is horribly wrong too”
Zeldin (R-NY) 5/12; Tweet - “.@RashidaTlaib says the Holocaust gives her “a calming feeling” calling for a 1 state solution putting Jews in the minority & out of power of their own country. This is a heart filled w darkness & how the Holocaust began in 1st place. Listen @ 28 min mark.”
Cheney (R-WY) 5/12; tweet - “Surely now @SpeakerPelosi & @LeaderHoyer will finally take action against vile anti-Semitism in their ranks. This must cross the line, even for them. Rashida Tlaib says thinking of the Holocaust provides her a ‘calming feeling’”
LaMalfa (R-CA) 5/10: President Trump Stands with Israel
Hunter (R-CA) 5/10: Condemn antisemitic violence
Zeldin (R-NY) 5/10: Rep. Zeldin Statement on Speaker Pelosi’s Invite for Omar Suleiman to Give Opening Prayer Yesterday on House Floor
House GOP caucus 5/9: House Democrats Select Muslim Brotherhood Sympathizer To Deliver Invocation