June 6, 2016

Dear State Government Affairs Professionals, JCRC Directors, and Other Interested Parties:

Earlier this spring, we wrote to you to urge you to advocate on behalf of the Combating BDS Act of 2016 (H.R.4514/S.2531). The bill was introduced in early February by Congressmen Bob Dold (R-IL) and Juan Vargas (D-CA) in the House and by Senators Mark Kirk (R-IL) and Joe Manchin (D-WV) in the Senate. The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Financial Services and the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

The Combating BDS Act affirms the authority of state and local governments to identify and divest from entities engaged in BDS activities against Israel. This clarification is important because, if passed, the Act would protect state and local governments from lawsuits contending that they are causing undue burden or discrimination against interstate or foreign commerce. JFNA believes the Combating BDS Act sends a strong message regarding Congress’ commitment to opposing BDS and supporting the ideals of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.    

As you may already know, the National Defense Authorization Act 2017 (S.2943), a bill which authorizes appropriations for fiscal year 2017 for military activities of the federal government, is scheduled to be brought up for a vote in the Senate this week. We have recently learned that Senator Kirk (R-IL), along with Senators Manchin (D-WV), Roberts (R-KS), Menendez (D-NJ), Murkowski (R-AK), Cardin (D-MD), Rubio (R-FL), Vitter (R-LA), Tillis (R-NC), Cruz (R-TX), Portman (R-OH), Ayotte (R-NH), Hatch (R-UT), and Nelson (D-FL), has submitted an amendment, S.Amdt.4172, that would attach the Combating BDS Act of 2016 to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) 2017. 

Therefore, we encourage you to contact your senators and urge them to cosponsor S.Amdt.4172 and to vote for the amendment when it is offered during the upcoming NDAA vote. To find contact information for your senators, please click here.

Should you have any questions pertaining to the Combating BDS Act of 2016, please contact Liz Leibowitz, JFNA’s Director of Government Affairs, at elizabeth.leibowitz@jewishfederations.org or 202.736.5878.

Should you have any questions regarding state anti-BDS legislation, please contact our Israel Action Network colleague Stephanie Hausner at Stephanie.Hausner@jewishfederations.org or 212.284.6808.  

Best,

William C. Daroff
Senior Vice President for Public Policy &
Director of the Washington Office