From Kevin Martin, Peace Action “I'm hearing good things about more senators possibly supporting the JRD vote(s), which we expect to be Tuesday or Wednesday - probably, not certainly (Senate schedule seldom is!). Let's convene for a brief check in next Monday night, November 18, at 8:15 pm eastern time.
Topic: Check-in on JRD vote
Time: Nov 18, 2024 08:15 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87673072134?pwd=vfQZ3FzMkbIfarfYD1bccHlRlU25Ox.1
Meeting ID: 876 7307 2134
Passcode: 394004
Please read below for important updates and resources.
Resources on JRD:
NEW - Action Corps and allies are hosting a rapid action call tomorrow at 2:30 pm eastern time, actioncorps.org/rapid-action-call
Here is the folder with the slideshow, script, email blast, and flyer for any organizations that want to convene their own action call with their own networks prior to the vote: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/14xKbnpOdRZgMTJVyEFaRv96LAvkSHp7Q?usp=sharing.
-Peace Action's alert, feel free to use/adapt/edit as you like. Also, our JRD Days of Action website.
-Institute for Middle East Understanding's click to call website tool.
-US Campaign for Palestinian Rights email tool webpage
-No weapons for war website, initiated by Demand Progress with 56 partner organizations.
-Friends Committee on National Legislation's webpage on the JRDs, includes a downloadable one pager on the JRDs.
UNRWA Restoration:
-Senator Peter Welch (D-VT) will introduce a Senate version of the UNRWA Emergency Restoration Act, your organization can endorse here.
-Hands Off UNRWA website, includes a digital toolkit.
HR 9495 - This awful bill, potentially targeting pro-Palestinian but also more broadlay any non-profit that the Treasury Secretary wants to go after, failed yesterday in the House, but will be brought back for another vote next week. Talking points from Peace Action and others:
I'm writing to urge your boss to vote no on H.R. 9495 the Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act.
This bill raises obvious first amendment rights issues and our concern only increased after this election given the President-elects statements about pro-Palestinian voices and other perceived political
The legislation goes right at the heart of the first amendment and the freedom to "petition the Government for a redress of grievances" without fear of reprisal.
For a non-profit like Peace Action our political work could be threatened by the Trump administration's Treasury department. For many of our allies the threat could be worse. President-elect Trump may fulfill his promises of "retribution" against political foes, alongside his threats to protest movements through this kind of legislation. Congress should now give the incoming administration power to take away the rights of non-profits representing vulnerable communities
We joined over 120 groups in opposing this legislation in September and that letter remains a good summary of the threats posed by this legislation.