Defeated

Introduced as an amendment to S. 1260 and adopted in committee, this provision excludes countries that boycott Israel or its illegal settlements from the bill’s $100 million investment in global technological advancements. The bill adopts the definition of boycotts provided in the 2015 Trade Promotion Authority law. The anti-boycott amendment was introduced by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) in the midst of Israel’s assault on Gaza and ongoing ethnic cleansing in Jerusalem neighborhoods. While there are few countries that boycott Israel, Cruz’s amendment is aimed at chilling boycotts in support of Palestinian rights. The anti-boycott provisions were part of the version of the bill that passed the Senate in June 2021. 

This non-binding resolution expressing support for Israel as a crucial ally of the United States falsely conflates criticism of Israel with antisemitism in calling for the rejection of “anti-Semitism and hostility against the State of Israel.” The resolution also smears boycotts for Palestinian rights as supported by “radical, racist, and extremist organizations.”

This non-binding resolution condemns statements made by Rep. Jayapal (D-WA) about the importance of understanding the policies, patterns, and power dynamics that resulted in violence in the Gaza Strip in May and suggesting that Israel might bear some responsibility, even while condemning Hamas rocket fire. The resolution smears her statements as “justifying terrorism,” which it labels “a form of anti-Semitic speech,” falsely conflating criticism of Israel with antisemitism. 

This non-binding resolution links a purported increase in antisemitic acts to Israel’s assault on the Gaza Strip, blaming criticism of Israel and the BDS movement for contributing to the rise. The resolution condemns boycotts for justice as the “financial, political, and economic manifestation of anti-Semitism against Israel.” The resolution does not mention Israel’s ethnic cleansing of Jerusalem neighborhoods and the uprising across historic Palestine that preceded the attacks on Gaza.

This affirmative bill would repeal the state’s anti-boycott provisions put in place by HF 400. A similar affirmative bill was introduced in 2019 (SF 2880). Related bill: SF 1039.

S 2119, known as the Combating BDS Act of 2021, is an anti-boycott bill that purports to authorize state and local legislation prohibiting state investments in or state contracts with entities that engage in boycott, divestment, and sanctions campaigns for Palestinian rights. The bill claims that such measures are not preempted by federal law and defines BDS activities to include boycotts of Israel and persons doing business in Israel or its illegal settlements. Several courts, however, have blocked state anti-boycott laws over concerns that they suppress constitutionally protected political expression. Previous versions of the bill failed after activists, media, and civil liberties groups raised constitutional concerns (S 1, HR 2856, S 170, HR 4514, S 2531). 

This anti-boycott bill prohibits state investment in and state contracts with entities that engage in boycotts if the purpose of the boycott is to “collectively restrict Israeli commerce or collectively change policy or law of the Israeli government.” The bill prohibits the state from imposing a written certification requirement. Two previous anti-boycott bills, introduced in 2017 (HB 501) and 2019 (HB 493), were defeated.

This non-binding resolution establishes an annual state-recognized Anti-Semitism Awareness Day and calls for all levels of state and local government to adopt the problematic IHRA definition of antisemitism. This distorted definition has been widely criticized for potentially encompassing any and all criticism of Israel and circumscribing protected political speech activities. The resolution was withdrawn by the sponsor soon after being introduced.

This non-binding resolution requests a committee study on the impacts of the “importance” of adopting legislation that prohibits state investments in or contracts with entities that boycott Israel. The preambular language denounces boycotts for Palestinian rights and falsely accuses BDS of spreading antisemitism. A nearly identical resolution was introduced in the House (HCR 30).

This resolution requests a committee study on the impacts of the importance of legislation prohibiting state contracts with or investments in entities engaged in BDS. The preambular language denounces boycotts for Palestinian rights and falsely accuses BDS of spreading antisemitism. A nearly identical resolution was introduced in the Senate (SCR 71).