Also tagged in: Civil liberties, Communications, Conferences, Foreign policy, International affairs, Israel, Middle East and North Africa, Religion, Religious liberty, United Nations
Latest Action: 05/14/2008 - Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Bill Text
Expressing the commitment of Congress to continue to make it a priority to fight anti-Semitism and to promote tolerance at home and abroad.

5/14/2008--Introduced.

Expresses the commitment of Congress to make it a priority to fight anti-Semitism and to promote tolerance at home and abroad.

States that it shall be U.S. policy to consider whether a foreign government actively or passively foments anti-Semitism when evaluating bilateral relationships.

Condemns the continuing anti-Israel and anti-Semitic activities and rhetoric at the United Nations.

Calls on: (1) the President to use U.S. influence to prevent the use of the United Nations regular budget to support the planned 2009 Durban Review Conference; and (2) the Secretary General of the United Nations to officially and publicly condemn any anti-Semitic statements made at U.N. meetings.


Comment on Bill
Also tagged in: Arab countries, Arab-Israeli conflict, Armed forces, Civil liberties, Communications, Defense policy, Foreign policy, Freedom of speech, Freedom of the press, Human rights
Latest Action: 06/18/2008 - Mr. Ackerman moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended.

Bill Text
Resolution condemning the endemic restrictions on freedom of the press and media and public expression in the Middle East and the concurrent and widespread presence of anti-Semitic incitement to violence and Holocaust denial in the Arab media and press. 6/18/2008--Passed House amended.    (There is 1 other summary) Condemns the restrictions on freedom of the press and expression in the Arab world and the widespread presence of anti-Semitic material, Holocaust denial, and incitement to violence in the Arab media. Deplores the practices utilized by the governments in the Middle East to exert control over the press and on public expression. Expresses concern that many of the Arab governments to which United States has turned for assistance in ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict are responsible for using their government-controlled media to promulgate incendiary speech regarding Israel and the Jewish people that makes U.S. efforts to help [...]

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Also tagged in: Civil liberties, Foreign leaders, Foreign policy, History, Human rights, International affairs, Iran, Israel, Jewish holocaust (1939-1945), Middle East and North Africa
Latest Action: 02/12/2008 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S922)

Bill Text
A resolution condemning in the strongest possible terms President of Iran Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's statements regarding the State of Israel and the Holocaust and calling for all member States of the United Nations to do the same.

2/12/2008--Introduced.

Condemns President of Iran Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's hateful and anti-Semitic statements regarding Israel and the Holocaust.

Calls on all member states of the United Nations to publicly condemn President Ahmadinejad's statements as a violation of the principles of both the United Nations Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.


Comment on Bill
Also tagged in: Africa (Sub-Saharan), Civil liberties, Communications, Conferences, Criminal justice, Foreign policy, International affairs, Israel, Middle East and North Africa, Religion
Latest Action: 01/23/2008 - Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Bill Text
Condemning the glorification of terrorism and the continuing anti-Israel and anti-Semitic rhetoric at the United Nations.

1/23/2008--Introduced.

Condemns the glorification of terrorism and the continuing anti-Israel and anti-Semitic rhetoric at the United Nations.

Calls on the Secretary General of the United Nations and the Secretary of State to take actions against such activities and hold responsible officials and member states for such statements.

Calls on the President to use U.S. influence to prevent the use of the U.N. budget to support the planned 2009 Durban Review Conference and to withhold a proportional amount of U.S. contributions to the United Nations should the Durban Review Conference proceed as planned.


Comment on Bill
Also tagged in: Civil liberties, Communications, Conferences, Foreign policy, International affairs, Religion, United Nations, United Nations finances
Latest Action: 12/17/2007 - Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Bill Text
Objecting to United Nations funding of the Durban Review Conference using the United Nations regular budget, and for other purposes.

12/17/2007--Introduced.

Objects to any U.N. proposal to fund the Durban Review Conference and preparatory activities through the U.N. regular budget which is itself funded by assessed contributions of member states.

Urges the United States to oppose any proposal for funding Durban Review Conference activities through the U.N. regular budget.


Comment on Bill
Also tagged in: Admission of nonimmigrants, Aliens, Armed forces, Civil liberties, Congress, Congress and foreign policy, Congressional oversight, Congressional reporting requirements, Defense policy, Europe
Latest Action: 02/25/2008 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law.

Bill Text
To prevent the admission of any member or leader of the Magyar Garda into the United States, and for other purposes.

11/15/2007--Introduced.

Denies U.S. admission to any alien who is or was a leader or member of the Magyar Garda (Hungarian Guard) or an immediate family member of such person.

Authorizes the President, with congressional notification, to waive such prohibition if in the U.S. national interest.


Comment on Bill
Also tagged in: Anniversaries, Civil liberties, Commemorations, Congressional tributes, Democracy, Emigration, Former Soviet states, Human rights, Immigration, Jews
Latest Action: 11/16/2007 - Resolution agreed to in Senate without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S14657-14658; text as passed Senate: CR S14657-14658)

Bill Text
A resolution commemorating the 40th anniversary of the mass movement for Soviet Jewish freedom and the 20th anniversary of the Freedom Sunday rally for Soviet Jewry on the National Mall.

11/16/2007--Passed Senate without amendment.    (There are 2 other summaries)

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Recognizes the contributions of American citizens of Jewish descent who emigrated from the Soviet Union.

Commemorates: (1) the 40th anniversary of the mass movement for freedom by and on behalf of Soviet Jewry; and (2) the 20th anniversary of the December 6, 1987, Freedom Sunday rally for Soviet Jews.

Condemns incidents of anti-Semitism, xenophobia, and religious persecution in the independent states of the former Soviet Union and encourages the development of democracy, religious freedom, rule of law, and human rights in those states.


Comment on Bill
Also tagged in: Anniversaries, Civil liberties, Commemorations, Emigration, Foreign policy, Former Soviet states, Human rights, Immigration, International affairs, Jews
Latest Action: 10/30/2007 - DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 759.

Bill Text
Recognizing the 40th Anniversary of the Mass Movement for Soviet Jewish Freedom and the 20th Anniversary of the Freedom Sunday Rally for Soviet Jewry on the Mall in Washington, D.C.

10/30/2007--Passed House without amendment.    (There is 1 other summary)

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Recognizes the 20th anniversary of the Freedom Sunday Rally for Soviet Jews in Washington, DC, which embodies the American principle of citizen activism for the greater good.


Comment on Bill
Also tagged in: Civil liberties, Commemorations, Congressional tributes, Europe, Foreign policy, International affairs, Israel, Middle East and North Africa, Regionalism (International organization), Religion
Latest Action: 10/15/2007 - DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 624.

Bill Text
Congratulating the State of Israel on chairing a United Nations committee for the first time in history, and for other purposes. 10/15/2007--Passed House amended.    (There is 1 other summary) Congratulates the government and people of Israel on Israel's first appointment to chair a U.N. committee. Supports continued expansion of Israel's role at the United Nations. Welcomes recent attempts by the United Nations to address anti-Semitism. Calls on the United Nations to officially and publicly condemn anti-Semitic statements made at all U.N. meetings and hold accountable member states that make such statements. Urges the members of the Western Europe and Others Group to extend full and permanent membership to Israel until such time as Israel can serve as an effective member of the Asian States Group. Calls upon U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon to continue to work to end any unfair vilification of Israel at the United [...]

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Comment on Bill
Also tagged in: Civil liberties, Curricula, Education, Elementary and secondary education, Elementary education, Embassies, Foreign policy, Government information, Higher education, International affairs
Latest Action: 07/26/2007 - Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Bill Text
Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the failure of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Palestinian Authority to properly implement education reforms aimed at reducing the cultural roots of terrorism. 7/26/2007--Introduced. Expresses disappointment with the slow pace of education reform in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the sense that continual delay of reform should not be accepted. Urges Saudi Arabia to: (1) reform its textbooks and education curriculum in a manner that promotes tolerance and peaceful coexistence with others, develops civil society, and encourages functionality in the global economy; (2) reform the curriculum which Saudi embassies distribute internationally, specifically the textbooks which the embassies are distributing to Saudi schools, including those within the United States; and (3) cease teaching Wahhabism. Requests the Secretary of State to monitor and report on the efforts to reform the Saudi education curriculum. Encourages [...]

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Comment on Bill
Also tagged in: Arab-Israeli conflict, Armed forces, Arms control, Arms control verification, Budgets, Civil liberties, Congress, Congress and foreign policy, Congressional oversight, Congressional reporting requirements
Latest Action: 06/14/2007 - Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Bill Text
To promote transparency, accountability, and reform within the United Nations system, and for other purposes. 6/14/2007--Introduced. United Nations Transparency, Accountability, and Reform Act of 2007 - Sets forth U.S. policy with respect to: (1) shifting the funding mechanism for the regular budget of the United Nations from an assessed to a voluntary basis; (2) reform of U.N. peacekeeping operations; and (3) Security Council expansion. Withholds nonvoluntary U.S. contributions to the regular budget of the United Nations: (1) unless the Secretary of State certifies to the appropriate congressional committees that 80% of the the total regular budget of the United Nations is apportioned on a voluntary basis; and (2) to a U.N. human rights treaty monitoring body or committee that was established by a convention or a covenant to which the United States is not party. Establishes the Office of the United States Inspector General for Contributions to the United Nations [...]

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