End the Occupation

Illinois--110th Congress (2007-2008)

#1 S.594, Cluster Munitions Civilian Protection Act of 2007. Limits the use, sale, and transfer of cluster munitions. Israel used cluster munitions in civilian areas during its war on Lebanon in 2006, resulting in civilian casualties. Scoring: +2 sponsor, +1 cosponsor. Latest Major Action: Referred to Committee on Foreign Relations, 2/14/07.

#2 S.838, U.S.-Israel Energy Cooperation Act. A bill to authorize funding for eligible joint ventures between United States and Israeli businesses and academic persons, to establish the International Energy Advisory Board, and for other purposes. The bill establishes a special grant program for the development of alternative energy sources with the Israeli government or businesses. Instead of increasing aid to Israel, the US Campaign calls on the Bush Administration and Congress to sanction Israel by cutting off aid to it for its continued violations of the U.S. Arms Export Control Act and U.S. Foreign Assistance Acts. Scoring: -2 sponsor, -1 cosponsor. Latest Major Action: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar, 9/17/07.

#3 S.Res.175, Recognizing the 59^th Anniversary of the Independence of the State of Israel. The resolution refers to Israel as a “shining model of democratic values” and salutes its “freedoms”; the resolution fails to acknowledge the Nakba (Palestinian dispossession and ethnic cleansing) that resulted from the creation of Israel. Scoring: -2 sponsor, -1 cosponsor. Latest Major Action: Passed by Unanimous Consent, 4/26/07.

#4 S.Res.321, Expressing the Sense of the Senate Regarding the Israeli-Palestinian Peace Process. The resolution notes that “the vast majority of Israelis and Palestinians want to put an end to decades of confrontation and conflict and live in peaceful coexistence, mutual dignity, and security, based on a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace.” Although the resolution supports a two-state solution, the US Campaign does not take a position on potential Israeli-Palestinian political arrangements. Nevertheless, resolutions expressing the desire for “a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace” are few and far between in Congress, which is why it is graded positively. Scoring: +2 sponsor, +1 cosponsor. Latest Major Action: Referred to Committee on Foreign Relations, 9/19/07.

#5 S.Res.522, Recognizing the 60th anniversary of the founding of the modern State of Israel and reaffirming the bonds of close friendship and cooperation between the United States and Israel. The resolution recognizes the 60^th anniversary of Israel's statehood and lists some of its accomplishments, but fails to acknowledge the Nakba (Palestinian dispossession and ethnic cleansing) that resulted from the creation of Israel. Scoring: -2 sponsor, -1 cosponsor. Latest Major Action: Passed by Unanimous Consent, 4/22/08.

#6 S.J.Res.37, Expressing the sense of Congress that the United States should sign the Declaration of the Oslo Conference on Cluster Munitions and future instruments banning cluster munitions that cause unacceptable harm to civilians. This resolution urges the United States to sign a global treaty banning the production and use of cluster munitions. Scoring: +2 sponsor, +1 cosponsor. Latest Major Action: Referred to Committee on Foreign Relations, 6/3/2008.

* Dennis Hastert resigned his seat on November 26, 2007.
** Bill Foster was elected to fill the vacancy on March 8, 2008.

#1 H.Res.125, Expressing deep concern over the use of civilians as "human shields" in violation of international humanitarian law, including Hezbollah's tactic of embedding its forces among civilians to use them as human shields during the summer of 2006 conflict between Hezbollah and the State of Israel. This one-sided resolution fails to condemn Israel’s well-documented policy of using civilians as “human shields.” Scoring: -2 sponsor, -1 cosponsor. Latest Major Action: Passed by Voice Vote, 4/25/07.

#2 H.Res.143, Urging the President to appoint a Special Envoy for Middle East Peace. The resolution notes that “the creation of a lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians will reduce tension in the region and help repair America's image in the international community.” Scoring: +2 sponsor, +1 cosponsor. Latest Major Action: Referred to the Subcommittee on Middle East and South Asia, House Committee on Foreign Affairs, 4/17/07.

#3 H.R.1838, U.S.-Israel Energy Cooperation Act. To authorize funding for eligible joint ventures between United States and Israeli businesses and academic persons, to establish the International Energy Advisory Board, and for other purposes. The bill establishes a special grant program for the development of alternative energy sources with the Israeli government or businesses. Instead of increasing aid to Israel, the US Campaign calls on the Bush Administration and Congress to sanction Israel by cutting off aid to it for its continued violations of the U.S. Arms Export Control Act and U.S. Foreign Assistance Acts. Scoring: -2 sponsor, -1 cosponsor. Latest Major Action: Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality, House Committee on Energy and Commerce, 3/30/07.

#4 H.R.1755, Cluster Munitions Civilian Protection Act of 2007. Limits the use, sale, and transfer of cluster munitions. Israel used cluster munitions in civilian areas during its war on Lebanon in 2006, resulting in civilian casualties. Scoring: +2 sponsor, +1 cosponsor. Latest Major Action: Referred to the Subcommittee on Readiness, House Armed Services Committee, 4/18/07.

#5 H.Con.Res.152, Relating to the 40th anniversary of the reunification of the City of Jerusalem. The resolution terms Israel’s illegal military occupation and annexation of East Jerusalem as a “reunification” and congratulates Israel for its violation of international law. Scoring: -2 sponsor, -1 cosponsor. Latest Major Action: Passed by Voice Vote, 6/5/07.

#6 H.Res.467, Condemning the decision by the leadership of the University and College Union of the United Kingdom to support a boycott of Israeli academia. The US Campaign supports campaigns of boycott and divestment against Israel and companies that profit from Israel’s human rights abuses until Israel ends its human rights violations. Scoring: -2 sponsor, -1 cosponsor or yes vote, +1 present vote. Latest Major Action: Passed 414-0, 2 Present (Roll Call Vote #618), 7/11/07.

#7 H.Res.557, Strongly condemning the United Nations Human Rights Council for ignoring severe human rights abuses in various countries, while choosing to unfairly target Israel by including it as the only country permanently placed on the Council's agenda. This resolution follows a pattern of condemning the UN and its associated bodies for “unfairly target[ing] the State of Israel”. Rather than recognizing that Israel systematically violates human rights and international law, the resolution calls on the “United Nations Human Rights Council to remove Israel from its permanent agenda.” Scoring: -2 sponsor, -1 cosponsor or yes vote, +1 no vote. Latest Major Action: Passed 416-2 (Roll Call Vote #901), 9/25/07.

#8 H.Res.951, Condemning the ongoing Palestinian rocket attacks on Israeli civilians by Hamas and other Palestinian terrorist organizations, and for other purposes. This one-sided resolution condemns Palestinian rocket fire against civilian targets in Israel, but fails to mention, let alone condemn, Israel's far-deadlier missile strikes against Palestinian civilians. The resolution also fails to mention anything about the collective punishment to which Israel subjects the residents of the Gaza Strip. Scoring: -2 sponsor, -1 cosponsor or yes vote, +1 present vote, +2 no vote. Latest Major Action: Passed 404-1, 4 Present (Roll Call Vote #93), 3/5/08.

#9 H.Res.185, Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the creation of refugee populations in the Middle East, North Africa, and the Persian Gulf region as a result of human rights violations. This resolution deals primarily with the claims of Jewish refugees from Middle East countries, but also includes important recognitions of the rights of Palestinian refugees, including language that a solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict will require a “just solution” for all refugee claims and that an “initiative to secure rights and redress for Jews who were forced to flee Arab countries does not conflict with the right of Palestinian refugees to claim redress.” Although the resolution fails to recognize Palestinian refugees' right of return, nevertheless by recognizing that Palestinian refugees have claims that must be addressed, it is a considerable improvement on previous Congressional resolutions dealing with Middle East refugee issues. Scoring: +2 sponsor, +1 cosponsor. Latest Major Action: Passed by Voice Vote, 4/1/08.

#10 H.Con.Res.322, Recognizing the 60th anniversary of the founding of the modern State of Israel and reaffirming the bonds of close friendship and cooperation between the United States and Israel. The resolution recognizes the 60^th anniversary of Israel's statehood and lists some of its accomplishments, but fails to acknowledge the Nakba (Palestinian dispossession and ethnic cleansing) that resulted from the creation of Israel. Scoring: -2 sponsor, -1 cosponsor or yes vote. Latest Major Action: Passed 417-0 (Roll Call Vote #210), 4/23/08.

#11 H.J.Res.91, Expressing the sense of Congress that the United States should sign the Declaration of the Oslo Conference on Cluster Munitions and future instruments banning cluster munitions that cause unacceptable harm to civilians. This resolution urges the United States to sign a global treaty banning the production and use of cluster munitions. Scoring: +2 sponsor, +1 cosponsor. Latest Major Action: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, 6/5/08.

#12 H.Res.1369, Recognizing nongovernmental organizations working to bring just and lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians. This resolution recognizes the important contributions of NGOs to peace-building efforts and affirms U.S. support for these organizations. Scoring: +2 sponsor, +1 cosponsor. Latest Major Action: Ordered to be reported by unanimous consent, 7/24/08.