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Donald Trump has returned to his old playbook of race-baiting and hate-mongering. Standing up to racism is not a political issue. It is a moral issue. Everyone should condemn bigotry regardless of where it comes from and who it is directed towards.
While we were focused on this controversy, the Trump administration was working to ban abortions. Planned Parenthood on Tuesday said it will forgo federal family planning funds rather than comply with new Trump administration rules that prohibit the organization from referring women for abortions.
Trump did not face push back this week on his cruel immigration policies, where migrant children are still being forced to live in inhumane conditions, and ICE raids are still occurring.
While the President's racist tantrums continued, the House was not deterred from passing a bill raising the country's minimum wage to $15. The wage has not been raised since 2009. Yet still, the conversation centered around Trump's behavior.
Expect Trump to ramp up his racist attacks as a distraction to Robert Mueller testifying before Congress next week and as more information shows his involvement in the hush-money payments during his campaign.
His divide and conquer methodology is causing deep fissure and turmoil in our country. We have seen turmoil before. In 1969, the Vietnam War and the battle for civil rights divided our country. But nevertheless we came together 50 years ago Saturday to support the brave astronauts of Apollo 11 as they reached the moon. It didn't matter who was a Democrat or a Republican. We were all proud Americans sharing in that moment and the promise for greater humanity.
Today we need to unite as a country. If we let the President use racism and demagoguery to divide us, our democracy is weakened. We can't look away even when he wants us to. Congress needs to continue its work to pass meaningful legislation that will safeguard our freedoms and improve the lives for everyone.
Our job is to pull back the curtain, and make sure we're focusing on the job at hand - electing candidates who care about our issues and ensuring that Congress does its job with dignity and respect for all.
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From generation to generation: Max Boron and Katie Boron interning at the JAC office this summer. They are following in the footsteps of their grandmother, Carole Boron, former JAC Research Director.
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Bill Strengthening Ties to Israel Passes Foreign Affairs Committee
U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch, (D-FL), the chairman of the U.S. House Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee, scored a win as the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee passed his "United States-Israel Cooperation Enhancement and Regional Security Act" to strengthen the U.S.-Israel relationship, provide justice to victims of terror and allow security and humanitarian assistance to the Palestinians to continue. Deutch teamed up with Rep. Joe Wilson, (R-SC), the top Republican on the subcommittee, to introduce the bill earlier this year.
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U.S. House Leaders Advance Anti-BDS Bill
The House Foreign Affairs Committee advanced a resolution that rejects the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign. The bill
has 341 cosponsors and would easily passed if it were brought to the floor. The anti-BDS language in the resolution would put members on record as to whether they reject the movement to boycott Israel. Unlike other legislation that has been introduced, like the Israel Anti-Boycott Act, it does not punish BDS supporters.
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New Trump Rules Prompt Planned Parenthood to Forgo Federal Funds
Planned Parenthood said it will forgo federal family planning funds rather than comply with new Trump administration rules that prohibit the organization from referring women for abortions. The group announced it will no longer participate in the only federally funded program dedicated to providing contraception and other reproductive health services to low-income women, marking a victory for Trump's conservative base.
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In Wake of Protests, St. Louis Park Reinstates the Pledge of Allegiance
The St. Louis Park City Council voted unanimously to reinstate the Pledge of Allegiance, saying the firestorm of criticism over the issue has taken a toll on the staff and kept the city from doing its work.
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5% of Congress Was Born Abroad. Those Members Show What It Means to Be American.
In all, 29 members of the House and Senate were born abroad, about half of them to parents serving in the military or working overseas. They include a doctor born in Mexico (Representative Raul Ruiz, Democrat of California); a lawyer born in Japan (Senator Mazie K. Hirono, Democrat of Hawaii); a women's rights advocate born in India (Representative Pramila Jayapal, Democrat of Washington); and a real estate developer born in an Army hospital in France (Representative Mark Meadows, Republican of North Carolina).
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John Paul Stevens, Dead at 99, Leaves a Legacy of Checking Presidential Power. Will It Endure?
John Paul Stevens, who died in Florida at 99 of complications from a stroke, lived long enough to see his beloved Chicago Cubs win the World Series in 2016 and ending a 108-year drought. History is more likely to remember the bow-tied Stevens as a bulwark against presidential power during his 35 years on the Supreme Court, a legacy that's particularly salient against the backdrop of President Trump's escalating efforts to thwart congressional oversight and resist subpoenas with expansive claims of executive privilege.
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The Doctor Who Helped Israeli Spies Catch Eichmann but Refused Recognition for It
Dr. Yonah Elian, was an Israeli anesthesiologist recruited for the Adolph Eichmann mission to administer the sedative. He refused to come out of the shadows - even as the other Israelis on the mission were crowned national heroes. But the doctor never wanted to talk about the Eichmann operation. He even refused to go to the Israeli parliament in 2007 to accept an award for his role in the capture.
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Introducing JACII, a JAC group for young professionals, advocates, and those young at heart who are looking to get involved. Groups have started in Detroit, Chicago, and Los Angeles.
Events will feature elected officials and speakers in lively settings. JACII is by and for young people. Now is the perfect time to get involved.
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Know someone who would be interested in joining or hosting a meeting? Let us know at info@jacpac.org. We will be happy to help organize a JACII in your city.
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"At the highest level of government, there is no room for racism. It sows the seeds of violence, and destroys the hopes and dreams of people."
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Thursday, July 25
Kick-Off Event for Congressional Candidate
Kristine Schanbacher (D-IL)
5:30 pm - 7 pm
Chicago
Call the JAC office for details
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Wednesday, July 31
Rep. Joe Kennedy (D-MA)
Chicago
Call the JAC office for details
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Monday August 5
Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA)
3 pm
Chicago
Call the JAC office for details
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Thursday, October 10
Michigan Membership Meeting
Franklin, MI
Details to follow
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Want to host a JAC event? Contact the office and we will help organize it.
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Joint Action Committee for Political Affairs (JACPAC) is a pro-Israel PAC with a domestic agenda. We support a strong U.S.-Israel relationship and advocate for reproductive health and the separation of religion and state and incorporate other issues of importance to the Jewish community, including gun violence prevention and climate change. In addition to providing financial support for U.S. Senate and House campaigns, JACPAC educates our membership with outreach events designed to inform and activate their participation in the political process.
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Paid for by Joint Action Committee for Political Affairs. Contributions or gifts are not tax deductible. Federal law requires us to use our best efforts to collect and report the name, mailing address, occupation, and name of employer of individuals whose contributions exceed $200 in an election cycle. Corporate contributions and contributions from non-US citizens who are not lawfully admitted for permanent residence are prohibited. All contributions by individuals must be made from personal funds and may not be reimbursed or paid by another person.
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