NOVEMBER 2023
WASHINGTON, D.C.
USIEA traveled to Washington, D.C. this week to meet with Members of Congress who are directly involved and engaged in the United State’s role during Israel's war against Hamas. USIEA is educating and supporting the members and their staff in the areas where they need research, media, op-eds, and ideas for strategy. We are very proud of the U.S. Congress’ efforts during Israel’s war.
In the midst of all the meetings, USIEA attended the March for Israel along with nearly 300,000 people at the National Mall. We were able to attend the rally with our close friends in Congress. This was a historic rally in support of Israel during the war and a symbol of our solidarity with the Jewish people.
Am Yisrael Chai - the Jewish people Live!
KEY GOVERNMENT MEETINGS
OVERVIEW
Some of USIEA’s key meetings on the Hill included:
-
Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA)
-
Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee
-
-
Representative Mike Gallagher (R-WI)
-
Chairman of China Select Committee and Chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Cyber, Information Technologies, and Innovation
-
-
Representative Susan Wild (D-PA)
-
Committee on Foreign Affairs, Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Anti-Semitism
-
-
Representative Mike Lawler (R-NY)
-
Committee on Foreign Affairs, Committee on Financial Services, Abraham Accords Caucus, Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Anti-Semitism, House Republican Israel Caucus, Supply Chain Caucus
-
-
Representative Ritchie Torres (D-NY)
-
Committee on Financial Services and China Select Committee
-
-
Representative Don Bacon (R-NE)
-
Committee on Agriculture, Committee on Armed Services, House Republican Israel Caucus
-
Pictured (Left to right):
Joan Leslie McGill, USIEA Chief of Staff
Representative Mike Lawler (R-NY)
Heather Johnston, USIEA Founder & CEO
EJ Kimball, USIEA Director of Policy & Strategic Operations
MEETING WITH SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE MIKE JOHNSON:
Our team was also present in the Capitol during the contentious vote to keep the government funded through a continuing resolution. We met with the new Speaker of the House Mike Johnson right after the vote passed and discussed his leadership priorities, as well as his firm resolve to support Israel.
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) with Joan Leslie McGill, USIEA Chief of Staff,
and Heather Johnston, USIEA Founder & CEO
KEY TOPICS OF EDUCATION:
-
The Stop Harboring Iranian Petroleum (SHIP) Act (H.R. 3774) imposes sanctions on the importation or facilitation of petroleum products from Iran.
-
Anti-Semitism Awareness Act (S. 852) has language defining anti-Semitism in the event that violence and hatred occurs.
-
Discussions with member on House Armed Services Committee (HASC) and House Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC)
-
Threats and disinformation from TikTok
-
Combating antisemitism
Rep. Juan Vargas (D-CA), EJ Kimball, Heather Johnston, Rep. Randy Weber (R-TX), and Joan Leslie McGill
at the March For Israel
PRESS
USIEA has emerged as a thought leader on the U.S.-Israel relationship in the midst of the ongoing war. Our leader Heather Johnston, Founder and CEO, was featured in several news outlets this week. Heather was a guest on "The Armstrong Williams Show" as well as in 1819 News and on
NBC 13 regarding the historic March for Israel.
Heather Johnston on the Armstrong Williams Show
As Heather shared in 1819 News, “Every man, woman, child, grandparent, everybody is engaged in this war. And I think Israel is doing their best to actually bring correspondence in to show how evil is being exposed to the utmost degree, through Hamas. This barbaric group of people whose charter is singularly – there’s no other reason that they exist – except to destroy Israel. So, it’s not a good reason to exist.”
The time is now to learn about what is happening in Israel, understand the importance of protecting Israel, and educate our U.S. Congress on how critical it is to support Israel during this time and the necessary means to do so. USIEA is proud to empower U.S. leaders with innovative initiatives on the path to Middle East peace, connect Members of Congress with direct access to West Bank visits, and educate as thought leaders in the media and through strategic global partnerships.
