The Honorable
United States Senate Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Senator,
On behalf of our supporters and activists nationwide, Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee (CWALAC) encourages your support of S. 1, Strengthening America’s Security in the Middle East Act of 2019. When this bill reaches the Senate floor for a vote, CWALAC will score in favor of cloture and final passage and will include this vote on our annual scorecard.
Israel and Jordan are key U.S. allies in the Middle East who are crucial to the fight against terrorism and ending the brutal Assad dictatorship in Syria. Ensuring the stability of the Middle East and the safety of Israel is in the national security interests of America. S. 1 improves defense and security assistance provisions and aid to Israel, reauthorizes the United States-Jordan Defense Cooperation Act of 2015, passes provisions to combat the BDS (boycott, divestment, sanctions) movement, and aims to stop the massacre of the Syrian people.
It includes four measures of support, most of them hotlined, previously passed by the Senate: the Rubio-Coons United States-Israel Security Authorization Assistance Act of 2018 (S. 2497), the Ros- Lehtinen-Deutch United States-Jordan Defense Cooperation Extension Act (H.R. 2646), the Engel- Royce Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2018 (H.R. 1677), and the Rubio-Manchin Combating BDS Act of 2018.
This bill is aptly the first priority of the new Congress, as it is in America’s best interest to support our ally Israel both home and abroad. Abroad, S.1 bolsters aid and strengthens security assistance in Israel, and the anti-BDS provisions ensure support at home. The BDS movement is an economic attack against Israel that has incited violence against Jewish people in America and overseas time and time again. Over half the states have passed similar anti-BDS movement laws; this provision supports state efforts and sends a strong message to Israel that we are serious about combatting anti-Semitism and supporting their influence in an unstable region.
Concerned Women for America asks you to stand by our allies in the Middle East. They need your support. Ensuring the stability of the Middle East and supporting Israel is a vital U.S. interest, and we urge you to vote in favor of S. 1.
Sincerely,
Penny Young Nance
CEO and President
Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee