Capital District Times

Today, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik collaborated with Congresswoman Claudia Tenney and Congressman Jared Moskowitz in reintroducing the Countering Hate Against Israel by Federal Contractors Act. The bill aims to prevent the federal government from engaging in contracts with entities that boycott Israel. Presently, thirty-six states have enacted similar laws opposing the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement at the state level.

Congresswoman Stefanik stated, "I’m proud to join my colleagues in leading the Countering Hate Against Israel by Federal Contractors Act because Americans have made it overwhelmingly clear they do not want to fund antisemitism. America stands with our great ally Israel in every way including how our federal dollars are spent."

Congresswoman Tenney remarked, "The BDS movement promotes and normalizes anti-Semitism by singling out the world’s only Jewish state and targeting Israel’s economy. The United States should not support any entity that engages in or endorses such actions. With over two-thirds of states enacting laws to counter the BDS movement, the federal procurement process must follow these states’ lead by implementing legislation at the national level to ban procurement from entities that engage in this form of anti-Semitism. The Countering Hate Against Israel by Federal Contractors Act sends a clear message that the United States stands firmly against anti-Semitism and remains committed to supporting our greatest ally."

Congressman Moskowitz added, "Taxpayer dollars should not be going towards groups that engage in antisemitic boycotts targeting Israel. When I was in the Florida Legislature, I helped lead the charge against the BDS movement to make clear it has no place in Florida. Now, Congress ought to do the same and make clear it has no place in federal contracts. The BDS movement is antisemitism, plain and simple, and this bill will ensure we’re using taxpayer dollars responsibly to stand up against hate and stand up for our ally Israel."