{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-risch-and-colleagues-back-israel-stand-up-to-un-antisemitism", "Grassley, Risch and Colleagues Back Israel, Stand Up to UN Antisemitism", "2024-10-23", "2024", "2024-10", "Republican", "Senate", "IA", "Chuck Grassley", "G000386", "www.grassley.senate.gov", "grassley", "https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and 26 Senate Republican colleagues will introduce legislation to support Israel\u2019s membership status in the United Nations (UN). The Stand with Israel Act would cut off U.S. funding to UN agencies that expel, downgrade, suspend or otherwise restrict Israel\u2019s participation in the international organization. The senators will introduce the bill when Congress reconvenes in November. Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) is leading companion legislation in the House of Representatives.\n\n\u201cAs the historic homeland of the Jewish people, the only democracy in the Middle East and a cherished ally of the United States, Israel\u2019s membership status in the UN shouldn\u2019t be up for debate,\u201d said Grassley. \u201cThe United States is the UN\u2019s largest financial backer; any antisemitic attempt to downgrade Israel\u2019s status ought to be met with severe and immediate consequences by cutting off U.S. funding.\u201d\n\n\u201cAny attempt to alter Israel\u2019s status at the UN is clearly anti-Semitic,\u201d said Risch. \u201cThat said, if the UN member states allow the Palestinian Authority and the Palestine Liberation Organization to downgrade Israel\u2019s status at the UN, the U.S. must stop supporting the UN system, as it would clearly be beyond repair. I am disgusted that this outrageous idea has even been discussed, and will do all I can to ensure any changes to Israel\u2019s status will come with consequences.\u201d\n\nGrassley and Risch are joined by Sens. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), John Kennedy (R-La.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Ron Johnson (R-Wisc.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), John Thune (R-S.D.) and Deb Fischer (R-Neb.).\n\nDownload bill text HERE.\n\nBackground:\n\nRecent reports indicate the Palestinian Authority (PA) will attempt to downgrade Israel\u2019s status at the UN. The effort comes after the UN upgraded the PA\u2019s status in May, granting them enhanced rights and privileges.\n\nGrassley has additionally condemned the UN for its inaction regarding Hamas\u2019 sexual violence against Israeli women and its consideration of a PA resolution to strip Israel\u2019s right to self defense. Learn more about Grassley\u2019s work to support Israel HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-risch-and-colleagues-back-israel-stand-up-to-un-antisemitism"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.8644240442663431, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}