Israel Relations Normalization Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-1061
Sponsor: Sen. Portman, Rob [R-OH]
Introduced: 2021-03-25 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Arab-Israeli relations
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Conflicts and wars
Congressional oversight
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Economic development
Foreign aid and international relief
Foreign language and bilingual programs
Government information and archives
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International exchange and broadcasting
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Iran
Israel
Middle East
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Museums, exhibitions, cultural centers
Palestinians
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Racial and ethnic relations
Religion
Rule of law and government transparency
Sovereignty, recognition, national governance and status
United Arab Emirates
War crimes, genocide, crimes against humanity
Water use and supply

Summary:
action_date: 2021-03-25
text: 

Israel Relations Normalization
 
Act of 2021

 
This bill requires the Department of State to take certain actions promoting the normalization of relations between Israel, Arab states, and other relevant countries and regions. 
 
Specifically, the State Department must develop a strategy on expanding and strengthening the Abraham Accords (the term used to refer collectively to agreements between Israel and the United Arab Emirates and between Israel and Bahrain marking the public normalization of relations between the two Arab countries and Israel). The strategy must include a description of how the U.S. government will encourage further normalization of relations with Israel.
 
In addition, the State Department must report on options for U.S. international efforts to promote the strengthening of ties between Israel, Arab states, and other relevant countries and regions. The State Department must also report on the status of the normalization of relations with Israel, including information on (1) laws that punish individuals for people-to-people relations with Israelis (i.e., anti-normalization laws), and (2) evidence of steps taken by Arab governments toward permitting or encouraging normalized relations between their citizens or residents and Israeli citizens. 

action_date: 2021-06-24
text: 

Israel Relations Normalization
 
Act of 2021

 
This bill requires the Department of State to take certain actions promoting the normalization of relations between Israel, Arab states, and other relevant countries and regions. 
 
Specifically, the State Department must develop a strategy on expanding and strengthening the Abraham Accords (the term used to refer collectively to agreements between Israel and the United Arab Emirates and between Israel and Bahrain marking the public normalization of relations between the two Arab countries and Israel). The strategy must include a description of how the U.S. government will encourage further normalization of relations with Israel.
 
The State Department must report on the status of efforts to promote normalization of relations with Israel and other countries, including information on (1) laws that punish individuals for people-to-people relations with Israelis (i.e., anti-normalization laws), and (2) instances of the use of state-owned or state-operated media outlets to promote the prosecution of citizens or residents of Arab countries calling for peace with Israel.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-06-24
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 95.
action_date: 2021-06-24
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Menendez with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2021-06-24
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Menendez with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2021-06-24
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.
action_date: 2021-03-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2021-03-25
text: Introduced in Senate