Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ-3) @RepRaulGrijalva 1511 Longworth HOB Washington, DC 20515 ph (202) 225-2435 fax (202) 225-1541 Rep. Grijalva is one of the many signatories to the letter addressed to President Obama last February, asking that negotiations with Iran continue. He does not appear to have issued any public statements about Netanyahu’s speech, although he is on the list of those who will not be attending Netanyahu’s speech. The Representative went on a J Street sponsored trip to the Middle East in 2013. Rep. Grijalva was a J Street-endorsed candidate in 2014.
Rep. Luis Gutiérrez (D-IL-4) @LuisGutierrez 2408 Rayburn HOB Washington, DC 20515 Phone: (202) 225-8203 Fax: (202) 225-7810 A spokesperson for Rep. Gutierrez told the Chicago Sun-Times, “The Congressman has a consistent, strong record on Israel, but this speech is really more of a stunt. Republicans are playing politics with Israel for domestic consumption here and in the upcoming vote in Israel and the Congressman decided he would rather not participate.” Rep. Gutiérrez was a J Street-endorsed candidate in 2014.
Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D.C.) @EleanorNorton 2136 Rayburn HOB Washington, DC 20515 phone: (202) 225-8050 fax: 202) 225-3002 Norton traveled to Egypt, Oman, Jordan, and Israel in January, 2008 with colleagues in an official delegation organized by the Subcommittee on Homeland Security of the Appropriations Committee.
Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX-30) @RepEB 2468 Rayburn Office BuildingWashington, DC 20515 phone: (202) 225-8885 fax: (202) 226-1477 Rep. Johnson has hosted panels on the “Israeli/Palestinian Peace Process” which included only anti-Israel participants. This happened both in June of 2013 and in 2012. Rep. Johnson was a J Street-endorsed candidate in 2014.
Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA-13)@RepBarbaraLee 2267 Rayburn HOB Washington, DC 20515phone (202) 225-2661 fax: (202) 225-9817 Lee has taken to the House floor to call for peace between Israel and Palestinian Arabs, but she joined with just a handful of “progressive Democrats” including Keith Ellison, urging “the administration to continue its efforts to facilitate an agreement that will engage and garner support from all parties involved in this cycle of violence.” This letter contrasted sharply with the unanimous vote of the Senate a few days earlier “reaffirming Israel’s right to self-defense.” She also joined with Ellison in calling for an investigation into the Mavi Marmara flotilla incident, for which they believed Israel was responsible, and for “an end to the blockade” of Gaza. Representative Lee went on a J Street sponsored trip to the Middle East in 2013. Rep. Lee was a J Street-endorsed candidate in 2014.
Rep. John Lewis (D-GA-5) @RepJohnLewis 343 Cannon House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Phone:(202) 225-3801 Fax: (202) 225-0351 Rep. Lewish is an iconic heroic figure of the Civil Rights movement. Lewis served as chairman of the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee from 1963-66., and is now a member of the Democratic Israel Working Group. Rep. Lewis told the AP early last month that he would not attend Netanyahu’s speech to Congress because the invitation was “an affront” to President Barack Obama and the State Department.” Rep. Lewis was a J Street-endorsed candidate on 2014.
Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN-4) @BettyMcCollum04 2256 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515Phone: (202) 225-6631 Fax: (202) 225-1968.
Rep. McCollum wrote an op-ed which appeared Feb. 26 in the Washington Post explaining why she won’t be attending Netanyahu’s speech. She accused Netanyahu of coming solely to increase his campaign efforts and to undermine President Obama:
in a clear effort to undermine the president while the United States and its five partners engage in tough negotiations with Iran to prevent it from obtaining nuclear weapons — a national security priority I strongly support.
Advertisement