This will be our final Action Update of the year, and as such, we thought we’d give a brief overview of where we are, where we’ve been, and where we’re headed in the coming year. So, without further ado, let’s look at your CUFI Action Fund’s present, past and future.
Present
As longtime readers of the Action Update know, one of the most important pieces of legislation associated with American and Israeli national security is the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). That legislation for Fiscal Year 2023 recently passed Congress and is now headed to the President’s desk. There are several items within the bill that are of central importance to our mission.
One key element
incorporated in the NDAA is the Deterring Enemy Forces and Enabling National Defenses (DEFEND) Act. This legislation was one of CUFI’s 2022 Washington Summit priorities and will move American allies in the Middle East, including Israel, closer into entering a regional air-defense partnership. A key pillar of regional efforts to counter the Iranian regime.
The bill also included authorization of greater funds for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program. The CUFI Action Fund has long supported expanding these funds as the program is vital to securing faith communities against the rise of the violent antisemitism we’ve seen across the
country.
Finally, the NDAA also contains support for joint American-Israel missile defense programs and prohibits the transfer of any funds to Tehran. As our readers may recall, under the Obama administration, pallets of cash were delivered to the terror-sponsoring regime as part of President Obama’s failed Iran nuclear accord.
Past
2022 was a significant year for CUFI at the state level. Working with our partners in the Jewish community, we saw a majority of states across the Union adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism because, as Action Fund Chairwoman Sandra Parker has said on numerous occasions, “you cannot defeat that which you are unwilling to define.”
In addition, we shepherded anti-BDS legislation in Tennessee and advanced increased Holocaust education standards in Oklahoma, Missouri and Louisiana.
It’s important to note that the effort to combat the antisemitic BDS movement did not end with legislation. In 2021 Ben & Jerry’s announced their intention to boycott Israel. Within a year, we and our partners in the Jewish community were able to not only stop that effort in its tracks, but today, the Ben & Jerry’s brand in Israel is owned by
an Israeli Zionist.
Last, but certainly not least, one of our most important fights of the year came in the late winter and early spring when anti-Israel members of Congress tried to stop the U.S. from resupplying Israel’s Iron Dome Missile Defense System with a billion-dollar supplemental after conflicts with terrorists in Gaza in 2021 depleted the systems interceptors.
After some hard work, CUFI, alongside pro-Israel allies in Congress and around the country, was able to overcome the Hamas caucus’s efforts and today, Israel’s Iron Dome system is fully stocked.
Future
In the year to come, we hope to finish the work of reversing the pro-BDS efforts of Morningstar, a Chicago-based financial services
firm that has been using Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) ratings of companies to aid those who seek to destroy Israel through boycotts and divestment.
Looking ahead on that same front, with 34 states having advanced anti-BDS legislation, we at the CUFI Action Fund hope that others with jurisdiction within the U.S. government will follow suit. There is no reason taxpayer dollars (at any level) should subsidize efforts to destroy Israel. Likewise, Morningstar’s disgustingly anti-Israel efforts
need to be prevented amongst all financial services firms. As such, in the coming year, expect to see Congress take a long hard look at ESG. As we’re sure you’ll agree, the life savings of American investors are not the political playthings of a few Wall Street ideologues.
In addition, there are several other battles on the horizon. As anti-Israel groups seek to condition/diminish/abandon U.S. military aid to Israel, expect the Action Fund to take a leading role in defending Israel’s Qualitative Military Edge in the region.
Likewise, you can expect us to be at the forefront of efforts to ensure the Biden administration does not strike another worthless nuclear deal with Iran; you might think that in light of Tehran killing peaceful protestors, supporting terrorism and violating the terms of the last nuclear deal, ensuring any future accord is “longer and stronger” would be an easy lift. But it won’t be. Despite all that’s going on in the Islamic Republic, hardcore foreign policy appeasers remain committed to striking a deal with Iran, no matter who it harms.
We’ve had some strong successes this year, and that is important, but our fights are far from over. At the Action Fund, we want to work ourselves out of a job. We want to live in a world where evil does not have to be confronted in the Halls of Congress. But that’s not the case, and you can rest assured, until that glorious day arrives, we’ll be there on the political frontlines doing the right thing for the U.S. and Israel.
Thank you for being a supporter of the CUFI Action Fund and for staying up-to-date and deeply involved on the issues that matter to pro-Israel activists. We pray you and your loved ones have a very Merry Christmas, a Happy Hanukkah and a Happy New Year.
Sincerely,
