Jerusalem Post: From security grants to Iran: What’s on RJC, JDCA legislative agenda?

By Omri Nahmias

Halie Soifer, CEO of the Jewish Democratic Council of America, told the Post that when it comes to domestic policy, “Jewish Dems understand that we’re facing multiple crises related to our security, health, economy, and environment and support US President Joe Biden’s efforts to simultaneously confront these challenges.”

“JDCA is prioritizing efforts to combat white supremacy and domestic extremism, including strengthening the legal mechanisms to combat antisemitism, end the nexus between gun violence and white supremacist violence, and enacting racial justice reforms,” she said. Soifer added that the JDCA supported the reversal of Trump’s immigration policies, “starting with Biden’s repeal of the Muslim Ban, reinstatement of DACA protections, and plans to reunite families at the border, because these policies are consistent with our Jewish values.”

“Regarding foreign policy, Jewish Dems know that “America first” under Donald Trump meant “America alone,” and this has weakened our national security and that of our allies, including Israel,” said Soifer. “Jewish Dems support President Biden’s leadership in restoring multilateralism as a core tenet of US foreign policy, and using smart diplomacy to thwart Iran’s nuclear ambitions and other nefarious activities,” she added. “We also strongly support President Biden’s commitment to the 10-year, $38 billion US-Israel Memorandum of Understanding, and efforts to preserve prospects for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.”

Another area of focus, said Soifer, would be COVID-19 relief. “Amid the largest health crisis of our lifetime, we also support President Biden’s efforts to protect American lives and livelihoods from the hardship caused by COVID-19, including federal mask mandates, developing a national vaccination strategy, offering financial relief and student loan forgiveness, and increasing the minimum wage. Jewish Dems also support President Biden’s efforts to strengthen environmental protections and reenter the Paris Climate Agreement.”