Latest Update: March 3 12:30 AM
If your rep is undeclared or on the fence, give them a call at 1-202-224-3121. When you reach a staffer, you can say something like:
I urge Rep./Sen. ___________ to join 60 other Democrats in skipping Netanyahu’s March 3 speech. Please stand with Democrats who support President Obama’s Iran diplomacy, not with Republicans who want to tear President Obama down.
Find out where your reps stand below.
Skipping (61—Includes 1 Republican)
House
Bass, Karen (CA-37) — “My support for a strong U.S.-Israel relationship has been consistent during my entire time in elected office, and that support will only continue in the years to come. Support for Israel has traditionally been a non-partisan issue, and I want it to remain so,” she said. “Unfortunately, Speaker Boehner mishandled inviting Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to speak to Congress. Prime Minister Netanyahu’s speech is now marred with controversy. Prime Minister Netanyahu has been provided with other options to talk with members of Congress, but he has turned them down to do the public speech. It is truly sad that Speaker Boehner and Prime Minister Netanyahu have chosen to play partisan and divisive politics.”
Blumenauer, Earl (OR-03): Wrote a Jan. 29 column in The Huffington Post explaining his decision, saying the Constitution “vests the responsibility for foreign affairs in the president.”
Brown, Corrine (FL-05)
Butterfield, G.K. (NC-01): The head of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) focused on Boehner undermining Obama in a statement and emphasized he’s not urging a boycott.
Capps, Lois (CA-24)
Carson, Andre (IN-07)
Castro, Joaquin (TX-20)
Clark, Katherine (MA-05): http://www.masslive.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/02/massachusetts_democratic_us_re_1.html
Clay, William Lacy (MO-01)
Clyburn, James (SC-06): Clyburn is the highest-ranking Democratic leader to say he’ll skip the speech.
Cohen, Steve (TN-09): “Speaker Boehner and other Republicans supporting the speech are giving a foreign leader the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives as a forum to present a counterargument to the foreign policy peace efforts of the President of the United States who has constitutional authority over foreign affairs. This speech is high theater for a re-election campaign in Israel and a political tool wielded against our President and his Administration by the Speaker of the House. Further, it is not a coincidence that Prime Minister Netanyahu’s speech to Congress will be during the Washington D.C. convention of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) with whom Speaker Boehner is currying favor.”
Coleman, Bonnie Watson (NJ-12): “In February, I joined 23 of my colleagues in urging Speaker Boehner to postpone the invitation because of my misgivings. Unfortunately, that letter received no response. After significant thought and consultation, I cannot condone Speaker Boehner’s tactics, and do not feel I can attend the Prime Minister’s address.”
Conyers, John (MI-13)
Cummings, Elijah (MD-07)
Davis, Danny (IL-07): “The Congressman will not attend. He believes 1) that the invitation from the Speaker is a breach of protocol and is insulting to the President; 2) constitutes an inappropriate interference in the conduct of our nation’s diplomacy; 3) is too close to the elections” in Israel. (http://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/7/71/406504/democrats-divided-attending-benjamin-netanyahu-speech-congress)
DeFazio, Peter (OR-04): “It appears that Mr. Netanyahu will use this opportunity to forestall President Obama’s efforts to conclude very difficult negotiations with Iran that would impose strict limits in developing their nuclear weapons capability.”
DeGette, Diana (CO-01)
DeLauro, Rosa (CT-03): Decided at last minute to skip, saying the invite was “meant to undermine the negotiations that I support”
Doggett, Lloyd (TX-35) — “A partisan approach with our critical ally, Israel, is a grave mistake,” he said in a statement.
Edwards, Donna (MD-04): Not on the Hill’s whip list, but, according to Politico, skipping. (EDIT 2/17: now on the Hill’s list)
Ellison, Keith (MN-05)
Fattah, Chaka (PA-02): Confirmed 3/2 by multiple constituent calls.
Fudge, Marcia (OH-11): Told a constituent during a telephone townhall that “she was considering not attending if the speech takes place, but she was unsure what else she might do.” Now skipping: http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2015/02/reps_marcia_fudge_marcy_kaptur_1.html
Grijalva, Raul (AZ-03)
Gutierrez, Luis (IL-04): A spokesman told the Chicago Sun-Times that Gutierrez has a “strong” record on Israel but called the speech “a stunt.”
Heck, Denny (WA-10)
Hinojosa, Ruben (TX-15)
Johnson, Eddie B. (TX-30): “The Congresswoman has no plans to attend the speech at this time,” a spokeswoman said.
Johnson, Hank (GA-04): “It’s not just about disrespect for the president, it’s disrespect for the American people and our system of government for a foreign leader to insert himself into a issue that our policymakers are grappling with,” said Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.). “It’s not simply about President Obama being a black man disrespected by a foreign leader. It’s deeper than that.”
Jones, Walter (R-NC)
Kaptur, Marcy (OH-09): http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2015/02/reps_marcia_fudge_marcy_kaptur_1.html
Larsen, Rick (WA-02)
Lee, Barbara (CA-13)
Lewis, John (GA-05): His office confirmed he’s not going but emphasized he’s not organizing a formal boycott
Loebsack, Davis (IA-02)
Lofgren, Zoe (CA-19): “I am disappointed Speaker Boehner chose to irresponsibly interject politics into what has long been a strong and bipartisan relationship between the United States and Israel. As President Obama has noted, it is inappropriate for a Head of State to address Congress just two weeks ahead of their election. I agree that Congress should not be used as a prop in Israeli election campaigns, so I intend to watch the speech on TV in my office.”
McCollum, Betty (MN-04): “In my view Mr. Netanyahu’s speech before Congress is nothing more than a campaign event hosted by Speaker Boehner and paid for by the American people,” McCollum said in a statement.”
McDermott, Jim (WA-07): “I do not intend to attend the speech of Bibi,” he said in an email to a Seattle newspaper.
McGovern, James P (MA-02)
McNerney, Jerry (CA-09): “Rep. McNerney is not planning to attend the speech. He’s got several previously planned commitments for that day.”
Meeks, Gregory W (NY-05): “To me, it is somewhat of an insult to the president of the United States,” said Rep. Greg Meeks (D-N.Y.), leaving the White House on Tuesday after a long meeting with Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, who also will miss the speech. “Barack Obama is my president. He’s the nation’s president, and it is clear, therefore, that I’m not going to be there, as a result of that, not as a result of the good people of Israel.”
Moore, Gwen (WI-04)
Norton, Eleanor Holmes (DC)
O’Rourke, Beto (TX-16)
Pingree, Chellie (ME-01)
Price, David (NC-04): http://price.house.gov/press-releases/price-statement-on-netanyahu-address/
Richmond, Cedric (LA-02): “It is very disrespectful to this president, and what concerns me more is that I think it’s a pattern that is starting to develop from this speaker that we’re getting more and more disrespectful of the office of the presidency,” said Rep. Cedric Richmond (D-La.). “I think it’s silly and petty.”
Schakowsky, Janice D (IL-09)
Thompson, Bennie (MS-02)
Thompson, Mike (CA-05): Confirmed 3/2 by multiple constituent calls.
Waters, Maxine (CA-43)
Yarmuth, John (KY-03): “We know what he is going to say,” the Jewish lawmaker said in a statement.
Senate
Franken, Al (MN) — “This has unfortunately become a partisan spectacle, both because of the impending Israeli election and because it was done without consulting the Administration,” said Sen. Franken in a statement. “I’d be uncomfortable being part of an event that I don’t believe should be happening. I’m confident that, once this episode is over, we can reaffirm our strong tradition of bipartisan support for Israel.”
Heinrich, Martin (NM)
Kaine, Tim (VA)
Leahy, Patrick (VT)
McCaskill, Claire (MO): Will be attending funeral in Missouri.
Sanders, Bernie (VT)
Schatz, Brian (HI)
Whitehouse, Sheldon (RI): “I’m concerned that behind it was a mischievous effort to manipulate domestic politics in both countries, which should not be the terms of engagement between friendly allies,” he said in a statement to local station WPRI.
Warren, Elizabeth (MA)
Fence
House
Becerra, Xavier (CA-34): “I’m troubled with the way it’s being handled by congressional leaders. It has an impact not just on us in the U.S. but our friends in Israel,” he told The Hill last week.
Bishop, Sanford (GA-02)
Cardenas, Tony (CA-29)
Clarke, Yvette (NY-09): Daily News: “Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-Brooklyn) did not respond to questions about her plans.”
DeSaulier, Mark (CA-11): “Congressman DeSaulnier has not made a final decision as he hopes the Prime Minister will reconsider his plans particularly in light of the upcoming election,” said Betsy Arnold Marr, DeSaulnier’s chief of staff.
Gabbard, Tulsi (HI-02)
Jackson-Lee, Sheila (TX-18)
Napolitano, Grace F (CA-32)
Payne, Donald (NJ-10)
Peterson, Collin C (MN-07)
Rush, Bobby (IL-01)
Smith, Adam (WA-09): Smith is “troubled” but undecided.
Tonko, Paul (NY-20)
Wilson, Frederica (FL-24): “I’m mulling going,” said Wilson, who said she doesn’t always attend such addresses because of a busy schedule. But she said she has a large Jewish constituency in her district. “I’m weighing the pros and cons and I’m talking to them.”
Senate
Carper, Thomas (DE)
Coons, Chris (DE): Told CNN he is “concerned” by the speech timing.
Durbin, Dick (IL)
Hirono, Mazie (HI): “The question is not whether or not Members should attend Prime Minister Netanyahu’s speech next month but whether we should adhere to the usual way that these invitations to address Congress are extended. And that way is to work with the President, who is Constitutionally tasked with conducting foreign policy,” she said in a statement. “I call upon Speaker Boehner to work with the President to extend this invitation.”
King, Angus (ME): Told CNN he is still deciding whether to attend.
Warner, Mark (VA)
Attending
House
Aguilar, Pete (CA-31)
Beatty, Joyce (OH-03)
Beyer, Don (VA-08)
Boyle, Brendan F. (PA-13)
Capuano, Mike (MA-07)
Castor, Kathy (FL-14)
Cicilline, David (RI-01)
Cooper, Jim (TN-05)
Crowley, Joe (NY-14)
Crowley, Joe (NY-14)
Cuellar, Henry (TX-28)
Delaney, John (MD-06)
DeLauro, Rosa (CT-03)
DelBene, Suzan (WA-01)
Deutch, Ted (FL-21)
Duckworth, Tammy (IL-08): “Yes, the Congresswoman is going. While she is disappointed in the
way the speech was scheduled she believes the relationship between Israel and the United States is
crucial and will attend the speech as a sign of respect to that relationship.”
Engel, Eliot (NY-16)
Esty, Elizabeth (CT-05)
Farr, Sam (CA-20)
Foster, Bill (Il-11): “While Rep. Foster believes Speaker Boehner’s breach of protocol was disappointing and ultimately dangerous to the US-Israel relationship, he will be attending the speech out of respect for the office of the Prime Minister of one of our most important allies. It is important that we maintain our strong relationship with Israel and maintain open lines of communication.”
Frankel, Lois (FL-22)
Gallego, Ruben (AZ-07)
Garamendi, John (CA-03)
Grayson, Alan (FL-09)
Green, Gene (TX-29)
Hahn, Janice (CA-44)
Hastings, Alcee (FL-20)
Himes, James (CT-04)
Honda, Michael (CA-17): “Congressman Honda regrets that Speaker Boehner ignored protocol in
making this invitation. The speaker turned what should have been an important visit of one of our closest allies into a political stunt. Congressman Honda also has concerns about the potential political nature of this speech given Israel’s elections are less than two weeks away. Despite this, and the congressman’s disagreement with the Prime Minister’s opposition to the U.S. nuclear negotiations with Iran, Congressman Honda is going to attend the address on March 3. The United States and Israel share strong cultural, economic and security partnerships, and he will attend the speech to hear firsthand what the Prime Minister has to say on these serious and complicated issues.”
Hoyer, Steny (MD-05)
Huffman, Jared (CA-02)
Israel, Steve (NY-03)
Jeffries, Hakeem (NY-08)
Keating, Bill (MA-09)
Kennedy, Joe III (MA-04)
Kildee, Dan (MI-05)
Kind, Ron (WI-03)
Kirkpatrick, Ann (AZ-01)
Langevin, James (RI-02)
Larson, John (CT-01)
Levin, Sandy (MI-09)
Lieu, Ted (CA-33)
Lipinski, Dan (IL-03): “I want to hear the Prime Minister’s views on the current turmoil in the Middle East and Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons. It is a very dangerous time for the world and, as always, I want to get as much information as possible to guide my decision-making.”
Lowey, Nita (NY-17)
Lujan Grisham, Michelle (NM-01)
Lynch, Stephen (MA-08)
Maloney, Carolyn (NY-12)
Meng, Grace (NY-06)
Moulton, Seth (MA-06): Moulton expressed frustration over the speech to The Boston Globe but would not say if he plans to attend.
Murphy, Patrick (FL-18)
Nadler, Jerrold (NY-10)
Neal, Richard E (MA-01)
Nolan, Richard (MN-08)
Norcross, Donald (NJ-01)
Pelosi, Nancy (CA-12)
Perlmutter, Ed (CO-07)
Peters, Scott (CA-52)
Polis, Jared (CO-02)
Rice, Kathleen (NY-04)
Roybal-Allard, Lucille (CA-40)
Ruiz, Raul (CA-36)
Ruppersberger, Dutch (MD-02)
Ryan, Tim (OH-13)
Sarbanes, John (MD-03)
Schiff, Adam (CA-28)
Schultz, Debbie Wasserman (FL-23)
Scott, David (GA-13)
Serrano, Jose E (NY-15): Per Daily News: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/nyc-pols-netanyahu-address-article-1.2113774
Sewell, Terri (AL-07)
Sherman, Brad (CA-30)
Swalwell, Eric (CA-15): “I’m not going to be disrespectful toward a head of state from a country that is so important to us, but I think we could have accomplished getting updated by the prime minister in a way that worked with the White House,” Swalwell told the San Francisco Chronicle.
Takano, Mark (CA-41)
Titus, Dina (NV-01)
Tsongas, Niki (MA-03)
Van Hollen, Chris (MD-08)
Vela, Filemon (TX-34)
Walz, Timothy (MN-01): “If the speech occurs, he will attend,” said spokesman Tony Ufkin.
Welch, Peter (VT-AT)
Senate
Baldwin, Tammy (WI)
Blumenthal, Dick (CT)
Booker, Cory (NJ)
Boxer, Barbara (CA)
Brown, Sherrod (OH)
Cardin, Ben (MD)
Casey, Bob (PA)
Feinstein, Dianne (CA)
Gillibrand, Kirsten (NY)
Heitkamp, Heidi (ND)
Klobuchar, Amy (MN)
Manchin, John (WV)
Markey, Ed (MA)
Menendez, Bob (NJ)
Mikulski, Barbara (MD)
Murphy, Chris (CT)
Nelson, Bill (FL)
Peters, Gary (MI)
Reid, Harry (NV)
Schumer, Chuck (NY)
Shaheen, Jeanne (NH)
Udall, Tom (NM)