SCHUMER CO-SPONSORS BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION TO COMBAT BDS; BILL PROTECTS STATES & LOCALITIES THAT DIVEST FROM ENTITIES ENGAGING IN BDS ACTIVITY TARGETING ISRAEL

Schumer, a Strong Opponent of BDS Activity, Announces Support for  the “Combating BDS Act;” Legislation Seeks to Protect State & Local Govt’s That Divest in Companies Engaged in BDS

Schumer: This Bill Helps Send the Message That We Will Not Stand for Those Who Unfairly Target and Boycott Our Ally, Israel

U.S. Senator Charles Schumer today announced he is a co-sponsor of the Combating BDS Act, a bipartisan bill to fight against the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) effort’s attacks against the state of Israel. U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) introduced the bill in the Senate. The Combating BDS Act will protect state and local governments that divest from or prohibit investment in companies engaged in BDS activity targeting Israel.

“By protecting states and local governments that dissociate with companies that participate in BDS, we send the message loud and clear that we will not stand for those who unfairly target and boycott Israel,” said Senator Schumer. “As a staunch supporter of Israel, the most democratic nation in the region, I am urging my colleagues in Congress to pass this bipartisan bill and stand with our ally, Israel, against those that seek to unfairly financially target and discriminate against it.”  

The Combating BDS Act provides for non-preemption of measures by state and local governments to divest from entities that engage in commerce-related or investment-related boycott, divestment or sanctions activity targeting Israel. The bill amends the Investment Company Act of 1940 to prevent any person from bringing civil, criminal, or administrative action against any registered investment company, or any officer or employee, who participate in commerce or investment-related BDS against Israel.

Original cosponsors of the Combating BDS Act include Senators Mike Crapo (R-ID), Bill Nelson (D-FL), John Cornyn (R-TX), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Rob Portman (R-OH), Gary Peters (D-MI), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Michael Bennet (D-CO), and Roy Blunt (R-MO).

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