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House Passes RJC-Backed Bill to Aid Victims of Nazi Art Theft - HEAR Act
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On Monday, the House of Representatives passed the Holocaust Expropriated Art Recovery (HEAR) Act, one of the RJC's top legislative priorities for this year. Since the bill already passed in the Senate in December, it next goes to President Donald Trump, who has been supportive.
The HEAR Act extends and strengthens a landmark 2016 law that helps Holocaust victims and their heirs recover art looted by the Nazis and their collaborators. The HEAR Act strengthens victims’ rights to have their cases heard on the merits. Specifically, it prevents those in possession of looted art from evading justice through concealment and legal defenses based on the passage of time — practices that are all-too-common in the art world. It also blocks defenses based on deference to the laws of other countries, or for other technical reasons. The passage of the HEAR Act affirms a simple truth: There is no excuse for unjustly withholding the Nazi-stolen property of Jews murdered in the holocaust from their heirs.
There are more than 100,000 works of art looted by the Nazis that have not been recovered by their rightful owners, according to reports.
The Republican Jewish Coalition welcomed the vote:
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Extending and improving the Holocaust Expropriated Art Recovery (HEAR) Act—landmark 2016 legislation that empowers family members trying to recover artwork stolen from Jews by the Nazi regime during the Second World War—is a critical fulfillment of our leaders’ obligation to preserve historic memory and pursue justice for Holocaust victims.
We are grateful to Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) and Rep. Laurel Lee (R-FL) for leading the HEAR Act in Congress, and to Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH), Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Majority Leader Steve Scalise for ensuring its passage.
We look forward to President Trump – the greatest friend to American Jews to serve in the White House – quickly signing the HEAR Act into law.
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Read more at the NY Times. (gift link).
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RJC in the News
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JNS: All six anti-Israel candidates seen as potential 'Squad' members lose Illinois primaries
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Six progressive, anti-Israel candidates running for Congress in Illinois, all of whom AIPAC reportedly sees as potential members of the "Squad," lost their primaries in the 2nd, 7th, 8th and 9th Districts on Tuesday.
…[Kat] Abughazaleh is "a representative of an ascendant and vocal anti-America, anti-Israel, cognizable, pro-Hamas wing of the Democratic Party," Sam Markstein, national political director at the Republican Jewish Coalition, told JNS.
"Being pro-America, pro-Israel is good policy and good politics, as evidenced last night in the primaries in Illinois, with anti-Israel candidates losing all six of their endorsed candidates," he said.
"We're encouraged by the results from last night, and we'll continue to closely watch these primaries and engage on our side where and when necessary," Markstein told JNS.
"It's important that the Democratic Party push back on these voices, which they have failed to do for years, which is why you have the Squad and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez thinking about running for Senate," he added. "Last night was a good showing for those of us that care about this country and our alliances around the world. It was a good day."
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AP: Joe Kent's resignation over Iran war reignites antisemitism fears and debate over Israeli influence
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It was no surprise when Joe Kent showed up on Tucker Carlson's podcast a day after quitting his counterterrorism job in President Donald Trump's administration.
… Matt Brooks, president of the Republican Jewish Coalition, described Kent's appearance on Carlson's podcast as "part of an ongoing problem."
He noted that his group opposed Kent's nomination as director of the National Counterterrorism Center because of ties to right-wing extremism.
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Markstein on KTRH (Houston)
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RJC Political Director Sam Markstein was interviewed by Jimmy Barrett on KTRH Houston's morning news show last Friday. They discussed the attack on Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, MI.
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JNS: Dearborn Heights mayor draws backlash over response to Michigan synagogue attack
Mo Baydoun, mayor of Dearborn Heights faced criticism for responding to the attack on Temple Israel by writing that the suspect lost family members in an Israeli attack in Lebanon. Media outlets reported that the family members were known members of Hezbollah.
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"A conflict halfway around the world is somehow a rationale for trying to blow up a synagogue full of children and murder innocents, according to the mayor of Dearborn Heights," the Republican Jewish Coalition wrote, calling the mayor's statement a "disgusting, twisted response."
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The Free Press: Groypers Are Not Welcome, California GOP Says
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Sam Markstein, the national political director of the Republican Jewish Coalition, said that "this is a battle that we must continue to fight and win, and we applaud the CAGOP for their efforts." He added, "A sovereign nation without borders is no nation at all, and a conservative movement without borders is no conservatism."
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Support GOP Majorities! Support Our Great Candidates!
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The 2026 midterms are here! It is CRITICAL that Republicans retain and expand their majorities in the House and Senate in 2026!
The RJC PAC has announced its first set of endorsements for the 2026 election cycle. This list includes the Jewish Republican members of the House, some of the most talented and successful freshmen congressman who flipped their districts from blue to red last time and need to hold their seats, and some incumbent GOP stalwarts who are top Democratic targets this year.
These great House members need and deserve our support:
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Read more about the endorsees here.
You can donate to each or all of these endorsees in the RJC PAC Portal.
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US Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle in flight. Source: VanderWolf Images
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War with Iran: Continuing Success
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The tremendous success of the US and Israeli strikes against Iran prove that America has a President with determination and courage, a military that is unparalleled in world history for its effectiveness, agility, and might, and an alliance with Israel that is closer and more strategically vital to US interests than any other.
Here are some important articles from the past week.
On the conduct and achievements of the war:
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On the role of Israel:
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On the media:
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The Free Press: The Foreign Money Behind America's Anti-War Protests
The American strikes on Iran have opened both a new military front abroad and an old front at home. Mere hours after the bombs began to fall, leftist activists took to the streets with signs and chants denouncing American "imperialism" and demanding "Hands Off Iran" and "No New US War in the Middle East."
It's no coincidence that these protests bear similarities to the anti-ICE, pro-Cuba, anti-Israel, and pro-Maduro rallies that have dotted the country in recent months. Behind many of these disruptions is the ANSWER Coalition (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism), an umbrella organization composed of various far-left groups.
A close look at ANSWER's operations reveals a demonstration-industrial complex—a coordinated ecosystem in which organizations lean in to their respective strengths and complement others' infrastructure, messaging, or reach. These organizations are, in turn, closely linked with hostile foreign actors, raising questions not only about their propriety, but their legality.
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Rove: Trump Hasn't Lost His Voters Over Iran
The survey first asked about approval of Mr. Trump's "decision to authorize military action against Iran" for the goals of "(1) preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, (2) destroying Iran's missile arsenal and production sites, (3) degrading Iran's terrorist proxy networks and (4) annihilating the Iranian naval threat."
Approval was 84% among all respondents. It was 94% among MAGA conservatives, 84% among traditional conservatives, 80% among moderates and 74% among libertarians.
…The other questions yielded similar results: 85% of Trump voters said it was important "Iran does not obtain a nuclear bomb," 84% backed the "US-Israel military partnership," and 80% agreed the president's "use of force against Iran will help deter future attacks from our adversaries." In each question, MAGA conservatives were the most supportive of Mr. Trump's position.
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NV: RJC Range Day
Join us for an exciting morning at the range, with a certified Range Master on-site providing instruction, guidance, and practical shooting tips.
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RSVP
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GA: "Job Interview" for GOP GA Governor Candidates
Come hear from four Republican candidates as they tell us why they deserve the job of Governor of Georgia.
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RSVP
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PA: Event with Cong. Ryan Mackenzie
Join us for this event in Blue Bell, PA with first-term Congressman from PA's 7th District. Cong. Mackenzie serves on three committees in the US House: Education and Workforce, Foreign Affairs, and Homeland Security. He is a reliable supporter of the conservative causes that unite us - supporting the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and seeing our efforts in the Middle East through to success.
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RSVP
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Republican Jewish Coalition
50 F Street, N.W., Suite 100 | Washington, DC 20001
202.638.6688 | [email protected]
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