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We end 2020 with a renewed sense of hope that our country will finally be able to reset its moral compass after four bruising years of Donald Trump. Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will make good government matter again.
This year will be defined by the pandemic. It impacted every aspect of our lives and became a central part of the election season. It changed the way we voted and the way candidates campaigned. Congress even changed its rules during the pandemic, allowing remote voting for the first time in its 231-year history.
In Congress, there were many legislative accomplishments on the House side. The House passed more than 440 bills dealing with issues such as election security, expanding the Affordable Care Act, and raising the minimum wage. The Senate only focused on confirming Trump's extreme conservative judges.
This year was still filled with election activity. We stayed busy at home calling and texting voters, and sending out postcards. We sent out more than 40,000 postcards to key battleground states, helping to boost voter turnout.
We barely had time to catch our breath after the November election before we began our efforts to elect Jon Ossoff and Rev. Raphael Warnock in the Georgia special Senate runoff. We sent more than 20,000 postcards to help their election efforts, as well.
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We mourned the passing of iconic Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who was a role model to many and a champion of our sacred rights. Mitch McConnell refused to honor her dying wish, and his commitment to our democracy, that her replacement not be made until after the election.
Despite being home for most of the year, we have never felt closer to you -- our JAC members. Our new virtual Zoom world allowed us to connect with you and share JAC events and discussions with policy experts.
With your support, JAC was able to contribute to more than 100 races. Our candidates fought hard and, while the results were not what we hoped, we still can feel proud that we made a difference. We are please to be sending three new women to the House and two new Senators to Congress.
We are sad to say goodbye to our friends Sen. Doug Jones (D-AL) and several House members, including Reps. Eliot Engel (D-NY), Max Rose (D-NY), Donna Shalala (D-FL), Debbie Mucarsel Powell (D-FL), and Abby Finkenauer (D-IA), who lost their seats. We bid farewell to Reps. Susan Davis (D-CA) and Nita Lowey (D-NY), who are retiring this year. We are grateful for their contributions to public service and their friendship.
On a personal note, we mourned the loss of our dear friend and colleague Linda Rae Sher, who served as JAC's Director of Special Projects. Linda started JAC in 1980 and her vision has propelled JAC to be an important force in politics.
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Other 2020 Highlights
JAC's Power of Women fundraising luncheon held annually in Chicago went virtual this year, allowing women from across the country to participate. It was an honor to spend time with Speaker Nancy Pelosi in our own homes!
Our Zoom events featured Holocaust historian Deborah Lipstadt, NARAL president Ilyse Hogue, Cook Political Report House Editor David Wasserman, Sens. Dick Durbin (D-IL), Gary Peters (D-MI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Reps. Ted Deutch (D-FL), Raul Ruiz (D-CA), Sean Casten (D-IL), and Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) -- just to name a few of our special guests. Topics ranged from Israel, choice, election security, and antisemitism. We also held online fundraisers for a number of 2020 Congressional candidates including Steve Bullock (D-MT), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), and Sara Gideon (D-ME).
Our work at JAC to protect our issues is never done. We are already gearing up for 2022, which we are expecting to be a tough election year. We hold a narrow majority in the House and need to work hard to keep our friends in Congress.
We look forward to your participation in 2021. Please renew your membership or make an additional contribution, if you can. Again, thank you for your continued support and interest.
Happy New Year. Stay Safe.
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Jewish Community Voter Guide
Click here to review the JAC Education Foundation's Voter Guide tracking key Congressional votes of import to the Jewish Community from July 2019 - July 2020. |
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Be a Part of Joe Biden's 2021 Inaugural Committee
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GET OUT THE VOTE FOR THE 2020 GEORGIA SPECIAL ELECTION
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Help send Jon Ossoff & Raphael Warnock to the
U.S. Senate on January 5, 2021
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Annexation, Peace Talks, and a New Election
- Israel has taken historic steps to normalize relations with the Arab world, including Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, and Morocco.
- Looking Forward: Israel's new elections are scheduled for March 2021.
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Antisemitism: a Global Pandemic
- Looking forward: The new Congress will have two members who embrace QAnon
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Reproductive Rights Continue to Be Restricted and Used as a Political Football
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Using COVID-19 to Chip Away at Separation of Religion & State
- SCOTUS upheld a Montana tax credit for people who donated to scholarship programs that fund religious private school education.
- Looking forward: The Biden administration's commitment to religious freedom.
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Gun Violence Surged While Environmental Protections Were Stripped
- Congress passed expanded investments for alternative energy and greenhouse gas emission restrictions in the COVID-19 relief bill.
- Looking forward: Climate change is front and center in the Biden administration.
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A New Administration, New Congress, and the Senate in the Balance
- Looking forward: Biden's robust agenda will get our country going again, protecting our rights, and restoring our standing in the world.
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What do Israelis wish for in the New Year?
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This Has Certainly Been a
Year to Remember, but
Some Good Things Have Happened, Too
- And finally a list of why 2020 wasn't the absolute worst - there were some good things from Israel!
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"I have two babies in diapers and they don't cry as much as you. That's all. That's the tweet, Mr. President."
- Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA)
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Joint Action Committee for Political Affairs (JACPAC) is a pro-Israel PAC with a domestic agenda. We support a strong U.S.-Israel relationship and advocate for reproductive health and the separation of religion and state and incorporate other issues of importance to the Jewish community, including gun violence prevention and climate change. In addition to providing financial support for U.S. Senate and House campaigns, JACPAC educates our membership with outreach events designed to inform and activate their participation in the political process.
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Paid for by Joint Action Committee for Political Affairs. Contributions or gifts are not tax deductible. Federal law requires us to use our best efforts to collect and report the name, mailing address, occupation, and name of employer of individuals whose contributions exceed $200 in an election cycle. Corporate contributions and contributions from non-US citizens who are not lawfully admitted for permanent residence are prohibited. All contributions by individuals must be made from personal funds and may not be reimbursed or paid by another person.
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