April 23, 2021
What's On Our Mind ...
Earth Day, National Security, Abortion Access

President Joe Biden arrived in the White House ready to work on reversing the damaging environmental policy of the last administration. Biden immediately created a U.S. Coordinator and an International Envoy devoted to climate change. Scientists have been welcomed into the Biden Administration and their expertise is respected.

We have lost valuable time over these last four years as Donald Trump rolled back sustainable and effective climate protection. Now, we are in a race to try and fix the damage.

Climate change has a deep societal impact on women. Worldwide, women have less access than men to resources and services that would enhance their capacity to adapt to climate change, according to the UN.

Many JAC candidates see the threat of climate change and are working in the House and Senate to enact measures to halt these dangers. especially as it applies to national security.

Rep. Elaine Luria (D-VA), a former Navy commander, represents a district that includes the naval yards at Norfolk, VA. She is keenly aware of the widespread dangers of climate change with frequent flooding and rising sea levels, which are getting significantly worse. “To create a more sustainable future and to better bolster our national security interests, we must treat the challenge of climate change with the seriousness it deserves,” she said.

Elections have consequences. Support JAC candidates like Luria (donate here) and join a special Zoom call for JAC members with Rep. Luria on May 13 (RSVP here). Everything is at risk if we don’t act on climate change.

Upcoming Events
Special Event for Current Members Only
Conversation with
Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA)
House Foreign Affairs Committee and House Agriculture Committee
Monday, April 26
4:30 pm ET | 3:30 pm CT | 1:30 pm PT
Special Event for Current Members Only
Discussion with
Rep. Elaine Luria (D-VA)
Vice-Chair of the House Armed Services Committee, House Veterans' Affairs Committee, and House Committee on Homeland Security
Thursday, May 13
4:00 pm ET | 3:00 pm CT | 1:00 pm PT
Special Event for Current Members Only
Special Discussion with
Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI)
House Committee on Foreign Affairs
and House Judiciary Committee
Tuesday, May 25
6:00 pm ET | 5:00 pm CT | 3:00 pm PT
Special Event for Current Members Only
Congressional Update with
Rep. Greg Stanton (D-AZ)
House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
and House Judiciary Committee
Thursday, June 3
details to follow
Upcoming Candidate Events
Join a virtual fundraiser for
Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)
all attendees will get a copy of her new memoir
Monday, May 17
1:00 pm ET | 12:00 pm CT | 10:00 am PT
Come sit with JAC at
Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky's
20th Annual Ultimate Women's Power Luncheon
with special guest
Gretchen Whitmer, Governor of Michigan
Friday, May 21
12:30 pm ET | 11:30 am CT | 9:30 am PT
please note JACPAC in the 'Invited By' box
Instagram of the Week
April 21, 2021 Yesterday, accountability mattered. Today, action matters more. #GeorgeFloyd

See what else we're doing. Follow us on social media
In the News
ISRAEL
Israel's Knesset remains paralyzed after another week of political deadlock. The majority of U.S. House members oppose a bill that would condition aid to Israel. Despite differences, the U.S. is keeping Israel in the loop on its talks with Iran in Vienna.
ANTISEMITISM AND BDS
A bipartisan group of Senators is urging President Biden to name a State Department antisemitism monitor. A new study finds that conservatives are more likely to hold antisemitic views than liberals. As antisemitism plagues college campuses, there are calls for universities to adopt the IHRA definition of antisemitism.
CHOICE
The COVID-19 pandemic further limited women's access to abortion, reigniting the debate for reproductive freedom. A handful of anti-abortion bills are making their way through state legislatures: A bill in Tennessee that would require fetal remains to be cremated or buried and an Arkansas bill that would require victims of rape and incest to file public reports.
RELIGION AND STATE
The Supreme Court has set a new precedent for religious exemptions with its recent decisions. Florida lawmakers passed a bill that would require a moment of silence in public schools. Parents of trans kids in states where anti-trans bills are being passed are considering fleeing their home states out of fear for their kids' safety.
BEYOND THE CORE
President Biden wants to convince the world that the U.S. can be trusted on climate change. Watch a GOP Senator try (and fail) to grill Stacey Abrams on Georgia's voting law. Justice Amy Coney Barrett just signed a book deal that many are calling 'bad optics' for the Supreme Court. Learn more about how long protection from COVID-19 vaccines last.
POLITICAL BYTE
The House passed a bill that would grant statehood to D.C., now it faces an uphill battle in the Senate. A new report shows that just 12 mega donors account for 7.5% of political giving in the past decade. Rep. Brad Schneider (D-IL) is refusing to co-sponsor bills with Republicans who deny Biden's victory.
FYI
Steven Spielberg is launching a foundation to fund Jewish-themed documentaries. 'Our Boys', an Israeli TV drama was recently sold to Indonesia -- a country with no diplomatic ties to Israel. Remembering Walter Mondale -- a liberal icon who championed Israel.
The Last Word
"Climate change is an existential threat, but fear is not a replacement for action."

- Rep. Sean Casten (D-IL), scientist and former environmental entrepreneur
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.
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.