Press Release from the office of House Majority Whip Tom Emmer:

Majority Whip Tom Emmer today announced key stakeholder support for H.R. 23, the Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act. The legislation, sponsored by Representative Chip Roy (TX-21), would impose sanctions on foreign individuals who aid the International Criminal Court (ICC) in targeting U.S. citizens, entities, or allies, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Here is what stakeholders are saying in response to H.R. 23:

American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC): “The legislation passed the House in the last Congress with a strong bipartisan vote. The legislation is narrowly crafted to target those responsible for the illegitimate prosecution of Israeli leaders today, and potential future prosecutions of Americans and other allies. The bill provides appropriate flexibility to the president, including a limited sanctions waiver, to implement the law in a manner that ensures vital national security interests are protected. It sends a strong message to the ICC that the United States will not sit idly by while America or our allies are unfairly attacked. We urge you to VOTE YES on the Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act.”

Coalition for Jewish Values, Rabbi Yoel Schonfeld, President: “The International Criminal Court’s abhorrent equivalence between the genocidal terrorists of Hamas, and Jewish leaders working to end the explicit threat of another Holocaust, can only be seen as antisemitic bigotry. It negates trust in international legal institutions and undermines efforts to achieve lasting peace in the Middle East. To sanction the members of the ICC for their conduct is a moral imperative, and we commend all those working to pass this legislation.”

Christians United for Israel (CUFI), Sandra Hagee Parker, Chairwoman of the CUFI Action Fund: “By abandoning any pretense of impartiality, the ICC is perverting a fundamental cornerstone of Western civilization. Those behind the ICC’s descent into corruption should be roundly condemned and swiftly sanctioned.”

Center for Urban Renewal and Education (CURE): “This timely legislation will impose sanctions on ICC officials and put ICC prosecutor Karim Khan back in his place. He does not have jurisdiction over Israel or the United States, and it’s outrageous that the ICC is issuing arrest warrants for Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Gallant. The ICC is equating Israel and Hamas, even as Hamas still holds Israelis and Americans hostage… H.R 23, Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act, is an appropriate response to the ICC’s rogue action. We urge you to support it and hope the new majority in the Senate will swiftly concur.”

FDD Action, Nick Stewart, Senior Director of Government Relations: “FDD Action strongly endorses the Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act (H.R. 23) and applauds House leadership for making this bill a priority in the new Congress. This bill is a vital step to safeguard U.S. national security, defend our allies, and counter the politicized overreach of the International Criminal Court. By imposing sanctions on ICC officials and others who attempt to unlawfully target citizens of the United States or allied nations such as Israel, this legislation reaffirms Congress’s commitment to protecting American sovereignty and rejecting lawfare tactics. We urge lawmakers to support this critical measure in a bipartisan manner.”

Republican Jewish Coalition: “The Republican Jewish Coalition strongly supports HR 23, the Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act. Last year, House Republicans passed this bill to get ahead of the anti-Israel lynch mob at the International Criminal Court, but Israel has since come under an unprecedented international lawfare threat because Senate Democrats and President Biden blocked the legislation. Now that threat will be addressed – thanks to Republican success in the 2024 elections and strong GOP leadership in the House pushing this forward as a Week One priority.”

Comprehensive list of stakeholders supporting H.R. 23: 

Advancing American Freedom; American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC); Coalition for Jewish Values; Christians United for Israel (CUFI); Center for Urban Renewal and Education (CURE); FDD Action; Heritage Action for America; Jewish Federations of North America; Zionist Organization of America (ZOA); Republican Jewish Coalition

Photo: House Majority Whip Tom Emmer meets with CJV delegation in 2024.