Upon Reaching 100 Cosponsors, Nadler, Smith, and Himes Send Letter to Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Urging a Markup of West Bank Violence Prevention Act

Upon reaching 100 cosponsors in the House, today, Representatives Jerrold Nadler (NY-12), Adam Smith (WA-09), and Jim Himes (CT-04) sent a letter to House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast urging him to schedule a markup of H.R. 3045, the West Bank Violence Prevention Act.

Reaching the 100-cosponsor milestone demonstrates the legislation's wide and broad support. Additionally, companion legislation was introduced in the Senate, led by Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Jack Reed (D-RI), Mark Warner (D-VA), Chris Coons (D-DE), and Michael Bennet (D-CO).

The lawmakers explained that the legislation would enshrine Executive Order 14115 of 2024 into law, which sought to prevent acts of violence in the West Bank and to punish those who commit such acts, regardless of their nationality. President Trump repealed EO 14115 on the first day of his term, January 20, 2025.

"As a result, violent extremist organizations like the Palestinian group Lions' Den and the Israeli settler group Hilltop Youth are no longer designated under the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (SDN List). With their assets no longer frozen, these groups continue wreaking terror in the West Bank unencumbered," wrote the Members.

Settler violence increased an estimated 30% over the first few months of 2025, compared to the same period in 2024, according to the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

"As the ceasefire in Gaza continues to command attention in the region and around the world, it is incumbent upon us not to overlook the situation in the West Bank, which continues to deteriorate. Preventing acts of violence, which have killed and injured American citizens, is the most fundamental and basic step to help bring stability to the region. The passage of the West Bank Violence Prevention Act is an important effort by the United States Congress towards that goal, which begins with you scheduling a markup of this legislation. Together, we hope the eventual passage and enactment of such legislation will help improve the reality on the ground for Israelis and Palestinians, in service of ultimately achieving a long-term peace through a negotiated and viable two-state solution," concluded the Members.

The current cosponsors of H.R. 3045 include:

Jerrold Nadler (NY-12), Adam Smith (WA-09), James A. Himes (CT-04), Gabe Amo (RI-01), Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), Jake Auchincloss (MA-04), Becca Balint (VT-At Large), Donald S. Beyer (VA-08), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Shontel M. Brown (OH-11), Julia Brownley (CA-26), Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), Salud O. Carbajal (CA-24), Troy A. Carter (LA-02), Ed Case (HI-01), Sean Casten (IL-06), Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Judy Chu (CA-28), Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09), Emanuel Cleaver (MO-05), James E. Clyburn (SC-06), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Joe Courtney (CT-02), Jason Crow (CO-06), Sharice Davids (KS-03), Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Diana DeGette (CO-01), Rosa L. DeLauro (CT-03), Suzan K. DelBene (WA-01), Christopher R. Deluzio (PA-17), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Dwight Evans (PA-03), Valerie P. Foushee (NC-40), Laura Friedman (CA-30), Maxwell Frost (FL-10), John Garamendi (CA-08), Robert Garcia (CA-42), Sylvia R. Garcia (TX-29), Daniel S. Goldman (NY-10), Maggie Goodlander (NH-02), Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06), Val T. Hoyle (OR-04), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Jonathan L. Jackson (IL-01), Julie Johnson (TX-32), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), William R. Keating (MA-09), Ro Khanna (CA-17), John B. Larson (CT-01), Teresa Leger Fernandez (NM-03), Mike Levin (CA-49), Sam T. Liccardo (CA-16), Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Stephen F. Lynch (MA-08), Seth Magaziner (RI-02), John W. Mannion (NY-22), Sarah McBride (DE-At Large), Jennifer L. McClellan (VA-04), Betty McCollum (MN-04), Kristen McDonald Rivet (MI-08), Morgan McGarvey (KY-03), James P. McGovern (MA-02), Gregory W. Meeks (NY-05), Dave Min (CA-47), Gwen Moore (WI-04), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Kevin Mullin (CA-15), Joe Neguse (CO-02), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-At Large), Johnny Olszewski (MD-02), Chris Pappas (NH-01), Scott H. Peters (CA-50), Brittany Pettersen (CO-07), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Nellie Pou (NJ-09), Mike Quigley (IL-05), Emily Randall (WA-06), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Deborah K. Ross (NC-02), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Janice D. Schakowsky (IL-09), Terri A. Sewell (AL-07), Eric Sorensen (IL-17), Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10), Mark Takano (CA-39), Bennie G. Thompson (MS-03), Mike Thompson (CA-04), Jill N. Tokuda (HI-02), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Lori Trahan (MA-03), Derek Tran (CA-45), Nydia M. Velázquez (NY-07), James R. Walkinshaw (VA-11), Maxine Waters (CA-43), and Nikema Williams (GA-05).

Read the full letter here and below.

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Dear Chairman Mast,

We write to request you schedule a markup for H.R. 3045, the West Bank Violence Prevention Act in the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

The legislation now has 100 cosponsors in the House, signaling that it enjoys broad support. Additionally, the Senate has recently introduced a companion bill led by Senators Booker, Shaheen, Reed, Warner, Coons, and Bennet.

The West Bank Violence Prevention Act would codify and enshrine into law Executive Order 14115 of 2024, which sought to prevent acts of violence in the West Bank and to punish those who commit such acts.

The legislation, like the Executive Order, applies to any foreign person who commits an act of violence in the West Bank, regardless of their nationality. Determinations under the Executive Order were made regarding both Palestinian and Israeli organizations and individuals.

Unfortunately, the Executive Order is no longer in effect. As a result, violent extremist organizations like the Palestinian group Lions' Den and the Israeli settler group Hilltop Youth are no longer designated under the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (SDN List). With their assets no longer frozen, these groups continue wreaking terror in the West Bank unencumbered.

According to the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, settler violence increased by an estimated 30 percent over the first few months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. Such violence has reached a fever pitch, causing the West Bank to become "a tinderbox," one match away from igniting into catastrophe.

As the ceasefire in Gaza continues to command attention in the region and around the world, it is incumbent upon us not to overlook the situation in the West Bank, which continues to deteriorate. Preventing acts of violence, which have killed and injured American citizens, is the most fundamental and basic step to help bring stability to the region. The passage of the West Bank Violence Prevention Act is an important effort by the United States Congress towards that goal, which begins with you scheduling a markup of this legislation. Together, we hope the eventual passage and enactment of such legislation will help improve the reality on the ground for Israelis and Palestinians, in service of ultimately achieving a long-term peace through a negotiated and viable two-state solution.

Sincerely,

Rep. Jerrold Nadler (NY-12)

Rep. Adam Smith (WA-09)

Rep. Jim Himes (CT-04)

CC:

The Honorable Gregory W. Meeks, Ranking Member, House Committee on Foreign Affairs

The Honorable Jim Jordan, Chairman, House Committee on the Judiciary

The Honorable Jamie Raskin, Ranking Member, House Committee on the Judiciary