The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, and CAIR Action, a leading national Muslim political advocacy organization, today released their collaborative legislative priorities for the 119th Congress. These priorities focus on defending civil rights, advancing justice, and addressing key domestic and international issues impacting the American Muslim community and other marginalized groups.
READ CAIR and CAIR Action Legislative Priorities 119th Congress HERE.
CAIR and CAIR Action urge Members of Congress to prioritize justice, accountability, and equity in the 119th Congress by supporting these legislative initiatives. These efforts reflect the values enshrined in the U.S. Constitution and reaffirm America’s commitment to protecting human rights and dignity for all.
In a statement, CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad said:
“As the 119th Congress begins, we demand bold action from our elected leaders to dismantle systems of injustice, end American complicity in atrocities abroad, and protect the fundamental rights of every person in this country. The blood of innocent Palestinians stains the hands of those who continue to fund and arm apartheid and genocide. Freedom of speech is under attack, human rights defenders are being silenced, and marginalized communities face systemic oppression. Enough is enough. CAIR will not rest until Congress aligns its policies with the values of justice, accountability, and human decency that this nation claims to stand for.”
In a statement CAIR ACTIONExecutive Director Basim Elkarra said:
“As we enter the 119th Congress, our country stands at a critical juncture where moral courage and bold legislative action are desperately needed. We call on Congress to end all support for apartheid and genocide abroad, to defend free speech here at home, and to ensure that America’s policies reflect our nation’s highest ideals of justice and equality. That means stopping the blank-check funding of war crimes, safeguarding the tax-exempt status of advocacy organizations under attack for speaking truth to power, and enacting immigration and law enforcement reforms that treat all people with dignity. At CAIR Action, we remain steadfast in mobilizing Muslim voters and all allies to demand that their elected representatives champion policies that honor every community’s right to live free from oppression.”
CAIR’s legislative agenda includes the following TOP priorities:
Key Legislative Priorities
- Support a Ceasefire in Palestine and Accountability for War Crimes
CAIR and CAIR ACTION calls on Congress to support an immediate ceasefire to halt Israel’s ongoing genocide in Palestine and to hold Israel accountable for its documented war crimes. Over 45,000 Palestinian lives, including thousands of children, have been lost due to U.S.-backed airstrikes in Gaza. CAIR urges Congress to join the global community in pursuing justice for the victims by supporting investigations by the International Criminal Court (ICC) and ensuring accountability for violations of international law. - End U.S. Military Funding for Israeli War Crimes
The U.S. provided over $22 billion in military aid to Israel last year, funding airstrikes and military operations that have devastated civilian populations in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria. These actions, carried out with U.S.-supplied weapons, violate international law and undermine America’s moral standing in the world. CAIR and CAIR ACTION calls on lawmakers to end military aid that supports occupation, apartheid, and human rights abuses. - Protect the Tax-Exempt Status of Nonprofits
Advocacy organizations working to defend Palestinian rights face politically motivated attacks aimed at revoking their tax-exempt status. CAIR and CAIR ACTTION condemns this modern-day McCarthyism as a direct assault on free speech and the First Amendment. Protecting the tax-exempt status of nonprofit organizations is critical to ensuring a thriving and diverse civil society. - Safeguard Freedom of Speech
CAIR and CAIR ACTION opposes legislation targeting the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement and other measures aimed at silencing dissent. These policies threaten freedom of speech and undermine efforts to address systemic injustices. We also call for greater protections for Arab, Muslim, and Palestinian students who face hate crimes and censorship on college campuses. - Comprehensive Immigration and Law Enforcement Reform
CAIR and CAIR ACTION advocates for comprehensive immigration reform and accountability in law enforcement to protect vulnerable communities from systemic discrimination. This includes ending family separations, closing inhumane detention centers, and ensuring that law enforcement agencies are held accountable for abuses.
For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact: CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert S. McCaw at [email protected] or CAIR Action Executive Director Basim Elkarra at [email protected]
CAIR is a 501(c)3 organization and America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
CAIR Action is a 501(c)4 organization. Its mission is to engage, educate, and mobilize Muslim voters, train emerging leaders, and champion policy priorities that enhance the well-being and representation of Muslim communities. Through its work, CAIR Action aims to foster a more equitable and inclusive democratic society where the rights and voices of Muslims are acknowledged and respected.
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Contact: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, [email protected]; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, [email protected]; Basim Elkarra, Executive Director, CAIR Action, [email protected]; CAIR Action Communications, [email protected]
