Jewish Federations Prepare for New Congress, Put Community Security Funding at Top of Agenda

Jewish Federations of North America is preparing for a large relationship-building effort with the incoming Congress, while pushing to advance community security legislation before the current Congress ends.

Josh Nason, JFNA's senior director of political affairs, told Jewish Insider that more than 100 new House members and at least 17, possibly 19, new senators would create both a challenge and an opportunity for Jewish communities. Those figures were his assessment while the election picture was still taking shape, not a final certified count.

Local federations and Jewish Community Relations Councils are reaching out to incoming lawmakers. Nason said JFNA's network of 141 federations across North America gives many members of Congress a local entry point to the Jewish community.

For the closing months of the current Congress, JFNA is prioritizing passage of the Jewish American Security Act and an increase in funding for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program. Nason said end-of-year funding or policy packages could provide a route for the legislation, though the outcome remains uncertain.

Community security funding will remain a top priority in the next Congress, alongside JFNA's health and human services work. Campus antisemitism and antisemitism on social media will also remain part of its agenda, whether or not the security bill passes this year.

Nason said the organization will keep working across party lines and building relationships at state and local levels as well as in Washington. The plans are advocacy goals, not enacted legislation or a new funding award.