Congress: 112 · Status: active · Israel/Palestine classification: pro-Israel
Data (JSON) — machine-readable record of this bill (identifiers, sponsor, classification, actions, and the member-by-member vote breakdown).
Official record on Congress.gov — full text, actions, and cosponsor history for HR 1006.
Sponsor: Burton, Dan (R-IN)
Jerusalem Embassy and Recognition Act of 2011 - States that it is U.S. policy: (1) to recognize Jerusalem as the undivided capital of the State of Israel, and (2) that the U.S. Embassy in Israel should be established in Jerusalem not later than January 1, 2013. Amends the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 to eliminate the President's authority to waive certain funding limitations for Department of State acquisition and maintenance of buildings abroad until the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem has officially opened. Requires any official U.S. document which lists countries and their capital cities to identify Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Limits appropriations that may be obligated in FY2013 for Department acquisition and maintenance of buildings abroad until the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem has officially opened. States that for each of FY2012-FY2013, of funds authorized to be appropriated for Department acquisition and maintenance of buildings abroad, necessary sums should be made available until expended only for construction and other costs associated with the establishment in Jerusalem of the U.S. Embassy in Israel.
This bill declares it U.S. policy to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's undivided capital and requires the U.S. Embassy to relocate there by January 1, 2013. It strips the President's authority to waive funding restrictions on State Department building projects abroad until the Jerusalem embassy opens, and dedicates appropriated funds in fiscal years 2012-2013 specifically for constructing the embassy in Jerusalem. All official U.S. documents listing world capitals must identify Jerusalem as Israel's capital.
This legislation attempts to bind U.S. Middle East policy by codifying Jerusalem's status in law and forcing a physical embassy move, which directly contradicts the longstanding U.S. position that Jerusalem's final status should be negotiated between Israelis and Palestinians. The funding restrictions use appropriations leverage to pressure embassy relocation regardless of diplomatic conditions.