Congress: 113 · 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 104.
Sponsor: Garrett, Scott (R-NJ)
Jerusalem Embassy and Recognition Act of 2013 - States that it is U.S. policy: (1) to recognize Jerusalem as the undivided capital of Israel, and (2) that the U.S. Embassy in Israel should be established in Jerusalem not later than January 1, 2015. 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 FY2013-FY2014, 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 U.S. policy that Jerusalem is Israel's undivided capital and requires the U.S. Embassy to move there by January 1, 2015. It strips the President's authority to waive restrictions on State Department construction funding abroad until the Jerusalem embassy opens, and directs funds from FY2013-2014 specifically toward building that embassy. All official U.S. government documents listing world capitals must identify Jerusalem as Israel's capital.
This is a binding policy statement on a core Israel-Palestine dispute—Jerusalem's status and sovereignty—made by Congress rather than left to executive branch negotiation. It removes presidential flexibility on embassy placement, a traditionally executive prerogative, and earmarks budget authority specifically to force the relocation.