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 recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's undivided capital and requires the U.S. Embassy to relocate from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem by January 1, 2015. It strips the President's waiver authority over embassy construction funding abroad until the Jerusalem embassy opens, and dedicates FY2013-2014 appropriations specifically for that move. All official U.S. government documents listing national capitals must identify Jerusalem as Israel's capital.
Jerusalem's status is one of the core disputed issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; Palestinians claim East Jerusalem as their future capital. This bill takes a binding U.S. position on that dispute, using appropriations restrictions to force embassy relocation and codify a one-sided recognition into law and all federal documents.
Data last synced: 2026-10-15.