Congress: 114 · 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 S 117.
Sponsor: Heller, Dean (R-NV)
Jerusalem Embassy and Recognition Act of 2015 States that it is U.S. policy to recognize Jerusalem as the undivided capital of Israel. 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 FY2015 for Department acquisition and maintenance of buildings abroad until the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem has officially opened. States that for each of FY2016-FY2017, 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. It removes the President's ability to waive restrictions on State Department building funds abroad until a U.S. Embassy opens in Jerusalem, and requires official U.S. documents listing world capitals to identify Jerusalem as Israel's capital. For fiscal years 2015–2017, it directs State Department building funds to go toward constructing that embassy in Jerusalem.
This legislation locks congressional intent around Jerusalem's status into law and uses the appropriations process to pressure embassy relocation. It removes executive flexibility on the issue and would be a significant shift in long-standing U.S. policy that left Jerusalem's final status to Israeli-Palestinian negotiation.