Teaneck—Peter Roskam has served as the U.S. Representative for Illinois’s 6th Congressional District since 2007. In 2011, Congressman Roskam was appointed as the Republican Chief Deputy Whip, making him the fourth highest-ranking leader among House Republicans. In addition to his leadership and committee positions, Roskam is the co-chair of the Republican Israel caucus, and has continually advocated the importance of a strong U.S.-Israeli relationship: “As our strongest ally and only democratic friend in a deeply troubled region, America must stand with our friend Israel and reject any moves that diminish our special relationship.”
At the event, Rep. Roskam reiterated his unequivocal support of Israel, and discussed several important legislative issues, including (1) Iran’s nuclear ambitions, (2) Israel’s missile defense, and (3) the recent academic boycotts of Israeli universities.
Roskam advocates preventing—not containing—Iran’s nuclear weapon capabilities by continuing to implement crippling economic sanctions, via the House-approved Iran sanctions package, which would require substantive nuclear concessions from Iran prior to any sanctions relief.
He sponsored the bipartisan U.S.-Israel Missile Defense Cooperation Act of 2013 (H.R. 2717), which would authorize further assistance to Israel for the Iron Dome anti-rocket defense system, and increase cooperation between the U.S. and Israel on the David’s Sling, Arrow, and Arrow 3 anti-missile defense systems, for the purposes of intercepting rockets, missiles, and projectiles launched against Israel.
Roskam also introduced the bipartisan Protect Academic Freedom Act (H.R. 4009), which would block federal funding to American universities engaging in a boycott of Israeli academic institutions or scholars. “These boycotts not only threaten educational cooperation between the United States and Israel, but ultimately undermine the academic goals of all nations,” said Congressman Roskam. “Congress has a responsibility to fight back against these hateful campaigns, which contradict academic freedom and are designed to delegitimize the Jewish State of Israel.”
By Matthew Braunstein
