Congress prepares letters, initiatives ahead of AIPAC confab
As the AIPAC policy conference begins the House and Senate are preparing letters urging the Obama administration to regularly brief congress on the nuclear negotiations with Iran.
As the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) policy conference gets underway in Washington Sunday, Capitol Hill staff contacts said they were tracking at least three initiatives to demonstrate Congressional support for the US-Israel alliance.
Among the efforts staffers were aware of, demonstrations of support for US foreign aid to Israel, as well as to its treaty partners Egypt and Jordan; and for renewal of the US-Israel Strategic Partnership.
On Iran, sources said there would likely be a House letter, downgraded from a resolution, which is being drafted by the offices of House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) and House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Maryland).
The House letter, according to one source briefed on a draft of it Friday, asks the administration for regular and serious consultations with Congress as the Iran nuclear negotiations go forward. It does not include demands for zero enrichment. To the extent that extraneous issues are included, they are not linked to the nuclear deal, the source said. The letter also mentions the administration coming back to Congress for sanctions relief if there is a deal.
