Wagner, Meijer, McCaul unveil bipartisan bill to normalize relations with Israel

U.S. Reps. Ann Wagner (R-MO), Peter Meijer (R-MI), and Michael McCaul (R-TX) on April 21 signed on as original cosponsors of bipartisan legislation that would encourage the normalization of relations between the United States and Israel.

The Israel Relations Normalization Act of 2021, H.R. 2748, which is sponsored by U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider (D-IL), would expand and strengthen existing normalization agreements between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco, while requiring coordination throughout the Biden administration, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Wagner’s office. 

If enacted, H.R. 2748 would “enhance a strong working relationship between states, identify potential barriers to future agreements, and work to combat racist actions that have stalled previous relations,” Rep. Wagner said. 

“This legislation will expand upon the achievements of the Abraham Accords and help our Israeli and Arab partners build a more peaceful and stable region,” she added. “By strengthening regional cooperation, we will also improve our ability to counter Iran’s destabilizing agenda.”

Rep. Meijer said that the Trump administration made historic progress last year toward achieving peace and stability in the Middle East by helping facilitate the existing normalization agreements. 

“The Israel Normalization Act of 2021 ensures that we continue to build on these efforts by promoting increased cooperation between Israel and her neighbors and encouraging those nations to ultimately work together towards a comprehensive Arab-Israeli peace,” said Rep. Meijer.

Rep. McCaul agreed, adding that the current agreements brokered with Israel and neighboring countries have been critical steps to creating a more secure and prosperous Middle East. 

“We can all agree building relationships between our partners is a major win for U.S. national interests,” Rep. McCaul said. “We must continue to promote dialogue and unity as we work toward a more peaceful Middle East.”

Specifically, H.R. 2748 would require the U.S. State Department to provide a strategy to strengthen and expand the Abraham Accords and other related normalization agreements with Israel through several assessments and reports, including those covering the future staffing and resourcing requirements of entities across the interagency for expanding and strengthening normalization agreements, and areas of cooperation, such as economic, social, cultural, scientific, technical, educational, and health fields, according to the bill summary.

Among several provisions, a report would be required on international efforts to promote normalization through the identification of existing relevant investment funds that support Israel-Arab state cooperation and recommendations for how such funds could be used to support normalization and increase prosperity for all relevant stakeholders, the summary says.

The companion bill, S. 1061, was introduced on March 25 by U.S. Sens. Rob Portman (R-PA) and Cory Booker (D-NJ).