Senate passes concurrent memorials urging federal designations and a resolution recognizing 'Judea and Samaria' despite floor objections

The Senate voted to advance and transmit to the U.S. House and federal officials two concurrent memorials — HCM 2001 and HCM 2002 — urging federal designation of the Muslim Brotherhood and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) as terrorist organizations. The chamber also passed ACR 2047, a concurrent resolution recognizing the legitimacy of the terms "Judea and Samaria."

Those opposing the measures described them as broad, prejudicial actions that unfairly target Muslim communities. "These bills paint an entire community with suspicion," Senator Sundarish said during debate, calling the measures "an attack on the Muslim community." Senator Ortiz likewise warned of the real-world impacts on Muslim residents and referenced previous inflammatory comments by the sponsor.

Supporters framed the measures as expressions of concern about extremism and foreign policy alignment. Debate featured multiple explanations of vote; opponents said the measures amounted to "othering" and risked normalizing discrimination. Despite floor objections and multiple senators' explanations urging no votes, the measures were recorded as passed and transmitted to the House.

Next steps: The memorials and the resolution were signed in open session for transmission to the House and federal officials; the decisions are policy statements that carry political weight but do not themselves change federal designations.