Through vigorous advocacy, the proud and passionate members of Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America (HWZOA), have helped secure national policy action that will help improve lives and heal our world. Congress approved a bipartisan omnibus spending bill on Thursday, March 10 which was signed by the President today. This comes alongside the passage of the Hadassah-supported Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act.
The omnibus bill includes a number of priorities that Hadassah has unwaveringly supported, and we thank our elected officials in Washington on both sides of the aisle for adopting Hadassah’s priorities as their own. This spending package unleashes extensive benefits to the American people, our allies, and to all those in need at home and abroad.
Read more below about the Hadassah-backed priorities contained in the omnibus spending bill, including:
- $1 billion supplemental funding for Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system
- Billions in security assistance for Israel
- The Israel Relations Normalization Act
- Substantial increases to the Nonprofit Homeland Security Grant Program
- $14 billion in emergency support for Ukraine
- The Violence Against Women Act
- The Maternal Health Quality Improvement Act
- Increased medical research funding
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Iron Dome Funding
Hadassah has advocated tirelessly to bolster funding for Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system. This US-backed defense system has shielded millions of innocent civilians from terrorist rockets fired on homes, businesses, schools and hospitals in Israel. In fact, it was more than 90 percent effective when thousands of rockets were launched from Gaza last year. The terrorist threat from groups like Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Hezbollah are not only a threat to the safety and security of Israel, but to Americans in Israel and US interests in maintaining peace and security. With $1 billion provided in the omnibus to replenish the Iron Dome, the US is taking active and critical steps to protect innocent lives and deter further terror attacks in Israel.
Billions In Security Assistance for Israel
In addition to fulfilling Israel’s emergency request for a resupply of its Iron Dome missile defense system, the omnibus also included $3.3 billion in Foreign Military Financing to help keep Israel safe and secure, $500 million for US-Israel missile defense cooperation and $47.5 million to help Israel detect and destroy the massive network of tunnels used by terrorist groups in Gaza to smuggle weapons. This security assistance was provided in accordance with the Ten-Year Memorandum of Understanding between the US and Israel signed in 2016.
Israel Relations Normalization Act
The Israel Relations Normalization Act builds on last year’s historic momentum for peace, taking it to the next level. Thanks to Hadassah members, the Department of State will be required to consider strategies to construct that expand and strengthen the Abraham Accords and encourage other states to normalize their relations with Israel. The State Department will also be required to report to Congress on states that maintain anti-Israel anti-normalization laws, and how other Arab nations are relaxing prohibitions and permitting people-to-people relations with Israelis.
Increase to Nonprofit Homeland Security Grant
The Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Nonprofit Security Grant Program will be funded at $250 million via the omnibus bill – a 39 percent increase from last year. This vital program provides critical funding to synagogues and other nonprofits to bolster on-site protections against terrorist attacks, hate crimes and other violence. With this increased funding for physical security enhancements and other coordinated activities to improve safety, we take a meaningful and necessary step forward in protecting ourselves from rising antisemitic violence.
Emergency Support For Ukraine
The omnibus spending bill importantly includes $13.6 billion in aid for Ukraine, whose citizens continue to face an unjustified, unprovoked invasion by Russian forces. Hadassah fervently supports this crucial funding and continues to be active in assisting the Ukrainian people, refugees and the Ukrainian-Jewish community.
In a tripartite response from Hadassah Medical Organization (HMO), Hadassah International, and Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America, Inc. (HWZOA), we are actively deploying personnel and resources in Poland, treating refugees and sending supplies to those in need. We’re encouraged to see substantial funding included in the omnibus spending bill to aid Ukraine that reflects these same goals – ultimately in the hopes of saving lives, progressing towards peace, and building a brighter future for those in need.
Violence Against Women Act
It’s long overdue that Congress renew and strengthen the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) – landmark legislation created in 1994 that provides resources to victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence. This bedrock women’s protection bill has been reauthorized with $575 million in funding in the omnibus spending bill, which will provide comprehensive resources to victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence, cover prevention and prosecution programs, and expand existing resources to support more women in need from marginalized and rural communities and for prevention programs on college campuses.
Maternal Health Quality Improvement Act
The Hadassah-backed Maternal Health Quality Improvement Act, included in the omnibus spending bill, will make meaningful progress to improve maternal health outcomes and quality of care for women – especially for women of color. This measure directs the Department of Health and Human Services to provide grants for health care provider training, regional perinatal quality collaborations, modernization of rural maternal and obstetric care and other innovative initiatives focused on identifying best care practices. The US has the worst rate of maternal deaths in the developed world and women of color are three to four times more likely to die of pregnancy-related causes. This legislation is a critical step in advancing positive health outcomes for women of all backgrounds and ultimately saving lives.
Increased Medical Research Funding
Congress approved and the President signed into law $108.3 billion in total spending for programs under the Department of Health and Human Services – a substantial increase of $11.3 billion from previous spending. This will support programs within the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other agencies. Importantly, $1 billion has been allocated to establish the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) as part of NIH. This agency will help accelerate the development of scientific breakthroughs for diseases such as ALS, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes and cancer.