I woke up just before dawn in Sydney, Australia the morning of June 12, and sleepily got out of bed. It was my last day in the country, and I was determined to see the famed sunrise over Bondi Beach with my friend hosting me. (I had travelled to Australia to speak to the Jewish community at Limmud, a festival of Jewish learning, with a stop planned in New Zealand). Under a pink sky, and amid its cliffs and coves, legions of swimmers, surfers, rugby players, and runners come out at daybreak, despite the chill of Down Under winter, to seize the break of day together.  

It was indeed a breathtaking scene, but I had trouble relaxing and taking it in. Just before setting out I had glanced at my phone and noticed my fellow Middle East correspondents from The Christian Science Monitor had been busy updating the group chat while I slept.

1. Bills, Resolutions
2. Letters
3. Hearings & Briefings
4. Selected Members on the Record
5. Selected Media & Press releases/Statements

1. Bills & Resolutions

War Powers Act

(NO US ARMED FORCES INVOLVEMENT IN IRAN WAR) S. J. Res. 59: Introduced 6/16/25 by Kaine (D-VA), “A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress.”  This week S. J. Res. 59 loomed over the Senate, with the Senate expected to vote on the measure on Friday afternoon (June 27 – after this Round-Up was published). Note: three substantive amendments were introduced to the measure (below).

• (PRAISING US MILITARY ACTION AGAINST IRAN) S. Amdt. 2356 to S. J. Res. 59: Introduced 6/24/25 by Cruz (R-TX), to add to S. J. Res. 59 [introduced 6/16/25 by Kaine (D-VA), “A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress”] an additional finding, reading: “Members of the United States Armed Forces and intelligence community, and all those involved in the planning and successful execution of Operation Midnight Hammer on June 21, 2025, including President Donald J. Trump, should be commended for their efforts in a successful mission.” Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.  Also see: Cruz amendment to Senate war powers resolution seeks to praise Trump’s Iran strikes [“The Texas Republican introduced the amendment in anticipation of a vote later this week on the resolution, which would curtail the president’s ability to take any additional action targeting Iran without congressional approval”] (Jewish Insider 6/25/25)

• (DO NOT WORRY – WAR POWERS ACT WOULDN’T LIMIT TRUMP’S ABILITY TO WAGE WAR OR TO PROVIDE CONTINUED UNCONDITIONAL, UNLIMITED SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL TO DO SO) S. Amdt. 2357 to S. J. Res. 59: Announced 6/24/25 – Sens. Schiff [D-CA], Kim [D-NJ], Kaine [D-VA] Announce Amendment to War Powers Resolution to Underscore Continued U.S. Assistance for Israel’s Self-Defense After Repeated Attacks by Iran. Amendment reads: “Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent the United States from– (1) defending against an attack on the United States or its personnel or facilities in other nations; (2) collecting, analyzing, or sharing intelligence, including with the State of Israel and other nations and international organizations as appropriate, related to threats from the Islamic Republic of Iran or its proxies; or (3) assisting the State of Israel and other nations– (A) in taking defensive measures to protect their territory from retaliatory attacks by the Islamic Republic of Iran or its proxies; or (B) by providing defensive materiel support for such defensive measures.“

• (IRAN IS BAD!) S. Amdt. 2359 to S. J. Res. 59: Offered by Slotkin (D-MI), to add to the resolution – “(7) The Government of Iran is a leading state sponsor of terrorism and has repeatedly engaged in a range of destabilizing and malign activities across the Middle East and around the world. (8) These actions include harassment and direct threats to United States personnel, kidnapping and detention of United States citizens and dual nationals, support to proxy forces attacking United States personnel and interests, cyberattacks against United States infrastructure and entities, and the continued enrichment of uranium close to levels that could be used to develop a nuclear weapon and beyond what is necessary for any conceivable civilian purposes.“