Press Releases

Today, Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17) released the following statement after H.R.3016, the IGO Anti-Boycott Act, which Congressman Lawler introduced in April of 2023, passed the House by voice vote.

Back in 2016, the UN Human Rights Council authorized the creation of a database of companies doing business beyond Israel’s 1949 armistice lines, including in East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights. That list is now publicly available and updated by the UN. The very existence of this list is troubling, yet not surprising with the anti-Israel bias seen consistently at the UN. We cannot allow the UN to pressure American businesses to contribute to this egregious list.

The IGO Anti-Boycott Act expands existing anti-boycott law, which protects U.S. entities from being coerced into contributing to a foreign government’s boycott against countries friendly to the U.S. This bill simply adds “or international governmental organization” into this language to dispel boycott efforts at IGOs. The legislation will be particularly impactful in combating the harmful, antisemitic, and anti-Israel Boycott, Divest, and Sanction (BDS) efforts at IGOs.

“I’m thrilled that the House passed the IGO Anti-Boycott Act today, which would help prevent sinister BDS efforts,” said Congressman Lawler. “The BDS movement is nefarious and antisemitic in its nature and this legislation will punish Intergovernmental institutions that support their twisted plan.”

“Fighting antisemitism requires a global and multi-faceted approach, with the IGO Anti-Boycott Act being just one of many common sense ways to hold the perpetrators accountable,” concluded Congressman Lawler. “The House sent a strong message in support of Israel by passing this legislation.”

New York's 17th Congressional District is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties.