The US House of Representatives passed a resolution urging the European Union and its member states to designate Hezbollah a terrorist organization and impose sanctions on the group. The bipartisan resolution, which passed Wednesday, would prevent Hezbollah from using EU territories for fundraising, recruitment, training and propaganda. Rep. Mike Kelly (R-Pa.) authored the resolution, which was co-sponsored by 85 representatives. “Once called the ‘A Team of terrorists’ by a senior State …More

Four new Jewish Representatives entered the House last night, while four Senators up for reelection retained their seats for a new term. Combined with the Congressmen and women who weren’t on the ballot this year, that brings the tally to 11 Jews in Senate and 22 in the House of Representatives. Democrats Bill Schneider, Alan Lowenthal, Lois Frankel, and Alan Grayson were each elected to the House, in Illinois, California, and the last two in Florida, respectively. Grayson has served as a Representative …More

The House of Representatives passed a bill today showing its continued support for Israel. The legislation, which passed by a near-unanimous vote, was a sign of bipartisan politics on the Hill, as members from both the Republican and Democratic sides spoke up ahead of the vote. "This bill reaffirms Israel's right to defend itself against threats and puts the Congress on record about America's long-standing commitment to the U.S.-Israel strategic relationship," said House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA). "This …More

The shrinking club of Jewish GOP members of congress may expand this election cycle, with three Jewish candidates stumping for election. Though there are 24 Jewish democrats in the House and 12 Jewish democrats in the Senate, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor of Virginia is currently the only Jewish republican in congress. The 2012 election cycle could change all that. Former Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle, Adam Hasner in Florida and Josh Mandel in Ohio are all seeking party nomination in competitive Senate races. …More

Massachusetts Representative Barney Frank announced today that he will not seek reelection. The announcement reversed his earlier decision to run for a 17th term. The decision came shortly after the Massachusetts Legislature redrew congressional district lines. The state’s House members shrunk from 10 to nine because of comparatively slowly population growth show in the 2010 census. Redistricting changed Democratic Frank’s historically liberal district. While he kept liberal Newton, he gained …More

U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, the chairwoman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, is holding back nearly $200 million in humanitarian aid to the Palestinians. Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.) is keeping her House of Representatives committee from considering approval of $192 million in humanitarian program assistance, two Capitol Hill sources said. The money is separate from assistance to the Palestinian Authority, $200 million of which has already been distributed, and instead is earmarked for nongovernmental …More

California redistricting has placed Democratic Reps. Howard Berman and Brad Sherman in a single district in Los Angeles’ San Fernando Valley (better known as, y’know, the Valley), including the in this case hilariously named town of Sherman Oaks. And so far, it looks as though both are prepared to run for re-election next November, and theoretically in an earlier primary. As Jewish Journal explains, the way they will split donor money and votes and general momentum is not, as they say, good for the …More

Today, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen unveiled her United Nations reform bill that will put the world body on notice it will pay a steep price if it continues to thumb its nose at the United States on vital issues. The bill will cut off U.S. funding of any UN agency that treats the Palestinians as an independent state prior to the resolution of the Middle East conflict as well as ending the flow of American largesse to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) and the UNs …More

Representative Eric Cantor, the six-term Virginia congressman, is not a brilliant strategist or a visionary policymaker. He is, however, a very good politician. At 47, he cuts a trim figure in his dark two-button suits, with a full head of black hair and a strong jaw line that comes across well on camera. He speaks in calm, measured tones with a butterscotch lilt that makes him sound extremely reasonable when he talks about contentious subjects, like repealing health-care reform or slashing the federal budget. …More

Don't bother paging Dr. Cuddy; she won't be answering. Lisa Edelstein, one of the leads on the longtime hit FOX medical drama "House," will not return for an eighth season of the show, Deadline reports. While co-stars Robert Sean Leonard and Omar Epps re-signed following the season, negotiations with Edelstein never reached that point for the show's leading lady. "After much consideration, I am moving onward with a combination of disappointment at leaving behind a character I have loved playing for seven years and …More

The stars of successful American television series "House" are expected to visit Israel as part of a series of projects launched by the Foreign and Tourism ministries in a bid to promote tourism to the Holy Land. According to information obtained by Ynet, the group of actors – not including the program's lead star Hugh Laurie – will visit several of the country's main tourist attractions.   Sources in the Tourism Ministry recently approached the Foreign Ministry's Division for …More