5 cosponsors
Would declare the policy of the U.S. to be to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Would revoke the president’s authority to waive the provision under the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 requiring him to immediately relocate the U.S. embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. Any official document of the U.S. government listing countries and their capitals would need to identify Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
Further, the bill would withhold half the Dept. of State’s budget for building and maintaining its facilities abroad until the Secy. of State certified to Congress that the U.S. had officially opened its embassy in Jerusalem. The State Dept. would be authorized to use necessary funds to build an embassy in Jerusalem.
Heller also introduced this bill as an amendment to S. 1867, the 2012 Defense Authorization act, where it had a much greater chance of passing than as a standalone bill. Heller was also facing a reelection campaign against the ardently pro-Israel Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-NV) in 2012.
See also: companion measure H.R. 1006 of 3/10/11;