Capitol Hill

Over half of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives – from both sides of the aisle – have sought out MEMRI's assistance in drafting legislation and research on issues related to foreign affairs and terrorism.

Congressional Committees

MEMRI's Government Affairs Department regularly meets with members of Congress, as well as high-level Congressional staff. This includes the offices of Leadership of both parties, as well as Chairmen and Ranking Members of Committees in both Chambers, such as:

• U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee
• U.S. Senate Government Affairs-Homeland Security Committee
• U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee
• U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee
• U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee
• U.S. Senate Commerce Committee
• U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee
• U.S. House of Representatives Homeland Security Committee
• U.S. House of Representatives Intelligence Committee
• U.S. House of Representatives Armed Services Committee

Lecture Series

MEMRI holds regular briefings on Capitol Hill, also with bipartisan support. Sponsors of these briefings include current and former Members of Congress.

Examples of MEMRI's Capitol Hill Lecture Series include:

• The Enemy Within: Where Are the Islamist Websites Hosted & What Can Be Done About It?: Examined the role of Islamist websites in furthering international terrorism, and on the impact of the growing network of Islamist websites hosted in the U.S.
• The Arab & Iranian Reaction to 9/11 – Five Years Later: Premiered a documentary about the Arab and Iranian reaction to 9/11 in their media in the five years following September 11, 2001
• Anti-Western Incitement on Saudi TV (two events): Informed those in attendance about programs being aired on Saudi government-controlled television. Clips focused on pro-jihad programming as well as anti-Western incitement.
• Anti-Western Incitement on Iranian TV (two events): Informed those in attendance of programs being aired on Iranian government-controlled television, including calls by top-level government officials for the "death of America".
• Anti-Western Incitement on Hamas TV: Provided an analysis of Hamas' policies that correspond with the publishing of a report on translated research about the terror organization. Hamas publications were also examined, including the Hamas Covenant.
• Arab & Iranian TV Inciting Anti-American Sentiment Amongst Muslims in the West: Focused on Arab and Iranian TV channels available in the U.S. and the potential to incite Arab and Muslim viewers, and specifically on Jihad and calls for the killing of Americans and Westerners
• Anti-Western Incitement in the Egyptian Media: Discussed and analyzed examples of press and television portrayals of anti-Western sentiment.

Legislation

MEMRI is often used in legislation, both cited and as research. Examples include:

• H.R. 2278: Directs the President to transmit to Congress a report on anti-American incitement to violence in the Middle East. (111th)
• H.R. 1308: Condemns the broadcasting of incitement to violence against Americans and the U.S. in media based in the Middle East. (111th)
• H.R. 1288 (Saudi Arabia Accountability Act of 2009): Expresses the sense of Congress that the government of Saudi Arabia: (1) cooperate fully with the United States in the investigation of terror groups and individuals; (2) close permanently all organizations in Saudi Arabia that fund, train, encourage, or in any way aid terrorism anywhere in the world, and end funding for such organizations outside Saudi Arabia; and (3) block funding from private Saudi citizens and entities to Saudi-based or offshore terror organizations.
• H.Res.224: Corporate owners of websites that share user-posted videos should take action to remove jihadist propaganda. (110th)
  "Whereas the use of the Internet by jihadi organizations who seek the destruction of America has been identified by... private organizations including... the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) as a major threat to American troops, homeland security and our success in the Global War on Terror."
• H.Con.Res.21: Called on the United Nations Security Council to charge Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad with violating the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide and United Nations Charter because of his calls for the destruction of the State of Israel. (110th)
• H.AMDT.379 to H.R.3057: An amendment to prohibit use of funds in the bill for direct funding for Saudi Arabia. (109th)
• S.1888 (Saudi Accountability Act): Called to halt Saudi support for institutions that fund, train, incite, encourage, or in any other way aid and abet terrorism, and to secure full Saudi cooperation in the investigation of terrorist incidents. (108th)
• H.R. 3725 (Egyptian Accountability Act): Prohibited United States military assistance for Egypt (108th)

Congressional Hearings

MEMRI has been asked to testify before Congressional Committee hearings. Examples include:

• Saudi Arabia: Friend or Foe: U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee
• Corruption in the United Nations Oil-for-Food Program: U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations
• The Iraq Oil for Food Program: Starving for Accountability: U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Government Reform's Subcommittee on National Security, Energy Threats, and International Relations
• Are We Listening to the Arab Street: U.S. House of Representatives Government Reform Committee
• Words Have Consequences: The Impact of Incitement, Anti-American and Antisemitic Propaganda on American Interests in the Middle East: U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee
• U.S. Strategy for Countering Jihadi Websites U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs’ Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Trade.
• Mansour Al-Hadj Written Testimony
• Saudi Hearing: Subcommittee on Border, Maritime and Global Counterterrorism