
Jewish Voter Guide
Chuck Grassley
U.S. Senate · IA · Republican
Summary
Charles Grassley was born in 1933 and is currently serving as the senior United States Senator from Iowa. Senator Grassley’s seat will be up for election in 2028.
Senator Grassley is the President pro tempore of the United States Senate, making him third in the presidential line of succession. He is currently in his seventh term, first being elected in 1980, which makes him the most senior Republican in the Senate. Prior to being elected to the Senate, he served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District from 1975 until 1981.
Senator Grassley is currently the Chairman of the Finance Committee. He also serves on the Judiciary Committee, which he chaired from 2015 until 2018; the Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee; the Budget Committee; and the Joint Committee on Taxation, where he will serve as Vice-Chairman in 2019 and as Chairman in 2020.
Below is Senator Grassley’s voting record and public positions on issues important to the Jewish Community
Senator Grassley opposed the Iran nuclear deal and supported the move of the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem. He opposes the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement and cosponsored the Israel Anti-Boycott Act and the Combating BDS Act of 2017, two bills that aim to fight discriminatory boycotts that target Israel.
Senator Grassley cosponsored legislation objecting the UN Security Council Resolution 2334, which claimed that Israel’s settlements have no legal validity. He cosponsored the United States-Israel Security Assistance Authorization Act, a legislation that supported full funding of security assistance to Israel as outlined in the 2016 U.S.-Israel Memorandum of Understanding.
In 2019, he voted for the Strengthening America’s Middle East Security Act which, among other things, strengthened Israel’s security and allowed a state or local government to adopt measures to divest its assets from entities that boycott Israel.
The record
Positions come from public votes, statements and on-the-record interviews. Every claim links to its source. No aggregate score or grade.
Support for a Strong U.S.-Israel Alliance
U.S. embassy in Jerusalem
AlignedSupported the U.S. Embassy Move to Jerusalem
Supported the move of the U.S. embassy to JerusalemTwo-state solution
AlignedSupports the Two State Solution
Opposed UN Security Council Resolution 2334 and supported the two-state solutionU.S.-Israel Security Assistance Authorization Act (2018)
AlignedSupported the United States Israel Security Assistance Authorization Act of 2018
Cosponsored the United States-Israel Security Assistance Authorization Act of 2018Strengthening America's Middle East Security Act (2019)
AlignedVoted For the Strengthening America's Middle East Security Act of 2019
Voted For the Strengthening America’s Middle East Security Act of 2019
Preventing a Nuclear Iran
Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA)
AlignedOpposed the Iran Deal
Opposed the Iran nuclear deal
Defending Israel in International Organizations
UN Security Council Resolution 2334
AlignedOpposed UN Security Council Resolution 2334
Opposed UN Security Council Resolution 2334 and supported the two-state solution
Sources
- Opposed the Iran nuclear deal https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-announcement-nuclear-agreement-iran
- Voted For the Strengthening America’s Middle East Security Act of 2019 https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=116&session=1&vote=00016
- Cosponsored the Israel Anti-Boycott Act https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/720/cosponsors
- Opposed UN Security Council Resolution 2334 and supported the two-state solution https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-resolution/6/cosponsors
- Supported the move of the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/support-president-trumps-decision-recognize-jerusalem-israels-capital/
- Cosponsored the Combating BDS Act of 2017 https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/170/cosponsors
- Cosponsored the United States-Israel Security Assistance Authorization Act of 2018 https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/2497/cosponsors
- Cosponsored Senate Resolution 120 that opposes the global BDS movement https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-resolution/120
A note on methodology. This guide is published as an educational reference. The American Jewish Congress does not endorse candidates and does not publish aggregate scores. If you spot a position that needs an update or a better source, please reach the office.
