Sherrod Brown

Brown cosponsored the United States-Israel Security Assistance Authorization Act. The legislation extended foreign military financing assistance to Israel through fiscal year 2028 and supported additional defense cooperation.

Following Hamas's October 7 attack, Brown said that Israel has the right to exist and the right to self-defense. He pledged to work in a bipartisan manner to ensure that Israel had the resources needed to defend itself and to support the U.S.-Israel alliance.

As Ranking Member of the Senate Banking Committee, Brown described Iran as a state sponsor of terrorism and said that preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon was the primary objective of U.S. sanctions and international diplomacy.

Brown warned that a nuclear-armed Iran would pose grave risks to the United States, Israel, and the wider region, while supporting sanctions as a tool to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

Brown condemned Hamas's October 7 attack as terrorism and said the United States should support Israel as it defended itself against Hamas.

As Chair of the Senate Banking Committee, Brown held a hearing examining the financing behind Hamas's attack. He called for cutting off terrorist funding at its source and for additional economic tools to prevent Iran from supporting Hamas, Hezbollah, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and other terrorist proxies.

Brown described Hamas's assault as a series of horrifying acts of terrorism and said that the United States was united behind Israel. He pledged to work with Congress, the administration, the Israeli government, and Jewish communities to support Israel and defeat Hamas.

On the first anniversary of the attack, Brown commemorated those killed by Hamas and said that Ohio would continue to stand with the Jewish community and with Israel.

After antisemitic bomb threats targeted Jewish community centers in Ohio and across the country, Brown said that he stood in solidarity with Jewish communities and that Americans have a responsibility to oppose attempts to intimidate or endanger Jewish residents.

Brown has also described antisemitism as dangerous and called for stronger protection for Jewish communities in Ohio.

During the 2024 campus protests, Brown said that antisemitism, hate, and violence were unacceptable on college campuses.

He said that students have a right to make their voices heard, but protests must remain nonviolent, must not spread hatred, and must comply with the law.

Brown supported increasing federal funding for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, which helps at-risk nonprofit and faith-based institutions improve their physical security. In December 2023, Brown highlighted federal funding intended to help Jewish organizations and other nonprofits protect themselves from targeted violence and said more must be done to protect Ohio's Jewish communities.

Brown cosponsored a Senate resolution objecting to United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334 and to international efforts that undermined direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.

Brown met with leaders of Cleveland's Orthodox Jewish community to discuss security funding, Iran, and other community priorities.

Following the October 7 attack, Brown said that he was speaking with Jewish community leaders in Ohio and across the country while assessing steps to support Israel and defeat Hamas.