WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Dean Heller (R-NV) today applauded the Trump Administration’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and its commitment to relocating the American embassy in Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, a move that Heller has championed in Congress and repeatedly pushed for by authoring the Jerusalem Embassy and Recognition Act. Heller along with Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) introduced the Jerusalem Embassy and Recognition Act to fulfill our commitment to Israel by enacting current law. 

In 1995, Congress passed the Jerusalem Embassy Act, legislation that recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel by moving the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Although the bill became law later that year, the U.S. Embassy was not relocated. 

“As one of our strongest allies in the fight against terrorism and in promoting peace in the Middle East, America’s support to Israel must be unwavering,” said Heller. “I applaud President Trump for his decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. I’m also pleased that the Administration committed to developing a plan to relocate the American Embassy to Jerusalem, action that I have repeatedly pushed for because while a law was passed more than 20 years ago to do just that, it has never been enacted. That is why I have authored legislation that demands the United States no longer turns a blind eye to its promise. Today’s decision sends a message to our strongest and oldest ally in the Middle East: the United States stands with Israel.”

In May of 2017, Heller also joined with U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Ted Cruz (R-TX), and Marco Rubio (R-FL) to introduce a resolution to urge the recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and the relocation of the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem.‎

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