The Combating BDS Act

On January 3, 2019, the Senate’s first bill of the new Congress—S.1—was introduced by Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL). S.1 encourages states to punish people for boycotting for Palestinian rights. On February 5, the Senate passed the bill, 77-23.

Sen. Rubio’s bill incorporates language from the Combating BDS Act, his unconstitutional bill that was defeated in the last Congress. The Combating BDS Act punishes individuals who boycott for Palestinian rights by encouraging states to deny them government contracts.