In the News
The Jerusalem Post spoke to B’nai B’rith International CEO Daniel S. Mariaschin about B’nai B’rith’s priorities for the 118th Congress for its article on Jewish organizations’ plans for this new, divided Congress.
WASHINGTON – The 118th Congress will be sworn in on Tuesday, marking a shift in power balance on Capitol Hill, as Republicans will take control in the House of Representatives while Democrats will remain in control of the US Senate.
A divided Congress will require both sides to compromise to pass legislation and would all but guarantee that neither Party will be in a position to promote its full agenda.
For US Jewish organizations, the new Congress will also mean seeking consensus between Republicans and Democrats to promote bills on issues important for the community.
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Dan Mariaschin, CEO of B’nai B’rith International noted that his organization’s top priorities this upcoming session will “see us pressing for de-funding of the UN Human Rights Council’s biased Commission of Inquiry, whose sole objective is to delegitimize and criminalize Israel.”
“On the domestic agenda, is our continued support of maximum funding for the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s senior housing program, focusing on meeting the needs of the growing number of seniors who need affordable housing,” said Mariaschin.
“Since the early 1970s, B’nai B’rith has been a leader in the Jewish nonprofit universe in sponsoring affordable, low-income housing for seniors,” he explained. “We sponsor nearly 40 such properties, housing thousands of seniors around the country. Since these properties have been built in cooperation with HUD, the housing is open to all, on a non-sectarian basis. In the Jewish community, which has a wide band of seniors, the need for such housing is ever-present.”