January 31, 2025
This piece originally appeared in The Times of Israel.
I was a member of Congress for 12 years. I know how powerful and rare bipartisan cooperation is. I chaired committees and subcommittees and worked closely with colleagues on both sides of the aisle. I’ve seen what can be accomplished when members of Congress put aside their partisan differences, and I’ve seen the damage that can occur when elected officials put politics over policy.
As we begin the 119th Congress and President Trump’s second term, I urge everyone to recognize the bipartisan work displayed between senior officials in the outgoing Biden Administration and the then-incoming Trump Administration to make a breakthrough in an agreement to secure the release of 33 of the remaining hostages brutally abducted from Israel during Hamas’ attack on October 7, 2023. We cannot take for granted the unique power of senior officials from the Biden and Trump administrations working together.
Every Congressmember should take a moment to recognize the effectiveness of this bold approach and the importance of bipartisan cooperation toward strengthening America’s place in the world.
But applauding the Biden and Trump teams for their work to get this deal over the finish line is not enough. Congress must continue in this spirit of bipartisanship as this fragile deal is carried out. Members need to work together to help ensure the hostage agreement doesn’t end with the first phase.
As of this writing, there are still 82 hostages enduring unimaginably inhumane conditions at the hands of Hamas. Even with the release of 33 hostages during phase one, the 61 remaining hostages will continue to be held captive in cold, dank tunnels by terrorists—unless we can get to an agreement for phase two. We need to bring them ALL home.
As the CEO of the American Jewish Committee, I’ve spent many hours with former hostages and hostage families. Their stories are gut-wrenching and powerful.
I met former hostage Noa Argamani after she was rescued by the Israeli Defense Forces. Even after eight months of captivity and with her boyfriend, Avinatan Or, still in Gaza, Noa was brave and poised with a clear message: bring all the hostages home as quickly as possible – before it’s too late.
We’ve seen how precious every day is, how each day a hostage is still cruelly held by Hamas, they could be killed. This is a race against time. Hersh Goldberg-Polin, an American-Israeli, was brutally murdered along with five other hostages in August. I think about his parents, Jon Polin and Rachel Goldberg, whose unrelenting and intensely personal advocacy to bring their son home led us all to feel like we lost a family member.
I urge Congress – including many of my former colleagues – to work across the aisle to support the Trump Administration as they seek to extend the deal into the next phase. Congress can ensure every hostage comes home by not allowing partisanship to get in the way of bringing the hostages home.
Congress should reassert its bipartisan support for Israel by passing a resolution endorsing the first phase of the deal, which is slated to last 42 days, and advancing additional measures to bring about the second phase, which would bring all hostages home.
Congress must also remain vigilant of the threat posed by Hamas, and more broadly, the entire Iranian axis, to Israel, US interests, and stability in the region. To that end, every congressional office needs to be prepared to impose the toughest sanctions should Hamas renege on this deal.
But it’s not just legislation and policy at Congress’s disposal. Until every hostage is home, members of Congress need to focus even more intently on giving voice to the heartbreaking stories of the hostages and their families. Tell their harrowing stories in the press, on social media, and on the House and Senate floors. Hold vigils for those still in Hamas’ hands. Hang hostage posters around Congressional offices. Wear the yellow ribbon honoring those still in captivity.
Overwhelming bipartisan unity behind this deal will show the priority Congress places on securing the release of every hostage and ending Hamas’ threat to Israelis and Palestinians alike. This message must be heard loud and clear across the globe.
Every day since October 7, Jews in every corner of the world have desperately prayed for the return of the hostages to their families. We have waited for this deal. We cannot wait to see the hostages come home to their families. We yearn to share their tears of joy and relief. And families deserve the right to properly mourn the hostages who were murdered.
We are almost there. Congress has a critical role to play to help release the hostages and bring stability to the region.