Local Advocacy

The JCRC of Greater Washington's is the chief government advocate and community relations resource for our Jewish community. We partner with local and state organizations to reach out to government officials to advance the legislative agenda of our community in the Greater Washington area. 

What We Do

Advocate
The JCRC partners with local and state organization to reach out to government officials at the federal, state, and local levels to advance the Jewish community’s legislative priorities. We provide opportunities for community members to meet with and engage with elected officials. We assist local organizations, agencies, and synagogues in securing government funding.

Educate
The JCRC convenes programs on selected issues of concern to our community, including security briefings and candidate forums.

Activate
The JCRC convenes and mobilizes the Jewish community to make their voices heard on issues of importance to both the Jewish and broader community. We frequently lead and participate in rallies, demonstrations, and other actions to speak out on issues of critical importance. We mobilize synagogues, organizations, and community members to live out Jewish and American values through civic activism.

Communicate
The JCRC serves as the chief public face and voice of the organized Jewish community in our nation’s capital, articulating our collective policy priorities and values to government officials, coalition partners, and the media.

JEWISH VOTER'S GUIDES

2024 District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Legislative Sessions

Other Legislative Information

FY2023 Budget Advocacy Letter


Follow the link here to read the letter and add your name or organization as signatories.

2023 Maryland & Virginia Legislative Sessions

The 2022 Legislative Sessions are underway in both Maryland and Virginia. As part of this year’s virtual sessions, the JCRC is submitting testimony on a wide range of initiatives that support community priorities.

2021 Maryland and Virginia Advocacy Webinar Series

Legislatively Speaking Part 1: Maryland's Senators; The Honorable Ben Cardin and The Honorable Chris Van Hollen

Legislatively Speaking Part 2: Maryland's Representatives; The Honorable Anthony Brown (MD-4), The Honorable Jamie Raskin (MD-8), The Honorable John Sarbanes (MD-3), and The Honorable David Trone (MD-6)

Legislatively Speaking Part 3: Maryland State Elected Officials; Senator Susan Lee (District 16) and Delegate Al Carr (District 18)

Legislatively Speaking Part 4: Montgomery County Council Members; Executive Marc Elrich, President Tom Hucker, and Vice President Gabe Albornoz

2021 Virginia Jewish Advocacy Day 

2021 Virginia Advocacy with the JCRC: Environmental Initiatives Webinar

2021 Virginia Advocacy with the JCRC: Housing Initiatives

2021 Virginia Advocacy with the JCRC: Criminal Justice Reform Initiatives


The 2021 Legislative Sessions are underway in both Maryland and Virginia. As part of this year’s virtual sessions, the JCRC is submitting testimony on a wide range of initiatives that support community priorities.

Submitted Testimonies

Testimony for CRIEP August 2 hearing
2021 Testimony for CRIEP August 2 hearing
Letter to Fairfax County McKay and Board of Supervisors
2021 Letter to Fairfax County McKay and Board of Supervisors
Joint Statement-Advocating for Education Equity in Fairfax County
2021 Advocating for Education Equity in Fairfax County
Maryland Eviction Hearing Moratorium Letter
2021 Maryland Eviction Hearing Moratorium Letter
MD Testimony in SUPPORT of Senate Bill 154 – Landlord and Tenant - Eviction Action - Right to Counsel
2021 MD Testimony in SUPPORT of Senate Bill 154 – Landlord and Tenant - Eviction Action - Right to Counsel
MD Testimony in SUPPORT of Senate Bill 128 – Hate Crimes – Civil Remedy
2021 MD Testimony in SUPPORT of Senate Bill 128 – Hate Crimes – Civil Remedy
MD Testimony in SUPPORT of House Bill 15 – Governor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs
2021 MD Testimony in SUPPORT of House Bill 15 – Governor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs
MD Testimony in Support of Senate Bill 327-Civil Actions – Financial Exploitation of Vulnerable Adults (Maryland SAFE Act)
2021 MD Testimony in Support of Senate Bill 327-Civil Actions – Financial Exploitation of Vulnerable Adults (Maryland SAFE Act)
House Bill 786 – Department of Human Services, Maryland Department of Health, and Department of Education – Easing Access to Family Support Programs
2021 MD Testimony in SUPPORT of House Bill 786 – Department of Human Services, Maryland Department of Health, and Department of Education – Easing Access to Family Support Programs
House Bill 670 – Police Reform and  Accountability Act of 2021
2021 MD Testimony in SUPPORT of House Bill 670 – Police Reform and Accountability Act of 2021
House Bill 16 Correctional Services-Immigration Detention Prohibition
2021 MD Testimony in SUPPORT of House Bill 16 Correctional Services-Immigration Detention Prohibition
VA House Bill 2121- Emergency Access to Covid-19 Treatment Regardless of Immigrant Status
2021 VA House Bill 2121- Emergency Access to Covid-19 Treatment Regardless of Immigrant Status
VA Letter to Northern Virginia Delegates and Senators with Support
2021 VA Letter to Northern Virginia Delegates and Senators with Support
VA 2021 Judiciary Committee - SB 1301
2021 VA 2021 Judiciary Committee - SB 1301
VA Testimony in Support of HJ 546 -Restoration of Voting Rights Constitutional Amendment
2021 VA Testimony in Support of HJ 546 -Restoration of Voting Rights Constitutional Amendment
MD Testimony in SUPPORT of House Bill – 423 Election Law – Voting Systems – Accessibility for Voters With Disabilities
2021 MD Testimony in SUPPORT of House Bill – 423 Election Law – Voting Systems – Accessibility for Voters With Disabilities
MD Testimony in SUPPORT of House Bill – 493 Election Law – Voting Locations – Accessibility by Public Transportation and Voters With Disabilities
2021 MD Testimony in SUPPORT of House Bill – 493 Election Law – Voting Locations – Accessibility by Public Transportation and Voters With Disabilities
MD Testimony in SUPPORT of House Bill 503 – Environment - Office on Climate Change - Establishment
2021 MD Testimony in SUPPOR of House Bill 503- Environment-Office on Climate Change
MD Testimony in Support of Senate Bill 29- Election Law-Voting-Elections by Mail, Polling Places, and Early Voting Centers
2021 MD Testimony in Support of Senate Bill 29- Election Law-Voting-Elections by Mail, Polling Places, and Early Voting Centers
Letter regarding B24-0026 Maternal Health Resources and Access Act of 2021
2021 Letter regarding B24-0026 Maternal Health Resources and Access Act of 2021 (Henderson).pdf

The Charlottesville Case

Thank you to the hundreds of people who joined us on August 10th, 2020—the eve of the third anniversary of the Charlottesville violence—for a discussion of Integrity First for America's groundbreaking lawsuit and the fight against white supremacy. Speakers included: ERIC WARD, Western States Center; ROBERTA KAPLAN, Kaplan Hecker & Fink LLP; KAREN DUNN, Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison LLP; and AMY SPITALNICK, Integrity First for America.

Thank you to the following organizations who sponsored the program: Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington, ADL, Western States Center, Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, Southern Poverty Law Center, NAACP Fairfax, Bend the Arc, AJC, ADL Washington DC, Adas Israel Congregation, Agudas Achim Congregation, B’nai Israel Congregation, B’nai Shalom of Olney, Bender JCC of Greater Washington, Bethesda Jewish Congregation, Capital Jewish Museum, Congregation Har Shalom, Edlavitch JCC of Washington DC, Hill Havurah, The Interfaith Families Project of Washington DC, Interfaith Youth Core, Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, The Kemp Mill Synagogue, Kol Shalom, Pozez JCC of Northern Virginia, Sixth&I, Temple B’nai Shalom, Temple Beth Torah, Temple Rodef Shalom, Temple Shalom, Tifereth Israel, TzedekDC.