The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and CAIR Action are set to release their 2026 August Recess Advocacy Toolkit and host a national advocacy webinar on Thursday, July 30, at 8:30 p.m. ET. This initiative aims to equip American Muslims and their allies to effectively engage members of Congress during the upcoming August congressional recess.
The webinar, also available at 7:30 p.m. CT, 6:30 p.m. MT, and 5:30 p.m. PT, will provide guidance on engaging lawmakers, conducting congressional meetings, and asking impactful questions at public events. The U.S. House of Representatives is scheduled for recess from July 24 to August 31, while the Senate's recess runs from August 8 to September 14, offering a crucial period for constituents to voice concerns. The toolkit, available for download on July 30, includes background information, talking points, constituent questions, and legislative asks.
Key issues addressed in the toolkit include opposing deeper U.S.-Israel military and intelligence integration, particularly in light of ongoing actions in Gaza and the West Bank. It urges Congress to block provisions in legislation like the National Defense Authorization Act that would embed Israel more deeply into U.S. defense planning. The toolkit also focuses on defending equal protection and free speech, specifically opposing the “Unequal Protection Act,” which raises concerns about the IHRA definition of antisemitism and threats to advocacy for Palestinian human rights.
Furthermore, the toolkit aims to defeat the “Sharia-Free America Caucus,” which CAIR designates as an anti-Muslim hate group, by encouraging lawmakers to reject its agenda and reaffirm First Amendment rights for American Muslims. Finally, it advocates against unauthorized regional war in the Middle East, urging Congress to reassert constitutional war powers and prevent U.S. complicity in regional escalation, including continued support for Israel’s military operations.