Legislative Action

The ADL takes an active role in identifying emerging issues as they take place in Washington and helping to craft legislative and policy initiatives. A national network of ADL activists assumes a key role in educating and activating Regional leadership, which is crucial to the advancement of the League's legislative priorities. Currently, the top issues on the ADL's legislative agenda include hate crimes, religious freedom, and Israel and the peace process. ADL continues to vigorously oppose efforts to promote organized prayer in public schools and voucher schemes for private and religious schools.

In addition, the ADL carries on its work to secure passage of legislation that will truly promote religious freedom. Initiatives passed in Missouri include the Missouri Religious Freedom Restoration Act (2003), the Anti Cross-Burning Statute (2004) and the establishment of the Missouri Commission on Holocaust Education & Awareness (2006).

In 2009, ADL successfully led passage of SB 26, signed by Governor Jay Nixon and effective August 28, 2009. The law makes it an unfair trade practice for insurance companies to discriminate in issuing, renewing and pricing life insurance policies for lawful foreign travel. ADL made this bill a priority when it learned that companies were either refusing to issue or were pricing such policies at a premium when applicants indicated that they had traveled or would be traveling to Israel.