Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism Act

Floor Speech

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Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 221, the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism Act, and thank our bipartisan cosponsors for moving it forward.

This bill would elevate the position of Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism to the rank of ambassador, with nomination by the President and confirmation by the Senate. Sadly, this bill is very much needed.

A report last year published by the Kantor Center at Tel Aviv University found an increase in anti-Semitic harassment and abuse worldwide, including in schools and online. The report recounts abuse against Jews in dozens of countries around the world.

Yet, despite its clear findings, the Trump administration has yet to even fill the position of Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti- Semitism. This is simply shameful and inexplicable. It is particularly shameful given this President's unabashed embrace of the alt-right, a movement which was linked to the murderous attack on the Tree of Life synagogue, the deadliest attack on a Jewish community in American history.

Talk is cheap. If President Trump genuinely cared about the Jewish community, he would have made this appointment a priority--and he has not.

I thank my colleagues who are moving this bill forward on both sides of the aisle. I urge us to pass this bill, again, and send it to the Senate and eventually to the President's desk so that America can lead by example by filling this vital role that demonstrates our commitment that Jews and people of all faiths are free to practice their religion without fear or harm.

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