[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 432 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

<DOC>






118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 432

  Recognizing the fifth commemoration of the antisemitic attack that 
      occurred on October 27, 2018, at a synagogue in Pittsburgh, 
                             Pennsylvania.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            October 25, 2023

   Mr. Casey (for himself and Mr. Fetterman) submitted the following 
             resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Recognizing the fifth commemoration of the antisemitic attack that 
      occurred on October 27, 2018, at a synagogue in Pittsburgh, 
                             Pennsylvania.

Whereas, on October 27, 2018, a mass shooting took place at the Tree of Life 
        synagogue in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 
        where members of the Tree of Life, Dor Hadash, and New Light 
        congregations were engaged in Shabbat morning services;
Whereas 11 innocent worshippers were killed, 2 congregants were critically 
        injured, and 5 law enforcement officers were injured while attempting to 
        rescue victims and apprehend the perpetrator in the deadliest 
        antisemitic attack in the history of the United States;
Whereas the 11 innocent worshippers killed in the attack included--

    (1) Joyce Fienberg;

    (2) Richard Gottfried;

    (3) Rose Mallinger;

    (4) Jerry Rabinowitz;

    (5) Cecil Rosenthal;

    (6) David Rosenthal;

    (7) Bernice Simon;

    (8) Sylvan Simon;

    (9) Daniel Stein;

    (10) Melvin Wax; and

    (11) Irving Younger;

Whereas the perpetrator of the attack espoused antisemitic views and targeted 
        the individuals worshipping at the Tree of Life synagogue because of 
        their religious beliefs;
Whereas, on June 16, 2023, a Federal jury in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, found the 
        perpetrator of the attack guilty on 63 counts, including hate crimes and 
        the obstruction of the free exercise of religion resulting in death;
Whereas the people of the United States commend the service of those jury 
        members, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Pittsburgh Bureau of 
        Police, the Allegheny County Police, all other Federal, State, and local 
        law enforcement agencies who assisted with the investigation, and the 
        prosecution team from the United States Attorney's Office in the Western 
        District of Pennsylvania and the Department of Justice that worked to 
        bring the perpetrator to justice;
Whereas antisemitism remains an evil and destructive form of identity-based hate 
        that destroys lives and runs contrary to the values of the United 
        States; and
Whereas the Anti-Defamation League recorded 3,697 incidents of antisemitic 
        harassment, vandalism and assault throughout the United States in 2022, 
        representing a 36 percent increase in antisemitic incidents from 2021, 
        and the largest number of antisemitic incidents on record since the 
        Anti-Defamation League began tracking antisemitic incidents in 1979: 
        Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) honors the memory of the victims who were killed in the 
        horrific, antisemitic attack at the Tree of Life synagogue in 
        Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on October 27, 2018, and expresses 
        the hope that their memory may continue to be a blessing to 
        their families and community;
            (2) honors the selfless and dedicated service of--
                    (A) the law enforcement and emergency response 
                officials who responded to the attack;
                    (B) the medical professionals who provided and 
                continue to provide care for the victims; and
                    (C) the law enforcement agencies and Federal 
                prosecutors who worked to investigate and hold the 
                perpetrator accountable in Federal court for his 
                hateful, antisemitic attack on the Jewish community;
            (3) expresses continued solidarity and support to the Tree 
        of Life, Dor Hadash, and New Light congregations, the 
        Pittsburgh Jewish community, and the families, friends, and 
        loved ones affected by the tragedy;
            (4) commends the Tree of Life community for, in the wake of 
        tragedy, dedicating itself to efforts to eliminate antisemitism 
        and other forms of identity-based hate;
            (5) condemns rising antisemitism and stands with the Jewish 
        communities in Pittsburgh, the United States, and around the 
        world; and
            (6) reaffirms the commitment of the United States--
                    (A) to condemn antisemitism in all its forms;
                    (B) to protect the right of the people of the 
                United States to freely exercise their religious 
                beliefs; and
                    (C) to ensure the safety and security of all people 
                of the United States.
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