[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 83 (Monday, May 21, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E697-E698]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           SPECIAL ENVOY TO MONITOR AND COMBAT ANTI-SEMITISM

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 21, 2018

  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, last week we marked up H.R. 
1911, the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism. All of the 
Co-Chairs of the Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Anti-Semitism are 
cosponsors of the bipartisan H.R. 1911--including four members of the 
Foreign Affairs Committee, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Eliot Engel, Brad 
Schneider, and Ted Deutch--which I authored to advance the fight 
against the ancient, persistent evil of anti-Semitism, whenever and 
wherever it occurs in the world.
  So far 80 members have cosponsored the bill, including 25 members of 
the Foreign Affairs Committee. Many leading Jewish organizations also 
support the legislation.
  My friend, the great former Soviet refusnik and religious prisoner, 
Natan Sharansky, testified at two of the nine hearings I have chaired 
on anti-Semitism. He proposed what he called a simple test to help us 
distinguish legitimate criticism of Israel from anti-Semitism. 
Sharansky called it the ``three Ds: Demonization, double standard, and 
de-legitimization.''
  Rabbi Andy Baker, Director for International Jewish Affairs for 
American Jewish Committee and Personal Representative of the OSCE

[[Page E698]]

Chairperson-in-Office on Combatting-AntiSemitism, reports, ``We 
continue to see physical and even lethal attacks on Jews in Europe, 
efforts to restrict or ban elemental religious practices, and 
emboldened extremist political parties with an anti-Semitic agenda. 
Even as European governments have come to recognize the dangers facing 
their Jewish communities, many still have failed to devote the 
necessary resources to protect them or to be clear-eyed in recognizing 
the sources of the problem.'' This past March an 85-year Holocaust 
survivor, Mireille Knoll, was brutally murdered in Paris, an abhorrent 
example of anti-Semitic hatred.
  According to B'nai Brith International, ``Unfortunately, we continue 
to see the dramatic growth of anti-Semitism, particularly in Europe and 
the Islamic world. This scourge has reached its highest level since 
World War II. B'nai Brith International is dedicated to shining the 
spotlight on hatred of Jews as a distinct and unique social illness, 
and to marshaling efforts to combat, and wherever possible, eradicate 
this phenomenon.'' According to B'nai Brith Canada, ``Last year was a 
record-breaking year for anti-Semitism in Canada, according to a new 
audit by B'nai Brith's league for human rights. As Global's Anne 
Leclair reports, Quebec ranks second in the country for reported anti-
Semitic activity.''
  The Kator Center on Anti-Semitism Worldwide sounded the alarm; 
stating ``Europe's largest Jewish communities are experiencing a 
normalization and mainstreaming of anti-Semitism not seen since the 
Second World War.''
  There is an urgent need for a comprehensive United States government 
approach to combating anti-Semitism--led by a strong, senior official. 
In 2004, Congress passed and signed into law the Global Anti-Semitism 
Review Act of 2004. I was the prime sponsor of the provisions that 
created the Office to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism in the State 
Department and position of Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-
Semitism to lead it.
  H.R. 1911 would elevate the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-
Semitism to the rank of Ambassador, to be nominated by the President 
with the advice and consent of the Senate, and reporting directly to 
the Secretary of State. It would mandate the Special Envoy to serve as 
the primary advisor to the United States government on monitoring and 
combating anti-Semitism in foreign countries and coordinate efforts 
across the government.
  The bill would prohibit the Special Envoy from being double-hatted 
with duties and responsibilities unrelated to monitoring and combating 
anti-Semitism. It would also require the President to nominate a 
Special Envoy within 90 days of the enactment of this act and 
thereafter within 120 whenever the position is empty.
  Since Congress created the position, there have been long delays in 
every Administration filling it.
  PRESIDENT BUSH: 583 days
  PRESIDENT OBAMA: 307 days and 227 days
  When they were appointed, Gregg Rickman, Hannah Rosenthal, and Ira 
Forman did a tremendous job. Currently there has been no Special Envoy 
for 482 days. I and colleagues on both sides of the aisle, including 
you Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Ed Royce, called on the 
President and Secretary Tillerson to appoint someone as a matter oftop 
priority. I repeat that call and urge Secretary Pompeo to appoint a 
Special Envoy now.
  Jewish communities here and abroad continue to be targeted for hatred 
and deadly violence. America has a proud bipartisan history of leading 
the fight against anti-Semitism, including this House unanimously--
passing H. Res. 354 in 2015, which I authored as a detailed blueprint 
for actions that are critical to prevent more deadly attacks on 
Europe's Jewish communities.
  We must build and expand on this history. The Special Envoy is 
critical to focusing and redoubling our leadership and this bill 
enhances the position. I ask my fellow committee members to support 
this vital legislation.
  I also ask my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 3030, the Elie 
Wiesel Genocide and Atrocities Prevention Act of 2017. This bill will 
strengthen our efforts to anticipate, prevent, and mitigate genocide, 
crimes against humanity, and war crimes. My friend Ann Wagner is the 
sponsor of this legislation and I am proud to cosponsor it.

                          ____________________