[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 179 (Tuesday, November 13, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H9506-H9507]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CONDEMNING THE ANTI-SEMITIC ATTACK ON THE BUILDING HOUSING THREE
CONGREGATIONS, TREE OF LIFE, DOR HADASH, AND NEW LIGHT, HONORING THE
MEMORY OF THE VICTIMS OF THE ATTACK, AND OFFERING CONDOLENCES TO AND
EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR THEIR FAMILIES, FRIENDS, AND COMMUNITY
Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on
Oversight and Government Reform be discharged from further
consideration of the resolution (H. Res. 1138) condemning the anti-
Semitic attack on the building housing three congregations, Tree of
Life, Dor Hadash, and New Light, honoring the memory of the victims of
the attack, and offering condolences to and expressing support for
their families, friends, and community, and ask for its immediate
consideration in the House.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from North Carolina?
Mr. MICHAEL F. DOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, reserving the
right to object, although I don't object, I rise today with a heavy
heart.
A few short weeks after a gunman entered the Tree of Life synagogue
building in Pittsburgh, my hometown, and took the lives of 11 innocent
people and injured 6 others, I ask the House to pause now to remember
those who were taken from us: Joyce Fienberg, Richard Gottfried, Rose
Malinger, Jerry Rabinowitz, Cecil and David Rosenthal, Bernice Simon,
Sylvan Simon, Daniel Stein, Melvin Wax, and Irving Younger. If we could
pause for a moment of silence for these people.
{time} 1930
I would also like to honor the law enforcement officers, the first
responders, and the medical professionals who heroically responded to
the attack. And I continue to wish a full and speedy recovery for those
who are wounded.
The attack happened because one man had a dark hatred in his heart
for the Jewish people. But the Jewish community in Pittsburgh and the
city as a whole have proven to be stronger than hate.
I want to thank the Bipartisan Taskforce to Combat Anti-Semitism for
their support and all of the American people who have reached out with
their comforting words and support.
We all must do more to combat this hate in our neighborhoods and stop
these tragedies from happening. This resolution is just a step in the
healing process for our city and our country.
Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of objection.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from North Carolina?
There was no objection.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 1138
Whereas, on October 27, 2018, an anti-Semitic attack took
place at the Tree of Life synagogue building in the Squirrel
Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where members
of the Tree of Life, Dor Hadash, and New Light Jewish
congregations were engaged in morning Shabbat services,
killing 11 and wounding six innocent people;
Whereas the people of the United States mourn the lives of
Joyce Feinberg, Richard Gottfried, Rose Mallinger, Jerry
Rabinowitz, Cecil Rosenthal, David Rosenthal, Bernice Simon,
Sylvan Simon, Daniel Stein, Melvin Wax, and Irving Younger;
Whereas the people of the United States hope for the speedy
recovery of those who were injured;
Whereas the people of the United States are grateful for
the swift action of law enforcement, emergency response
teams, and medical professionals who responded to the attack;
Whereas the attack is believed to the be deadliest assault
on Jewish people in American history;
Whereas the Federal Bureau of Investigation finds the
majority of religious hate crimes are motivated by anti-
Jewish bias; and
Whereas anti-Semitism has been increasing for years,
including a reported 57 percent rise in anti-Semitic
incidents from 2016 to 2017, the largest single-year increase
in anti-Jewish hate since such data was collected: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) condemns the horrific, anti-Semitic attack on the Tree
of Life synagogue building in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on
October 27, 2018, in which 11 innocent people were killed and
six were injured;
(2) condemns rising anti-Semitism in the United States and
around the world;
(3) honors the memory of Joyce Feinberg, Richard Gottfried,
Rose Mallinger, Jerry Rabinowitz, Cecil Rosenthal, David
Rosenthal, Bernice Simon, Sylvan Simon, Daniel Stein, Melvin
Wax, and Irving Younger, who were killed in the attack;
(4) expresses hope for a full and speedy recovery by and
pledges continued support for those injured in the attack;
(5) offers heartfelt condolences and deepest sympathies to
the Tree of Life, Dor Hadash, and New Light Jewish
congregations, as well
[[Page H9507]]
as the families, friends, loved ones, and communities
affected by the tragedy;
(6) applauds the dedication and bravery of law enforcement
for their efforts to respond to the attack, as well as the
service of first responders and medical professionals
throughout the Pittsburgh community;
(7) stands with the Jewish community in Pittsburgh, the
United States, and across the world;
(8) reaffirms the commitment of the United States and its
allies to defeat anti-Semitism in all its forms throughout
the world; and
(9) supports the right of Americans to freely exercise
their religious beliefs and rejects all forms of terror and
hate.
Amendment Offered by Ms. Foxx
Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I have an amendment to the text at the desk.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Clerk will report the amendment.
The Clerk read as follows:
Page 3, line 1, strike ``Feinberg'' and insert
``Fienberg''.
The amendment was agreed to.
The resolution, as amended, was agreed to.
Amendment to the Preamble Offered by Ms. Foxx
Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I have an amendment to the preamble at the
desk.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Clerk will report the amendment.
The Clerk read as follows:
In the second whereas clause, strike ``Feinberg'' and
insert ``Fienberg''.
In the last whereas clause, insert ``according to the Anti-
Defamation League'' after ``2017''.
The amendment to the preamble was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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