[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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