[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 40 (Wednesday, March 6, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1672-S1673]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                  Resolution Condemning Anti-Semitism

  Mr. President, on one final matter, I want to discuss something that 
will be happening on the floor of the House perhaps as soon as today.
  Remarkably, for the second time in just the last 3 weeks, Speaker 
Pelosi apparently feels compelled to have her Members vote on a 
resolution that will reportedly condemn anti-Semitism--a resolution 
that will purportedly condemn anti-Semitism.
  Unfortunately, again, for the second time in just the last 3 weeks, 
this seems to be in response to the invocation of crude, hateful, and 
backward anti-Semitic stereotypes by one specific freshman member of 
the House Democratic majority.
  This Democratic Congresswoman already stoked controversy in mid-
February, having publicly proclaimed that Israel's supporters are only 
in it for the money. Apparently, she believes the only reason leaders 
would stand with the Jewish people and the State of Israel is Jewish 
money. Well, I think we have all heard that kind of talk before, and we 
must not tolerate it.
  During my time in the Senate, I have had the honor of traveling all 
over America. I know I speak for colleagues on both sides of the aisle 
when I say that support for the State of Israel and the U.S.-Israel 
relationship is deeply felt--deeply felt--all across America. Our 
relationship is built on common values and democratic principles, our 
shared interests, close partnerships, and deep friendships. The support 
for Israel that you see in this Chamber is not the work of some shadow 
conspiracy. The Members of this body support Israel because so many 
Americans support Israel.
  I had hoped this regrettable episode might have caused this lawmaker 
to be more careful with her language, but, alas, just a few weeks 
later, here we are again: more anti-Semitic tropes. This time, she 
claims that supporters of Israel actually have ``an allegiance to a 
foreign country.'' That is that old, ugly, dual loyalty smear, plain as 
day.
  We should also not overlook that in a few cases, these anti-Semitic 
statements have provoked offensive, anti-Muslim comments in response. 
That is hateful and completely inexcusable as well.
  So now the House of Representatives seeks to distance itself from 
this Member's remarks and will apparently soon vote to condemn anti-
Semitism for the second time in just a few weeks. I hope this time the 
message is clear.
  Support for Israel isn't about the ``Benjamins,'' it is about the 
hearts and minds of the American people. It is unconscionable for any 
Member of the U.S. Congress, even less a Member of the House Foreign 
Relations Committee, to repeatedly traffic in base stereotypes.
  The long, bloody legacy of anti-Semitism is spread out over the pages 
of history, but, regrettably, this scourge is not confined to history.
  Long common across the Middle East, violent, hateful acts of anti-
Semitism have been increasing throughout Europe. Less than a lifetime 
after the Holocaust, 9 out of 10 European Jews say anti-Semitism has 
increased--increased--in the past 5 years.
  Eighty-eight percent of French Jews say they actively worry about 
targeted vandalism. That country alone saw 541 anti-Semitic incidents 
in 2018, a massive 74-percent increase from just the prior year.

[[Page S1673]]

  In France, in 2006, a Jewish man was kidnapped for ransom because 
criminals assumed his Jewish family had to be rich. When their plan 
failed, they tortured and killed him. A memorial tree was planted in 
his honor. Earlier this month, that tree was found chopped down--anti-
Semitism on top of anti-Semitism.
  Trends here in America are troubling too. Every year, hundreds and 
hundreds of anti-Semitic incidents take place in America, everything 
from vandalism to harassment, to threats in schools, college campuses, 
and other public places, to targeting Jewish institutions.
  This racial and religious hate-mongering deserves swift 
condemnation--swift condemnation. So I am glad the House is at least 
taking up this short, symbolic resolution and rejecting the anti-
Semitic tropes this Democratic Congresswoman keeps peddling, but at the 
end of the day, it is just a symbolic resolution.
  If House Democrats wanted to, they could pass real legislation to 
take action against anti-Semitism and shore up America's relationship 
with Israel. I know they could because last month the Senate did just 
that. We did that in the Senate last month. The House should take up 
and pass S. 1, the bipartisan foreign policy legislation that the 
Senate passed last month, 77 to 23. That legislation walks the walk. It 
supports Israel and gives local communities the flexibility to combat 
the so-called BDS movement, which is a kind of anti-Semitic economic 
warfare that opponents of Israel are trying to wage against the Jewish 
State.
  The bill also attends to other critical priorities, such as renewing 
U.S. commitments to Jordan's security and providing for the Assad 
regime's butchers to be brought to justice.
  S. 1 is not just about combating anti-Semitism or bolstering the 
U.S.-Israel relationship; it is about standing with an Arab partner 
like Jordan and providing justice for the Syrian people. So my point is 
this: Resolutions are fine, but the House could do something that 
mattered by taking up S. 1 that we sent them last month that deals with 
the BDS boycott against Israel.
  Words are one thing. Meaningful action is another. House Democrats 
should walk the walk and pass S. 1 without any further pointless delay.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.