[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 103 (Monday, June 14, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4513-S4514]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 UNEQUIVOCALLY CONDEMNING THE RECENT RISE IN ANTISEMITIC VIOLENCE AND 
HARASSMENT TARGETING JEWISH AMERICANS, AND STANDING IN SOLIDARITY WITH 
                     THOSE AFFECTED BY ANTISEMITISM

  Ms. ROSEN. Madam President, I rise today as cochair of the Senate 
Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Anti-Semitism, which just 
relaunched this week with over half the Senate as Members. I am 
speaking out because Jewish-Americans and Jews across the globe are in 
danger.
  They are in danger because we are experiencing a worldwide surge in 
anti-Semitic hate crimes and violence. In communities across America, 
Jews have been threatened, they have been verbally accosted, and 
brutally assaulted.
  Anti-Semitism has long been the canary in the coal mine of hatred. 
History teaches us that when anti-Semitism takes hold, democracy itself 
is imperiled. This issue has reared its ugly head in recent years, 
particularly in the past month.
  According to the ADL, anti-Semitic incidents in May were double what 
they were during the same period last year. Over the past few weeks, we 
have seen horrendous attacks on Jewish communities. In New York, 
fireworks were hurled at a crowd of Jewish-Americans. In Los Angeles, 
Jewish diners were attacked.
  One response I saw to a recent desecration of a synagogue in Arizona 
has stuck with me. The response said ``the amount of Jewish hate isn't 
shocking. The silence is.''
  Those who committed these egregious acts wanted to send a message. 
They wanted to say that Jews have no place here. And it is critical 
that we send a clear and forceful message back. We must ensure that our 
elected leaders, Democrats and Republicans, are resolute in affirming 
that there is zero tolerance for anti-Semitism.
  We must honor the words of George Washington, who wrote to the Jewish 
community of Rhode Island in 1790, that America ``gives to bigotry no 
sanction, to persecution no assistance,'' which is why I urge the 
Senate to immediately take up my bipartisan resolution condemning the 
recent anti-Semitic incidents, unconditionally and unequivocally.
  I am calling on leaders to take specific steps--specific steps--to 
address and prevent them, including having the President nominate and 
the Senate confirm a qualified Ambassador to monitor and combat anti-
Semitism, fully implementing my bipartisan Never Again Education Act to 
advance Holocaust education, having agencies improve their collection 
of anti-Semitic hate crime data, and sufficiently funding the Nonprofit 
Security Grant program to protect houses of worship and community 
centers from violence.
  I want to thank Senator Lankford and his staff for their work in 
helping to pass this resolution, which currently has 74 cosponsors.
  Madam President, as if in legislative session, I ask unanimous 
consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be discharged from further 
consideration and the Senate now proceed to S. Res. 252.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 252) unequivocally condemning the 
     recent rise in antisemitic violence and harassment targeting 
     Jewish Americans, and standing in solidarity with those 
     affected by antisemitism, and for other purposes.

  There being no objection, the committee was discharged, and the 
Senate proceeded to consider the resolution.
  Ms. ROSEN. I know of no further debate on the measure.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there further debate?
  Mr. SCHUMER. Yes, there is, Madam President.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The majority leader.
  Mr. SCHUMER. Thank you, Madam President. First, let me thank Senator 
Rosen. She has been a valiant, strong and unrelenting fighter against 
anti-Semitism--not just today with this wonderful resolution, but every 
day, and we thank her for her leadership, her tremendous and needed 
leadership on this issue.

[[Page S4514]]

  I want to thank Senator Lankford as well in joining Senator Rosen in 
crafting this bipartisan resolution because, as we all know, anti-
Semitism is not a partisan issue. So I very much appreciate the way 
that they have worked together across the aisle to bring this 
resolution forward
  It is essential that we come together at this moment. Over the past 
few years, America has once again seen the pernicious, poisonous, and 
dangerous rise of hate crimes. In recent weeks in particular, anti-
Semitism--the oldest hatred--has dramatically spiked. It, too, just 
like every other hate crime, is pernicious, poisonous, and dangerous. 
We are all horrified by the anti-Semitic attacks in New York, around 
the country, and around the globe.
  So I join my colleagues tonight to say unequivocally that this hatred 
must be called out, confronted, and stopped. And the Senator from 
Nevada has an excellent series of proposals to help make that happen.
  Anti-Semitism must be combated wherever and whenever it rears its 
ugly head. It is vile, it is reprehensible, and it is counter to 
everything America stands for: freedom of religion, equality, and 
respect for the dignity of every person.
  For too long--too long--we have seen it. And yet in the past, America 
has always been a refuge for the oppressed; a land of promise, 
opportunity, and tolerance for people from all corners of the world who 
came here in search of a better life. It was true for my family and for 
many others, and hopefully, it will continue to be.
  But that noble purpose has too often been marred by periods of 
isolationism, xenophobia, and racial intolerance. We live in a time 
where we must actively work to rekindle the light of tolerance that has 
kept anti-Semitism at bay here in the United States and around the 
globe.
  As majority leader, the first Jewish-American to hold that honor, I 
will work with any and all of my colleagues to face down anti-Semitism 
and every other form of racial or religious discrimination.
  I strongly urge the Senate to stand united against anti-Semitism, and 
I am very grateful to pass this resolution unanimously.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there further debate?
  If not, the question is on agreeing to the resolution.
  The resolution (S. Res. 252) was agreed to.
  Ms. ROSEN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the preamble 
be agreed to and that the motions to reconsider be considered made and 
laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  (The resolution, with its preamble, is printed in the Record of May 
27, 2021, under ``Submitted Resolutions.''
  Ms. ROSEN. I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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