[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 176 (Wednesday, October 25, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S5194]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   SENATE RESOLUTION 432--RECOGNIZING THE FIFTH COMMEMORATION OF THE 
ANTISEMITIC ATTACK THAT OCCURRED ON OCTOBER 27, 2018, AT A SYNAGOGUE IN 
                        PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA

  Mr. CASEY (for himself and Mr. Fetterman) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 432

       Whereas, on October 27, 2018, a mass shooting took place at 
     the Tree of Life synagogue in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood 
     of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where members of the Tree of 
     Life, Dor Hadash, and New Light congregations were engaged in 
     Shabbat morning services;
       Whereas 11 innocent worshippers were killed, 2 congregants 
     were critically injured, and 5 law enforcement officers were 
     injured while attempting to rescue victims and apprehend the 
     perpetrator in the deadliest antisemitic attack in the 
     history of the United States;
       Whereas the 11 innocent worshippers killed in the attack 
     included--
       (1) Joyce Fienberg;
       (2) Richard Gottfried;
       (3) Rose Mallinger;
       (4) Jerry Rabinowitz;
       (5) Cecil Rosenthal;
       (6) David Rosenthal;
       (7) Bernice Simon;
       (8) Sylvan Simon;
       (9) Daniel Stein;
       (10) Melvin Wax; and
       (11) Irving Younger;

       Whereas the perpetrator of the attack espoused antisemitic 
     views and targeted the individuals worshipping at the Tree of 
     Life synagogue because of their religious beliefs;
       Whereas, on June 16, 2023, a Federal jury in Pittsburgh, 
     Pennsylvania, found the perpetrator of the attack guilty on 
     63 counts, including hate crimes and the obstruction of the 
     free exercise of religion resulting in death;
       Whereas the people of the United States commend the service 
     of those jury members, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, 
     the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, the Allegheny County Police, 
     all other Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies 
     who assisted with the investigation, and the prosecution team 
     from the United States Attorney's Office in the Western 
     District of Pennsylvania and the Department of Justice that 
     worked to bring the perpetrator to justice;
       Whereas antisemitism remains an evil and destructive form 
     of identity-based hate that destroys lives and runs contrary 
     to the values of the United States; and
       Whereas the Anti-Defamation League recorded 3,697 incidents 
     of antisemitic harassment, vandalism and assault throughout 
     the United States in 2022, representing a 36 percent increase 
     in antisemitic incidents from 2021, and the largest number of 
     antisemitic incidents on record since the Anti-Defamation 
     League began tracking antisemitic incidents in 1979: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) honors the memory of the victims who were killed in the 
     horrific, antisemitic attack at the Tree of Life synagogue in 
     Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on October 27, 2018, and expresses 
     the hope that their memory may continue to be a blessing to 
     their families and community;
       (2) honors the selfless and dedicated service of--
       (A) the law enforcement and emergency response officials 
     who responded to the attack;
       (B) the medical professionals who provided and continue to 
     provide care for the victims; and
       (C) the law enforcement agencies and Federal prosecutors 
     who worked to investigate and hold the perpetrator 
     accountable in Federal court for his hateful, antisemitic 
     attack on the Jewish community;
       (3) expresses continued solidarity and support to the Tree 
     of Life, Dor Hadash, and New Light congregations, the 
     Pittsburgh Jewish community, and the families, friends, and 
     loved ones affected by the tragedy;
       (4) commends the Tree of Life community for, in the wake of 
     tragedy, dedicating itself to efforts to eliminate 
     antisemitism and other forms of identity-based hate;
       (5) condemns rising antisemitism and stands with the Jewish 
     communities in Pittsburgh, the United States, and around the 
     world; and
       (6) reaffirms the commitment of the United States--
       (A) to condemn antisemitism in all its forms;
       (B) to protect the right of the people of the United States 
     to freely exercise their religious beliefs; and
       (C) to ensure the safety and security of all people of the 
     United States.

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