[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 87 (Thursday, May 22, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3108-S3109]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RECOGNIZING THE SIGNIFICANCE OF JEWISH AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH AND
CALLING ON ELECTED OFFICIALS AND CIVIL SOCIETY LEADERS TO COUNTER
ANTISEMITISM
Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Madam President, I stand today to condemn the
anti-Semitic and hate-fueled murders of Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah
Milgrim that occurred last night at the hands of a Hamas sympathizer.
This was a sickening, violent, and anti-Semitic attack in our Nation's
Capital.
These two young professionals were targeted and murdered because they
represented Israel and the Jewish people, with their murderer chanting
``Free Palestine'' after killing them in cold blood.
These were innocents, out for a night together at the Capital Jewish
Museum here in DC, just like members of our own staff do each and every
week. This anti-Semitism and hate for Israel and the Jewish people is
disgusting, unacceptable, and must be condemned on every level. It is
despicable, and it is dangerous.
We have seen a rise in anti-Semitism and anti-Israel hate since the
October 7, 2023 attacks. We have seen Hamas sympathizers take over
college campuses and instill fear in Jewish students. We have seen
violent protests on our streets and now in our Nation's Capital. Jewish
Americans are afraid to walk outside or live their daily lives. For
nearly 600 days now, Israel has defended itself against Iran-backed
Hamas terrorists who want to destroy Israel and destroy the Jewish
people.
These terrorists murder babies and women in cold blood, take and
murder innocent people, and brag about their acts with no remorse. They
took innocent people, including Americans, hostage and tortured them.
They still hold the bodies of American hostages to deprive their
families of closure.
Israel is the United States' greatest democratic ally in the Middle
East. We cannot abandon our ally. Thankfully, we have a President who
is an ally of Israel and who is working to fight anti-Semitism in the
United States.
President Trump is pushing back on colleges and universities that
allow hateful anti-Semitic actions on campus that threaten the safety
of Jewish students. He has appointed the most pro-Israel Cabinet ever
assembled. And he is committed to defending Israel, combating
terrorism, and protecting Jewish Americans.
[[Page S3109]]
Today, I rise to condemn last night's heinous and anti-Semitic attack
on these innocent people. I condemn this hateful rhetoric against
Israel and against the Jewish people who deserve the right to live
freely and without fear in the United States and around the world.
The United States must always stand with Israel and the Jewish
people, and today we join together to remember the innocent lives taken
in an act of hate and pay tribute to their lives and the contributions
of the Jewish people to our Nation.
Madam President, the fight against anti-Semitism is a bipartisan one.
I am grateful for my colleague Jackie Rosen for working with me to
draft a resolution that draws attention to anti-Semitism in America and
declaring May, Jewish American Heritage Month.
I yield to my colleague from Nevada Senator Rosen.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Nevada.
Ms. ROSEN. Madam President, I want to begin by thanking my colleague
from Florida for his bipartisanship and his partnership, including to
pass this bipartisan resolution to recognize Jewish American Heritage
Month by unanimous consent.
I also want to take a moment to speak about the horrific murders that
took place last night. Like so many other Jews in America and around
the world, I woke up this morning heartbroken by the news of yet
another unspeakable act of anti-Semitic violence that occurred late
last night, this time--this time--in our Nation's Capital, less than 1
mile from where I am standing this very moment. This shooting occurred
outside of the Capital Jewish Museum, where the American Jewish
Committee was holding a large event. And the shooter went there
specifically to target and kill Jews and people whom he perceived to be
Jewish.
This is anti-Semitism--plain and simple. There is no justification in
the world for carrying out or condoning this violent and vile hate
crime. It is pure anti-Semitic violence.
My heart is shattered for the two Israeli Embassy workers who were
killed, Yaron and Sarah--taken from us far, far too soon. Both were
committed to public service, social action, peace, the betterment of
the world. They were a young couple in love.
I have read reports that Yaron was planning to propose to Sarah next
week in Israel.
They were cruelly taken from us far too soon at the beginning of
their lives. May their memory be a blessing, and may their killer be
brought to swift justice.
It is a tragedy that these innocent lives were cut short by hate, and
it continues to be a tragedy that these incidents continue to occur in
the United States and all over the world.
Over the last few years alone, we have seen anti-Semitic hate and
extremist violence. It has done nothing but increase across this
country. All over America, Jewish people, we have been threatened,
beaten, verbally accosted. We have been killed just because of our
faith, just because of whom they are--because of whom we are.
We have seen horrendous anti-Semitic incidents and attacks on Jewish
communities, at schools and on college campuses, and Jewish-owned
places of business, and on synagogues and places of worship.
And incidents of anti-Semitism in the United States and globally have
risen dramatically since Hamas's brutal terrorist attack on October 7.
All of it--all of it--is wrong and has no place in our country, no
place in our society, no place in the world.
Those who commit these egregious acts, they want to send a message.
They want to terrorize Jews. They want to scare Jews. They want to
intimidate us. And it is vital that we all stand up together and send a
clear and forceful message, and the message is this: We will not be
afraid.
We will not be afraid.
We cannot be silent. There is desperate need to confront dangerous
and growing anti-Semitism in our country and around the world to show
that bigoted efforts to intimidate us will not work. We cannot be
afraid. We cannot be silent.
That is why I am here on the Senate floor today. By passing this
resolution and recognizing Jewish American Heritage Month, we are not
just celebrating the numerous accomplishments and contributions that
Jews have made to our country, we are sending the message back, a
message that Jewish people have a place in America; that this is our
home as well; that our lives, that they have value and they have
meaning, just like anyone else; and that our country stands with it.
So I thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for allowing this
resolution to pass, and I want to thank Senator Scott of Florida for
his partnership in the effort to counter anti-Semitism and hate
everywhere.
So, Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed
to the consideration of S. Res. 246 submitted earlier today.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
The legislative clerk read as follows:
A resolution (S. Res. 246) recognizing the significance of
Jewish American Heritage Month and calling on elected
officials and civil society leaders to counter antisemitism.
There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the
resolution.
Ms. ROSEN. I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to,
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 resolution (S. Res. 246) was agreed to.
The preamble was agreed to.
(The resolution, with its preamble, is printed in today's Record
under ``Submitted Resolutions.'')
Ms. ROSEN. Thank you, Madam President. Again, thank you to all my
colleagues for passing this important resolution unanimously today.
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