[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 96 (Monday, June 8, 2026)]
[House]
[Pages H3948-H3950]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
PROTECTING EUROPE FROM ANTISEMITIC CRIME AND EXTREMISM ACT
Mr. MAST. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill
(H.R. 6297) to require the Department of State to provide briefings on
antisemitism in Europe, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 6297
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Protecting Europe from
Antisemitic Crime and Extremism Act'' or the ``PEACE Act''.
SEC. 2. CONSULTATIONS ON ANTISEMITISM IN EUROPE.
(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) the Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian
Affairs, in consultation with other relevant officials of the
Department of State, should assess the persistent and growing
threat of antisemitism and acts of international terrorism in
Europe as a matter of importance to the foreign policy of the
United States; and
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(2) the Under Secretary for Political Affairs, acting
through the Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian
Affairs, should diplomatically engage governments of
countries of apparent concern on efforts for transatlantic
cooperation to counter and address antisemitism and acts of
international terrorism that may threaten transatlantic
stability, the safety and security of United States citizens,
and institutions abroad.
(b) Consultation.--Not later than 180 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for two
years, the Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian
Affairs shall consult with the appropriate congressional
committees on the matters described in subsection (a).
(c) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.--In this
section, the term ``appropriate congressional committees''
means--
(1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives; and
(2) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Florida (Mr. Mast) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Bera) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida.
General Leave
Mr. MAST. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and insert
extraneous material on H.R. 6297.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Florida?
There was no objection.
Mr. MAST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, anti-Semitism and international terrorism in Europe are
real threats that undermine regional stability, transatlantic security,
and the safety of American citizens living abroad. This threat
skyrocketed after Hamas' October 7 terrorist attack. France recorded
over 1,000 anti-Semitic incidents in just 1 month alone. Germany
experienced a 240 percent increase. More recent incidents further
underscore that threat.
On October 2, 2025, a deadly anti-Semitic attack at a Manchester
synagogue during Yom Kippur killed two and injured others. In March
2025, a 22-year-old was arrested in Madrid for attempting to set fire
to Rimmon Kosher, a busy kosher restaurant. Authorities charged him
with anti-Semitic hate crime, attempted murder, and arson.
In March of 2026, two suspects on a motor scooter detonated an
explosive device against the outer wall of an Orthodox Jewish school in
Amsterdam. Also, in March of 2026, an explosive device detonated in
front of a historic synagogue in Belgium during the early morning
hours.
Beyond anti-Semitic attacks, Europe continues to face threats from
the Islamic extremism. In February of 2025, French authorities
classified a deadly knife attack in Mulhouse as an Islamic terrorist
act, while German authorities disrupted and investigated multiple
suspected Islamist-inspired plots during 2025.
This legislation builds on the Trump administration's effort to
combat anti-Semitism and strengthen international counterterrorism
cooperation. It ensures continued U.S. diplomatic engagement with
European allies, and it requires regular consultations with Congress.
I thank the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Fine), my colleague and the
sponsor of this bill, for his leadership on the issue. The bill passed
the Committee on Foreign Affairs with broad bipartisan support. I urge
my colleagues to join me in advancing it on the floor today.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BERA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the PEACE Act.
Acts of anti-Semitism are on the rise globally. This is also true in
Europe, where increasingly vocal fringe political movements,
particularly far-right movements, are emboldened by increased political
discourse on both sides of the Atlantic that harkens back to the
unacceptable political rhetoric of old.
Combating anti-Semitism has long been a priority for both Democratic
and Republican administrations and has been a central element of U.S.
foreign policy for years.
This bill expresses the sense of Congress that the State Department
should assess and address the threat of anti-Semitism in Europe and
requires consultation with Congress on addressing these threats.
Mr. Speaker, I support this bill and urge my colleagues to do the
same. I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. MAST. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Fine).
Mr. FINE. Mr. Speaker, one would have thought after October 7, 2023,
the world's worst attack against Jews since the Holocaust, which
obviously took place in Europe, there would have been an outpouring of
sympathy and less anti-Semitism in the world. In Europe, in particular,
that is not what happened.
A study conducted by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights
recorded an increase of up to 400 percent in anti-Semitic activity
since October 7. That same study also found that 96 percent of European
Jews that were surveyed, almost every single one said that they
encounter anti-Semitism in their daily lives--not once a month, not
once a year, but every day in their actual existence.
Crimes linked to anti-Semitism are on the rise all throughout Europe.
Even our major allies in the region have seen a dramatic increase.
France saw 1,600 anti-Semitic acts in 2024, a 300 percent increase
since before October 7. The United Kingdom had over 3,500 anti-Semitic
incidents in 2024, up dramatically from the 1,600, which is still too
many, that they had before October 7, 2023.
Statistics only show part of the picture. My friend and colleague,
the chairman, gave some stories. What is remarkable is we didn't
coordinate, and every story that he told is different than one that I
am about to tell you.
On February 11 in Paris, a 13-year-old Jewish boy was attacked by
five men on his way to synagogue--13 years old, five adult men. During
the attack, he was called Jewish slurs by the perpetrators.
On March 23, in London, four ambulances operated by a Jewish charity
were destroyed in an arson attack by three men.
{time} 1620
Mr. Speaker, these are stories that affect Europeans, but the rise of
anti-Semitism in Europe affects Americans, as well, particularly when
we visit Europe. This isn't just about protecting European Jews. It is
about protecting Americans when we go there.
On April 29 of this year, two Jewish men were stabbed by someone who
said that he went out with the intention of stabbing people who looked
visibly Jewish. One of the two was an American.
On November 10, 2025, in Milan, a Jewish American was attacked after
he was identified based on his ``Orthodox Jewish attire.'' These are
Americans being attacked in Europe.
My bill would direct the State Department to assess the growing
threat of anti-Semitism in Europe and provide diplomatic channels to
make clear to our European allies that this conduct is simply
unacceptable. After this assessment, the Assistant Secretary for
European and Eurasian Affairs will engage with European countries that
are identified as countries of concern to say that they have to
cooperate with us to deal with this rising anti-Semitism problem.
This commonsense, bipartisan legislation passed through committee
unanimously, 49-0, and I thank the cosponsors of the bill, Republicans
Max Miller, Mike Lawler, and Representative Claudia Tenney, but also
Democrats Eugene Vindman and Laura Gillen.
I also thank the chairman and the ranking member, both of whom have
supported the bill, and I thank the majority leader for putting it on
the floor today.
Finally, I would just say this. We said, after the Holocaust, never
again, but the facts are that there is a real risk of it happening.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to vote today to take this
one small step to make sure that it doesn't happen ever again.
Mr. BERA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time for the
purpose of closing.
[[Page H3950]]
Mr. Speaker, I support this measure. I encourage all of my colleagues
to do so, as well, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. MAST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, the rise of anti-Semitic violence and terrorist attacks
across Europe is a stark reminder that radical extremism is not a relic
of the past. It is a clear and present danger to freedom, to democracy,
and to Western civilization.
The United States has to stand firmly with our allies, with the
Jewish people, and with all those who reject terror and defend liberty.
Peace through strength is not just a slogan. It is a necessity.
Weakness invites aggression. Strength deters aggression. H.R. 6297
sends a clear message that America will continue to lead in confronting
anti-Semitism and strengthening international efforts to combat
terrorism.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mast) that the House suspend the rules and
pass the bill, H.R. 6297, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
The title of the bill was amended so as to read: ``A bill To require
the Department of State to consult with Congress on antisemitism in
Europe.''.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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