HR 221 Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism Act
This bill would amend 22 USC 2731: Monitoring and combating anti-Semitism
This concerns the State Department, where there is already a Office to Monitor and Combat anti-Semitism
headed by Special Envoy for Monitoring and Combating anti-Semitism
Passed the House of Representatives Jan 11.
Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4] (Introduced 01/03/2019)
85 bipartisan cosponsors
On the way to the Senate now.
The bill would make these changes:
The envoy would be nominated by the Secretary of State and appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.
Currently the Special Envoy is appointed by the Secretary of State.
The appointee would have to give up their prior duties at the State Department.
Currently the Special Envoy is allowed to also keep their former job.
Added responsibility:
"The Special Envoy shall serve as the primary advisor to, and coordinate efforts across, the United States Government relating to monitoring and combating anti-Semitism and anti-Semitic incitement that occur in foreign countries."
In addition to:
Currently the envoy monitors and combats anti Semitism in foreign countries and prepares reports for inclusion in Country Reports on Human Rights Practices and the Annual Report on International Religious Freedom
The Special Envoy will now have the rank of Ambassador.
Of interest in the notes to the current US Code citation under findings of Congress:
"Anti-Semitism has at times taken the form of vilification of Zionism, the Jewish national movement, and incitement against Israel."
[Remembering the several stories of Jews caught painting swastikas on synagogues in the US:]
"In St. Petersburg, Russia, on February 15, 2004, vandals desecrated approximately 50 gravestones in a Jewish cemetery, painting the stones with swastikas and anti-Semitic graffiti."
"In Toronto, Canada, over the weekend of March 19 through March 21, 2004, vandals attacked a Jewish school, a Jewish cemetery, and area synagogues, painting swastikas and anti-Semitic slogans on the walls of a synagogue and on residential property in a nearby, predominantly Jewish, neighborhood."
In November 2003, Arab television featured an anti-Semitic series, entitled 'Ash-Shatat' (or 'The Diaspora'), which depicts Jewish people hatching a plot for Jewish control of the world.
Sauce for HR 221 Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism Act:
https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/221/text
Current code:
http://uscode.house.gov/quicksearch/get.plx?title=22§ion=2731
House of Representatives website, up to date information on what they are up to:
https://www.house.gov