[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 438 Introduced in House (IH)]
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118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 438
Condemning the rise of antisemitism and calling on elected officials to
identify and educate others on the contributions of the Jewish American
community.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 23, 2023
Ms. Wasserman Schultz (for herself and Mr. Fitzpatrick) submitted the
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the
Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Condemning the rise of antisemitism and calling on elected officials to
identify and educate others on the contributions of the Jewish American
community.
Whereas the Senate and House of Representatives have recognized many heritage
months that celebrate the various communities that form the mosaic of
the United States;
Whereas through recognizing and celebrating heritage months, we learn about one
another, honor the richness of the diversity of the United States, and
strengthen the fabric of society in the United States;
Whereas Jewish American Heritage Month has its origins in 1980, when Congress
enacted a Joint Resolution entitled ``Joint Resolution to authorize and
request the President to issue a proclamation designating April 21
through April 28, 1980, as `Jewish Heritage Week''', approved April 24,
1980 (Public Law 96-237; 94 Stat. 338);
Whereas, on April 24, 1980, President Carter issued the proclamation for Jewish
Heritage Week, and in that proclamation, President Carter spoke about
the bountiful contributions made by the Jewish people to the culture and
history of the United States;
Whereas Congress has played a central role in recognizing Jewish American
Heritage Month since the Senate and the House of Representatives passed
resolutions in 2006 and 2005, respectively, urging the President to
proclaim the national observation of a month recognizing the Jewish
American community;
Whereas, since 2006, Presidents Bush, Obama, Trump, and Biden have all issued
proclamations for Jewish American Heritage Month, which celebrates
Jewish Americans and encourages all people of the United States to learn
more about Jewish heritage and the contributions of Jewish people
throughout the history of the United States;
Whereas we recognize the significance of Jewish American Heritage Month as a
time to celebrate the contributions of Jewish Americans to the society
and culture of the United States;
Whereas people of the United States celebrate the rich history of Jewish people
in the United States and the more than 350-year history of Jewish
contributions to society in the United States;
Whereas the United States has long served as a haven for Jewish people escaping
from oppression in search of liberty, justice, and tolerance;
Whereas the Jewish American community dates back to 1654, when a group of 23
Jewish people, fleeing persecution at the hands of the Portuguese
Inquisition, fled Brazil and found refuge in what is now New York City;
Whereas Jewish Americans have established deep roots in communities across the
United States, and served their neighbors and the United States as loyal
and patriotic citizens, always grateful for the safe harbor that the
United States has provided for them;
Whereas the Jewish American community has since grown to over 6,000,000 people,
representing approximately 2 percent of the population of the United
States in 2023;
Whereas Jewish Americans have served in government and the military, won Nobel
prizes, led universities and corporations, advanced medicine and
philanthropy, created and performed in enduring works of performing and
visual art, written great novels, become emblems of justice as members
of the Supreme Court of the United States, and so much more;
Whereas Jewish Americans have been subjected to a recent surge in antisemitism
as the Anti-Defamation League's (ADL) 2022 Audit of Antisemitic
Incidents tracked 3,697 antisemitic incidents in the United States,
representing a 36-percent increase from 2021 and the largest number on
record since the Anti-Defamation League began tracking antisemitic
incidents in 1979;
Whereas the rise in antisemitism is being felt by ordinary people in the United
States, as a report by the American Jewish Committee revealed that--
(1) 89 percent of Jewish respondents believe antisemitism is a problem
in the United States; and
(2) 4 in 10 Jewish Americans reported changing their behavior in at
least 1 way out of fear of antisemitism;
Whereas over the course of the past decade, Holocaust distortion and denial has
grown in intensity;
Whereas a 2020 survey of all 50 States on Holocaust knowledge among Millennials
and Generation Z, conducted by the Conference on Jewish Material Claims
Against Germany, found a clear lack of awareness of key historical
facts, including--
(1) 63 percent of respondents did not know that 6,000,000 Jews were
murdered during the Holocaust; and
(2) 36 percent of respondents thought that ``two million or fewer
Jews'' were killed;
Whereas the Federal Bureau of Investigation has aggregated 2021 hate crime data
showing that Jewish people remain the single most targeted religious
minority in the United States;
Whereas the use of antisemitic language, conspiracy theories, and hatred has
increased on multiple social media platforms, including--
(1) tropes about Jewish control; and
(2) messages praising Adolf Hitler and demonizing all Jewish people;
Whereas the most effective ways to counter the increase in antisemitic actions
are through education, awareness, and the uplifting of Jewish voices,
while highlighting the contributions that Jewish Americans have made to
the United States; and
Whereas, as the strength of a society can be measured by how that society
protects its minority populations and celebrates their contributions, it
is altogether fitting for the United States to once again mark the month
of May as Jewish American Heritage Month: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) calls on elected officials, faith leaders, and civil
society leaders to condemn and combat any and all acts of
antisemitism;
(2) takes all possible steps to ensure the safety and
security of Jewish American communities; and
(3) calls on the executive branch and civic leaders to
identify and educate the public on the contributions of the
Jewish American community.
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