[Pages H2539-H2542]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   CONDEMNING THE RISE IN IDEOLOGICALLY MOTIVATED ATTACKS ON JEWISH 
INDIVIDUALS IN THE UNITED STATES, INCLUDING THE RECENT VIOLENT ASSAULT 
  IN BOULDER, COLORADO, AND REAFFIRMING THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
COMMITMENT TO COMBATING ANTISEMITISM AND POLITICALLY MOTIVATED VIOLENCE

  Mr. VAN DREW. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 481) condemning the rise in ideologically 
motivated attacks on Jewish individuals in the United States, including 
the recent violent assault in Boulder, Colorado, and reaffirming the 
House of Representatives commitment to combating antisemitism and 
politically motivated violence.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 481

       Whereas, on June 1, 2025, in Boulder, Colorado, a peaceful 
     gathering held by the group ``Run for Their Lives'' was 
     violently attacked by an individual armed with incendiary 
     devices, resulting in multiple injuries, including to elderly 
     participants, in what authorities have called a targeted, 
     ideologically motivated act of terrorism;
       Whereas this attack represents the latest in a growing 
     trend of politically and religiously motivated violence 
     directed at Jewish individuals and institutions across the 
     United States;
       Whereas, on May 21, 2025, two Israeli Embassy staff 
     members--Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim--were 
     fatally shot outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, 
     DC, following a reception for diplomats, and the suspect 
     shouted ``Free, free Palestine!'' during his arrest;
       Whereas, on April 13, 2025, an individual set multiple 
     fires using incendiary devices at the Pennsylvania Governor's 
     Residence while Governor Josh Shapiro and his family were 
     inside following a Passover Seder; the suspect, motivated by 
     hostility toward the Governor's stance on Israel and 
     Palestinians, admitted intent to cause harm and now faces 
     charges including attempted murder, terrorism, and arson;
       Whereas these attacks, though distinct in method and 
     geography, share a common pattern of targeting Jewish 
     individuals or symbols of Jewish life and civic engagement;
       Whereas no American should be subjected to violence or 
     intimidation because of their religion, heritage, or peaceful 
     advocacy; and
       Whereas acts of antisemitism--whether expressed through 
     threats, vandalism, or violence--are fundamentally 
     incompatible with the values of the United States and must be 
     condemned unequivocally: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) condemns in the strongest possible terms the June 1, 
     2025, targeted act of terror in Boulder, Colorado, as a 
     cowardly act of ideologically motivated violence;
       (2) recognizes this attack as part of a disturbing pattern 
     of targeted aggression against Jewish individuals in the 
     United States;
       (3) reaffirms its commitment to protecting the rights of 
     all Americans to assemble peacefully and practice their faith 
     without fear of violence;
       (4) calls on Federal, State, and local law enforcement 
     agencies to ensure thorough investigation and prosecution of 
     all such incidents; and
       (5) urges elected officials, community leaders, and civil 
     society to speak out against antisemitism and politically 
     motivated violence in all forms.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Van Drew) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Goldman) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey.


                             General Leave

  Mr. VAN DREW. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on H. Res. 481.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New Jersey?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. VAN DREW. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong condemnation of a sickness and 
disease that is growing stronger, more dangerous, and more violent in 
our own country of the United States of America. It is called anti-
Semitism.
  On June 1, in Boulder, Colorado, a peaceful rally called Run for 
Their Lives, which was just held to raise

[[Page H2540]]

awareness about hostages taken by Hamas, was violently attacked with 
Molotov cocktails and a homemade flamethrower. The suspect, who was 
shouting, ``Free Palestine,'' injured 15 people, and many of them were 
elderly.
  Think about this, Mr. Speaker: One of them was an 88-year-old 
Holocaust survivor.
  This terrorist, who was here illegally on an expired visa, targeted 
Jews on purpose, on American soil--on American soil. Let everybody let 
that sink in.
  This was a terrorist attack in broad daylight, and it wasn't even an 
isolated event.
  On May 21, two Israeli Embassy staff, a beautiful couple, were gunned 
down outside of the Capital Jewish Museum right here in Washington, 
D.C., about 1\1/2\ blocks away from my apartment.
  On April 13, an arsonist lit the home of Governor Josh Shapiro on 
fire while he and his family celebrated Passover inside, hoping to kill 
them all. The suspect admitted he acted out of hatred for the 
Governor's support of Israel.
  Despite the barbarity of the October 7 Hamas attacks, anti-Semitism 
has, unfortunately, surged around the world and right here in our 
United States of America. According to the American Jewish Committee, 
77 percent of American Jews say that they feel less safe in the United 
States because of October 7. More than half say that they changed their 
behavior in 2024 because of anti-Semitism.
  Mr. Speaker, I think of a young lady who we heard from in our 
Committee on the Judiciary. She was a smart college student, a 
beautiful young woman, who spoke about how her mother begged her to 
take off her Star of David when she went out in public.
  That is a sad day for America. These aren't just statistics. That is 
fear, fear to wear a yarmulke in public, fear of attending a local 
synagogue, fear of simply living openly as a Jew in this great country.
  There have been 9,300 documented anti-Semitic incidents last year 
alone. The FBI reported 1,989 hate crimes, almost 2,000 hate crimes, 
targeting Jewish Americans in 2023 alone. It is the highest number ever 
recorded. Nearly 7 out of every 10 religiously motivated hate crimes 
are crimes against Jews.
  This needs to be clear to all who are listening now and in the 
future: Jewish Americans make up just 2.4 percent of the United States' 
population but account for 68 percent of religious hate crimes. That 
isn't just a spike. That is a national crisis.
  After the Holocaust, the words collectively promised ``Never again,'' 
but never again is happening right now. It is happening in our streets. 
It is happening on our campuses. It is happening in our communities.
  We need to protect America from anti-Semitism with the same ferocity 
as we should protect the right of Americans' free speech because if 
Jewish Americans can't walk freely in Boulder, work safely in D.C., or 
celebrate Passover in their own homes without fear, then we, indeed, 
have failed as a nation.
  This resolution says what must be said: These are acts of terror, 
pure and simple, and this hate must be condemned regardless of how many 
times it takes--over and over again, it must be condemned--that the 
lives of Jewish Americans matter; and that their safety is 
nonnegotiable.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge every single Member of this body to support it 
loudly, proudly, and unambiguously because it is simply the right thing 
to do and because anti-Semitism has no home in the United States of 
America.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GOLDMAN of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend and colleague from New Jersey (Mr. Van 
Drew) for introducing this resolution that gets right to the heart of a 
scary rise of violence against Jewish Americans.
  Mr. Speaker, the rise in anti-Semitism since the October 7 terrorist 
attack by Hamas has been jarring, unsettling, and incredibly scary for 
the Jewish community.
  In the last 2 months, there have been three incidents of outright 
violence: the arson at Governor Shapiro's home on Passover; the murder 
in front of the Capital Jewish Museum of two Israeli Embassy workers, 
young Jews just about to get engaged and begin their lives together, 
murdered solely because they were Jewish; and, last weekend, a horrific 
attack with Molotov cocktails on a peacefully marching group bringing 
attention to the fact that 56 hostages remain in horrific conditions in 
captivity of a terrorist group in Gaza.
  Mr. Van Drew's resolution accurately recounts these facts, accurately 
cites and refers to the anti-Semitism that has risen in America, and 
boldly condemns it, as we all should, because hate of any kind has no 
place in this country.
  The numbers are startling. In the Anti-Defamation League's audit of 
2024, there were a record 9,354 recorded anti-Semitic incidents, 1,700 
of which targeted Jewish institutions. This is the highest number ever 
recorded in the 46 years of this audit.

  Mr. Speaker, as the co-chair of the congressional Bipartisan Task 
Force for Combating Antisemitism here in the House of Representatives, 
I applaud Mr. Van Drew and join with him in condemning these attacks 
and bringing light to what is a new phase of anti-Semitism in this 
country, one that is incredibly scary that includes violence and 
murder.
  All that being said, I note that my Republican colleagues introduced 
an appropriations bill today that proposes $305 million for the 
nonprofit security grants, which is the program that provides security 
funding to all nonprofit organizations in the United States that apply 
and are granted them. That includes Jewish houses of worship, Jewish 
organizations, and Jewish community institutions.
  I joined 132 of my colleagues to demand that we increase last year's 
funding of over $400 million because, with this new violence, the need 
for security for every single Jewish institution has skyrocketed.
  Mr. Speaker, I am deeply disappointed that the Republican majority 
has introduced a bill that would fund only $305 million, which is the 
same amount as fiscal year 2023--before October 7, before this sudden 
and dramatic rise in anti-Semitism, and before the recent violence 
against Jewish people.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my friend from New Jersey and my Republican 
colleagues to please reconsider. If my colleagues believe this 
resolution, as I know they do, then let's literally put our money where 
our mouth is because Jewish institutions need our help to be secure, 
and $305 million is not going to cut it.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. VAN DREW. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Goldman) for 
his comments.
  Mr. Speaker, I will say that, of course, money matters. In difficult 
budget times--and we are having a challenging and difficult budget--let 
me say that it is important that we do have that money there.
  Perhaps, as we move forward with not spending money on sanctuary 
cities and sanctuary States; as we move forward and are not spending 
money on transportation for illegals, for housing illegals, for 
educating illegals, or for giving illegals debit cards; and as we move 
forward and stop wasting some of the money that has been wasted at so 
many levels and so many places in this great country, that those who 
deserve to get more money, whether it be folks who are dependent upon 
it for their healthcare or those who deserve to get more money because 
they need protection, are able to do so.
  That is the problem when you misplace your funding. When funding is 
not done correctly, as it has not been done over a number of years, 
then the money doesn't always go where it should.
  It has been a focus of this administration. Those hundreds of 
millions, a third of $1 billion, are there, and if something more is 
needed, I am sure we will respond to that, as well.
  Mr. Speaker, that being said, I am proud to have with me a good 
friend, a good man, the coach of our Republican baseball team--and if 
this wasn't such a solemn resolution, I would speak about that a little 
bit, but I won't. I won't say that we are going to win again, but we 
are.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. 
Williams).

[[Page H2541]]

  

  Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. 
Res. 481, which condemns the disturbing rise in anti-Semitic attacks 
across the United States.
  On October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorists murdered and took hostage 
innocent Israelis in an unprovoked attack. Since then, anti-Semitic 
incidents have reached unprecedented levels across this great country.
  The attack in Boulder, Colorado, is the most recent incident 
following the murder of two Israeli Embassy staff members in 
Washington, D.C., and the attack on Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro 
and his family, as we previously heard.
  This growing trend of politically and religiously motivated violence 
directed at Jewish individuals and institutions across the United 
States is totally unacceptable. Every American has the right to 
assemble peacefully and practice their faith without fear of violence. 
Acts of anti-Semitism, whether expressed through threats, vandalism, or 
violence, are fundamentally incompatible with the values of this 
Nation.
  Today, remember those who we have lost and stood with the Jewish 
community. There is no place for hate or violence in the United States 
of America. Congress must fully condemn these attacks and stand against 
anti-Semitism in all forms.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to vote in support of this 
important resolution.
  In God We Trust.

                              {time}  1615

  Mr. GOLDMAN of New York. Mr. Speaker, I will just add in response to 
my friend that this is a majority proposal for the appropriations bill. 
If the majority does not like other spending measures, it can propose 
to cut them, but Jews and Jewish institutions should not suffer because 
of other priorities of the Republican majority and their appropriations 
bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman 
from Colorado (Mr. Neguse).
  Mr. NEGUSE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. 
Goldman) for yielding. I also thank the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. 
Van Drew) for introducing this resolution, and I am proud to co-lead 
this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, a week ago, my congressional district suffered an 
unimaginable tragedy when a terrorist by the name of Mohamed Soliman 
drove over an hour to carry out a horrific act of terror in Boulder, 
Colorado.
  This attacker targeted Jewish members of the Boulder community, 
literally trying to burn them alive with Molotov cocktails and 
incendiary devices.
  Our community, Mr. Speaker, is reeling from this terrorist attack. 
This kind of hateful violence and anti-Semitism is spreading across the 
country. It is metastasizing, and it has deeply shaken the people of my 
State and the people of my community. The group, the organization that 
was targeted by this horrific attack, Run for Their Lives, is composed 
of our neighbors and friends.
  Last Sunday, they gathered on the idyllic Pearl Street Mall to take 
part in a peaceful walk and vigil as they have done every week for the 
past 2 years, to call for the release of the hostages that were 
kidnapped and are being held by Hamas in Gaza.
  We pray hard, Mr. Speaker, for the 15 victims of this heinous attack, 
my constituents. Several of these victims are people I know personally. 
They are friends. I support this bipartisan resolution denouncing anti-
Semitism. I continue to stand with those victims, with my constituents, 
with their families, with our Jewish brothers and sisters as we 
recommit ourselves to addressing the scourge of anti-Semitism.
  Mr. Speaker, yesterday I had the privilege of spending some time with 
several of the victims of this terrible attack. It is hard for me to 
describe in words, Mr. Speaker, the emotions I felt in seeing their 
resilience, their strength, their humanity under such incredibly trying 
circumstances.
  It is hard to describe in words, Mr. Speaker, the emotions I felt 
yesterday walking back in my district in Boulder, Colorado, with 
thousands of Coloradans, who came from all across Colorado, both of our 
United States Senators, many community leaders, rabbis, people of all 
faiths, walking with our Jewish brothers and sisters to condemn this 
vicious attack and to recommit ourselves in defeating anti-Semitism. 
That is why I support this resolution.
  On a final personal note, I will say that I have had the privilege of 
serving in this body for 6\1/2\ years. My colleague and I, Mr. Van 
Drew, entered Congress together. He remembers it well. I thank Mr. Van 
Drew for approaching me in good faith. Our teams working together put 
forward a resolution that addresses the enormity of this challenge, 
this threat that our Jewish constituents and Americans are facing. I am 
proud to co-lead the resolution with the gentleman, and I think his 
interaction with our office is a reflection of how things ought to work 
in this Chamber.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New Jersey and the gentleman 
from New York for their leadership.
  Mr. VAN DREW. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Colorado for his kindness and 
kind words, and yes, it was a pleasure to work with him. He has always 
consistently, even when we disagree profoundly at times, been a 
gentleman and always represents the values and attitude that I believe 
a Member of Congress should have.
  To my friend, the gentleman from New York, I will attribute that to 
him, as well. We sometimes differ even more profoundly on some of these 
issues.
  Let me say one thing in passing. The commitment of Republicans is 
unquestionable when it comes to Israel and Jewish Americans. I know to 
a degree, because of a fiscal note, the gentleman questions that. I am 
not going to go through the history of many events and many pieces of 
legislation that went through this House that didn't have all the 
support they needed, quite frankly, from the other side of the aisle.
  I am not going to go through that some folks from the other side of 
the aisle have said things that have been pretty blatantly anti-Israel 
and anti-Jewish.
  The problem here--if we have a problem, and we do have problems 
within the body--when it comes to the Jewish state and Israel, has not 
been the Republican Party. The Republican Party and the Members of 
Congress here and the majority at this time have been very supportive, 
whether it has been in armaments, whether it has been in words, whether 
it has been in deeds, have been supportive of the Jewish State of 
Israel and of Jewish Americans.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GOLDMAN of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of 
my time.
  Mr. Speaker, I will be brief. I do want to reemphasize how important 
it is that Mr. Van Drew has worked collaboratively with our side of the 
aisle on a bipartisan resolution that is not a ``gotcha'' resolution 
but accurately addresses the serious problems that we are facing and 
condemns them without making an effort to score political points.
  This is how bipartisan efforts to combat anti-Semitism should work. 
Mr. Van Drew has demonstrated that he certainly is willing to do that 
and we are certainly grateful that he worked closely across the aisle 
to make sure that this is not a partisan issue.
  Mr. Speaker, as an American Jew, as a Member of Congress, if anti-
Semitism is used as a partisan weapon, if Israel is used as a partisan 
weapon, it is bad for Jews and it is bad for Israel.

  I urge my other Republican colleagues to follow in Mr. Van Drew's 
footsteps here because if they do care about Jews and they do care 
about Israel, then neither should be used as a partisan weapon in a 
political game.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Van Drew for leading that effort, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. VAN DREW. Mr. Speaker, I thank both gentlemen from the other side 
of the aisle that we were able to do this together. Wherever we can, 
whenever we can, I look forward to that participation.
  I guess the only words I have to say now are just: Let's do it. Let's 
everybody vote together. I am hoping this is one of those rare pieces 
of legislation that has every Member on each side of the House of 
Representatives voting in

[[Page H2542]]

favor. I ask all the Members to vote for this together in unison.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to be an original 
cosponsor of H. Res. 481, authored by my good friend Mr. Van Drew.
  This resolution condemns the shocking and horrifying spike in 
antisemitic attacks on U.S. soil, including the recent murderous 
attacks in Boulder, Colorado, at the Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., 
and the attack on Gov. Shapiro in Pennsylvania.
  It rightfully points out that these attacks are ideologically 
motivated--that is politically motivated.
  What a sad thing to have to say--in our country, a growing number of 
people are embracing a political ideology that leads them to murder 
Jews. All of the recent murder attacks have been carried out by some 
who identified closely with antisemitic hatred of Israel, organized 
around the rhetoric of Palestinian terrorism.
  And in each case the attackers chose not to attack Israel at all--
they decided to murder Americans who happen to be Jewish. In their 
twisted minds, any Jewish person substitutes for Israel as a target for 
their sick hate.
  Mr. Speaker, I believe the fight against this ideology, which has 
repeatedly in recent weeks proven to be an incitement to terroristic 
murder, needs to be a top priority in the U.S. Government.
  In the past two months I met with Harmeet Dhillon, the new Assistant 
Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division, who will be walking 
point on this issue within the Department of Justice. I also met with 
Yehuda Kaploun, President Trump's nominee to the Special Envoy for 
Combating Antisemitism--he will lead this fight internationally, within 
the State Department.
  These are both extraordinarily capable and energetic people--and 
determined. I have no doubt they will do excellent work--they 
understand, they can name, and will fight the poisonous ideology that 
is motivating murder in America today.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Van Drew) that the House suspend the 
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 481.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. VAN DREW. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.

                          ____________________