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House Passes Schneider, Smith Led Bill to Elevate Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism

September 13, 2018

Bipartisan bill would require President to fill currently vacant Special Envoy position

Today, the House of Representatives voted 393-2 to advance bipartisan legislation to elevate the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism at the U.S. State Department to the rank of Ambassador, and require the President to nominate a Special Envoy within 90 days of enactment. The Special Envoy position is currently vacant and has been so since the start of the Trump Administration.

Rep. Brad Schneider (D-IL) and Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) introduced H.R. 1911, the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism Act in April 2017 with Reps. Peter Roskam (R-IL), Eliot Engel (D-NY), Randy Weber (R-TX), Nita Lowey (D-NY), Ted Deutch (D-FL), Gus Bilrakis (R-FL), and Marc Veasey (R-TX).

"It is unacceptable and irresponsible that the State Department office tasked with countering anti-Semitism remains unfilled, especially at a time of rising anti-Semitism worldwide," said Schneider. "Our bipartisan bill elevates the Special Envoy to a position of proper importance at the ambassadorial rank and sets requirements to ensure the role is filled. The overwhelming support for this bill in today's House vote demonstrates Congress's bipartisan commitment to fighting the scourge of anti-Semitism globally."

Specifically, the bill would elevate the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism to that of Ambassador, with Presidential appointment and Senate confirmation, require the Special Envoy to be a person of recognized distinction in the field of combating anti-Semitism, religious freedom, or law enforcement, direct the Special Envoy to report directly to the Secretary of State, and prohibit the Special Envoy from being tasked with another issue portfolio. The legislation also seeks to ensure the mandate of the Special Envoy is clear, to "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."

The bill is supported by Agudath Israel of America, American Jewish Committee, Anti-Defamation League, B'nai B'rith International, Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, The Jewish Federations of North America, National Coalition Supporting Eurasian Jewry, Orthodox Union, Secure Community Network, Simon Wiesenthal Center, and World Jewish Congress, North America.

Full text of the legislation is available online.