Miller-Meeks, Colleagues Launch Bill to Fight Antisemitic Hate Across the U.S.
Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), alongside Representatives Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) and Maria Salazar (R-FL), has introduced the bipartisan Commission to Study Acts of Antisemitism in the United States Act, legislation to establish a national commission tasked with investigating the rise in antisemitic violence and providing actionable recommendations to Congress and the President.
"Whether it's the brutal attack in Boulder, the murder of two Israeli Embassy staffers outside a Jewish museum in D.C., or the 80 percent spike in campus antisemitic incidents, the threat is real and growing," said Rep. Miller-Meeks. "This commission will get to the root of the problem and help us take the strong, serious action needed to protect Jewish Americans and restore order and accountability."
“Antisemitism was already surging before October 7th, but since then, it has exploded—especially in the digital realm,” said Rep. Wasserman Schultz. “As we've unfortunately witnessed, hatred that starts online does not stay online. This bipartisan, bicameral commission, backed by leading voices in the Jewish community, will help shape smart, actionable policies to confront this alarming trend head-on.”
“Since the brutal Hamas terrorist attack on innocent Israeli civilians on October 7, 2023, antisemitic incidents have skyrocketed, resulting in an overall increase of 900% over the past 10 years, including recent violent, hate-fueled attacks that have shocked communities across the country,” said Rep. Salazar. “The U.S. must identify and report these acts of hate against the Jewish community to put an end to them immediately.”
Background:
Antisemitic violence and harassment have surged across the United States since October 7. In Boulder, Colorado, an illegal immigrant from Egypt wielding a makeshift flamethrower attacked peaceful marchers calling for the release of hostages, hospitalizing eight people. In Washington, D.C., two young Israeli Embassy staffers were murdered outside the Capital Jewish Museum by a radical Hamas supporter shouting “Free Palestine.” Across college campuses, antisemitic incidents have spiked by more than 80 percent, with students reporting threats, vandalism, harassment, and physical assaults.
The Commission to Study Acts of Antisemitism will bring together Jewish leaders, law enforcement, civil society experts, and impacted communities to investigate these acts, uncover root causes, and deliver a formal report to Congress and the President with concrete policy recommendations. The commission will also strengthen national data collection and improve accountability for antisemitic incidents.
For full bill text, click HERE.