'Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism Act'

Press Release

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Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), co-chair of the Bipartisan Congressional Task Force for Combating Anti-Semitism, delivered excerpts of the following remarks on the House Floor on Thursday on his legislation, HR 221, the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism Act:
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to vote for H.R. 221, the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism Act. In 2004, I authored the provisions of law that created and required this position and office it leads at the State Department. My latest legislation upgrades and strengthens the position to anticipate, prevent, mitigate, and respond to threats against Jewish communities worldwide.

H.R. 221 elevates the Special Envoy to the rank of Ambassador, reporting directly to the Secretary of State. This would enable sufficient seniority and access inside the U.S. government and when engaging foreign governments. The bill requires the President to nominate a candidate no later than 90 days after the bill becomes law and no later than 120 thereafter whenever the position is empty.
H.R. 221 forbids "double-hatting" the Special Envoy with duties irrelevant to combating anti-Semitism. The legislation also mandates the Special Envoy to be the primary advisor to the U.S. government on monitoring and combating anti-Semitism.

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