Sen. Ossoff Takes Senate Floor to Confirm Dr. Deborah Lipstadt as U.S. Special Envoy to Combat Anti-Semitism

"Thank you, Madam President. Madam President, in just a moment, in just a moment, I'm going to ask that the senate do something that we should have done months ago. In just a moment, Madam President, I'm going to ask that this body confirm Deborah Lipstadt to serve as the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat anti-Semitism on behalf of the United States.

"Madam president, my great-grandparents Israel and Annie arrived in this country in 1911 and 1913 fleeing anti-Semitism in Eastern Europe. Their story is like the story of so many Jewish immigrants and refugees who came to the United States because the free exercise of religion is guaranteed by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. And when I stood just there, Madam President, and was sworn into the U.S. Senate, I held in my breast pocket copies of the ship's manifests logging their arrivals at Ellis Island.

"Madam President, we had a confirmation hearing for Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson in the Judiciary Committee last week. And I had a discussion with Judge Jackson about what that means, the free exercise of religion. This country has drawn immigrants and refugees from around the world because it's a place where you're protected from persecution no matter how you worship. That's what America stands for.

"It is time for the Senate, at long last, to confirm this nominee to fight anti-Semitism around the world, on behalf of the United States, standing up for those values. It was U.S. Forces who liberated Dachau and Buchenwald. And Annie and Israel, my great grandparents, they got out of Europe. Many of my family did not, Madam President, and they perished in the Holocaust. This isn't ancient history. This is recent history.

"And right now as we speak, the scourge of anti-Semitism is rising again in this country and around the world. If we mean the words "never again,' than at long last, Madam President, let's confirm Deborah Lipstadt to fight anti-Semitism on behalf of the United States.

"Deborah Lipstadt comes from my home state of Georgia. She's the professor of modern Jewish history and Holocaust studies at Emory university. A leading scholar on anti-Semitism and the holocaust. It is time for the United States to stand up against anti-Semitism. It is time finally for the senate to confirm this nominee.

"So, Madam President, at this time, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate consider the following nomination: calendar number 845, Deborah E. Lipstadt, of Georgia, to be Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat anti-Semitism with the rank of Ambassador. That the Senate vote on the nomination without intervening action or debate, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, that any statements related to the nomination be printed in the record, that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action."

Source