House Passes Bill Enhancing Reporting On European Anti-Semitism
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WASHINGTON (JTA) — The House of Representatives unanimously approved a bill on Wednesday that would add greater detail to State Department reporting on anti-Semitism in Europe.
The Combating European Anti-Semitism Act of 2017 requires the State Department to report to Congress on security challenges to European Jewish communities and to the police forces where they live, and on efforts in Europe to educate against anti-Semitism.
The bill also encourages European nations to adopt a uniform definition of anti-Semitism.
The State Department currently must report to Congress on the level of threats against Jews in European countries.
“This bill would require the U.S. government — and encourage our global partners — to continue to take a hard look at anti-Semitism in Europe, provide a thorough assessment of trends, and outline what the United States and our partners are doing to meet this challenge,” said a statement from the Bipartisan Taskforce for Combating Anti-Semitism.
The co-chairwomen of the task force are Reps. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., who is also the chairwoman of the House Middle East subcommittee, and Nita Lowey, D-N.Y., also the ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee.
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