On Monday, the United States House of Representatives unanimously passed Resolution H.R.6297, known as the PEACE (Protecting Europe from Antisemitic Crime and Extremism) Act, which will require the Department of State to provide briefings on antisemitism in Europe. Forty-nine representatives voted in favor of the bill, with no objectors.
The bipartisan resolution was sponsored by Rep. Randy Fine (R-FL-6) and cosponsored by Representatives Max Miller (R-OH-7), Michael Lawler (R-NY-17), Claudia Tenney (R-NY-24), Eugene Vindman (D-VA-7), and Laura Gillen (D-NY-4). In a speech on the House Floor, Congressman Fine named several instances of antisemitic attacks in Europe in recent years, including those against American citizens.
Rep. Fine said, “My bill would direct the State Department to assess the growing threat of antisemitism in Europe and provide diplomatic channels to make clear to our European allies that this conduct is simply unacceptable. After this assessment, the Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs will engage with European countries that are identified as countries of concern to say, “You’ve got to cooperate with us to deal with this rising antisemitism problem.”
Rep. Fine concluded: “Finally, I would just say this: We said after the Holocaust, “Never again.” But the facts are that there is a real risk of it happening. And so I would urge all of my colleagues to vote today to take this one small step to make sure that it doesn’t happen ever again.”
For more on Rep. Fine’s position on antisemitism, watch this exclusive C14 interview with Libby Alon
The PEACE Act is expected to move to the Senate and from there to the Oval Office, where it will be signed by the president and become law. Representative Brian Mast (R-FL-21), a military veteran who lost both his legs fighting Islamic terror in Afghanistan, strongly supported the resolution and urged his colleagues in the House to vote in favor.
Mast stated, “This legislation builds on the Trump administration’s effort to combat antisemitism, strengthen international counterterrorism cooperation, ensures continous US diplomatic engagement with European allies, and it requires regular consultations with Congress. I want to thank my colleague and the sponsor of this bill, Mr. Fine, for his leadership on the issue.”