WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), and James Lankford (R-OK), led a group of 58 Senators – evenly divided by party – in introducing a bipartisan resolution condemning recent antisemitic incidents in the United States and around the world. The Senators’ resolution also calls on leaders to denounce antisemitism and take specific steps to address it and prevent it.
“Resolved, that the Senate – unequivocally condemns the recent rise in antisemitic violence and harassment targeting Jewish Americans, and standing in solidarity with those affected by antisemitism; recommits to combating antisemitism in all forms; calls on elected officials, faith leaders, and civil society leaders to denounce and combat all manifestations of antisemitism,” said the resolution.
In addition to Cassidy, Rosen, and Lankford, original co-sponsors include Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Roy Blunt (R-MO), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Tom Carper (D-DE), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), John Cornyn (R-TX), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Steve Daines (R-MT), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Gary Peters (D-MI), Rob Portman (R-OH), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Susan Collins (R-ME), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Jim Risch (R-ID), Ed Markey (D-MA), John Hoeven (R-ND), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Mike Braun (R-IN), Angus King (I-ME), John Boozman (R-AR), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Alex Padilla (D-CA), John Thune (R-ND), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Jack Reed (D-RI), John Barrasso (R-WY), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Chris Coons (D-DE), John Kennedy (R-LA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Bob Casey (D-PA), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Mike Rounds (R-SD), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Johnson (R-WI).
Groups supporting the bipartisan resolution include Agudath Israel of America, American Jewish Committee, American Jewish Congress, Anti-Defamation League, B’nai B’rith International, Christians United for Israel, Combat Antisemitism Movement, Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, Hadassah – The Women’s Zionist Organization of America, Inc., HIAS, J Street, Jewish Council for Public Affairs, Jewish Federations of North America, Jewish Labor Committee, Jewish Women International, National Coalition Supporting Eurasian Jewry, National Council of Jewish Women, Rabbinical Assembly, Reconstructing Judaism, Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association, Simon Wiesenthal Center, Union for Reform Judaism, Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, World Jewish Congress, and Zionist Organization of America.
Background
Last week, Cassidy also introduced a resolution with Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) condemning hatred and violence against Jews, denouncing anti-Israel rhetoric from elected officials and the media, and reaffirming that Jews must be treated with dignity and respect. This resolution received support from the Republican Jewish Coalition and the Family Research Council. It is cosponsored by Senators Josh Hawley (R-MO), Rick Scott (R-FL), Mike Braun (R-IN), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Ted Cruz (R-TX), John Kennedy (R-LA), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Steve Daines (R-MN), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Mike Crapo (R-ID), and Bill Hagerty (R-TN).
Earlier this month, Cassidy joined 42 Republican colleagues calling on President Biden to stand with our closest ally in the Middle East, Israel. The senators called on President Biden to immediately end negotiations with Iran, and make clear that sanctions relief will not be provided. The senators highlighted that “[t]he United States engaging in active negotiations with Iran and potentially providing billions of dollars in sanctions relief will no doubt contribute to Iran’s support of Hamas and other terrorist organizations who attack Americans and our allies.”
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