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This section captures a floor statement or debate entry. It mentions legislation such as Calling on elected officials and civil society leaders to counter antisemitism and educate the public on the contributions of the Jewish-American community., committees such as Committee on Armed Services, members such as Brad Knott.
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May 12, 2026
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Download official House Record PDFReturn to issue contextANTISEMITISM AND EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE JEWISH-
AMERICAN COMMUNITY
Mr. KNOTT. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1251) calling on elected officials and civil society leaders to counter antisemitism and educate the public on the contributions of the Jewish-American community.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 1251
Whereas “Jewish American Heritage Month” has its origins
in 1980, when Congress enacted a joint resolution entitled
“Joint resolution to authorize and request the President to
issue a proclamation designating April 21 through April 28,
1980, as `Jewish Heritage Week' ”, approved April 24, 1980
(Public Law 96-237; 94 Stat. 338);
Whereas, on April 24, 1980, President Carter issued the
proclamation for “Jewish Heritage Week”, and in that
proclamation, President Carter spoke about the bountiful
contributions made by the Jewish people to the culture and
history of the United States;
Whereas Congress has played a central role in recognizing
“Jewish American Heritage Month” since the House of
Representatives and Senate passed resolutions in 2005 and
2006, respectively, urging the President to proclaim the
national observation of a month recognizing the Jewish-
American community;
Whereas, since 2006, Presidents Bush, Obama, Trump, and
Biden have all issued proclamations for “Jewish American
Heritage Month”, which celebrates Jewish Americans and
encourages all people of the United States to learn more
about Jewish heritage and the contributions of Jewish people
throughout the history of the United States;
Whereas several prominent Jewish Americans heroically
supported the American Revolution, and Jewish community
leaders advocated for freedom of religion for all Americans
upon the founding of the Nation;
Whereas, in 1790, President George Washington expressed his
support for religious freedom for Jewish Americans in a
letter to the Touro Synagogue in Newport, Rhode Island,
affirming that the newly founded United States would give
“to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance”, and
offered his wishes that “the children of the Stock of
Abraham, who dwell in this land, continue to merit and enjoy
the good will of the other Inhabitants”;
Whereas, since the Nation's founding, more than 1,000,000
Jewish-American men and women are estimated to have served in
the United States Armed Forces, participating in every major
American conflict;
Whereas at least 18 Jewish-American soldiers, airmen, and
Marines have received the Medal of Honor, the United States
highest award for military valor in combat, of which 4 were
presented posthumously;
Whereas, according to his Medal of Honor citation, on June
30, 1862, during the Civil War, United States Army Private
Benjamin B. Levy, “a drummer boy, took the gun of a sick
comrade, went into the fight, and when the color bearers were
shot down, carried the [Union] colors and saved them from
capture”;
Whereas, according to his posthumous Medal of Honor
citation, on October 26, 1918, during World War I in France,
United States Army Sergeant William Sawelson heard “a
wounded man in a shell hole . . . calling for water”, and
“left shelter and crawled through heavy machinegun fire to
where the man lay, giving him what water he had in his
canteen”, and after returning to obtain more water, “was
killed by a machinegun bullet”;
Whereas, according to his posthumous Medal of Honor
citation, on July 7, 1944, in the Battle of Saipan during
World War II, United States Army Captain Ben L. Salomon was
serving as a surgeon when Japanese troops “started
overrunning his hospital”, and he “stood a rear-guard
position in which he had no hope of personal survival,
allowing
the safe evacuation of the wounded . . . before being killed
himself”;
Whereas, according to his posthumous Medal of Honor
citation, between July 23, 1950, and April 20, 1953, during
the Korean war, United States Army Corporal Tibor Rubin, a
Holocaust survivor who immigrated to the United States, was
“severely wounded . . . and subsequently captured by Chinese
forces” but “chose to remain in Chinese prison despite
offers of an early release” and, instead, “risked his own
safety . . . to find food for other soldiers and provid[e]
medical care to the sick and wounded prisoners”;
Whereas, according to his posthumous Medal of Honor
citation, on July 12, 2018, in Afghanistan, United States
Army Sergeant First Class Christopher A. Celiz “voluntarily
exposed himself to intense enemy machine-gun and small-arms
fire . . . thereby allowing U.S. and partnered forces to
regain the initiative, maneuver to a secure location, and
begin treatment of a critically wounded partnered force
member”, whose life was saved and, after being hit by enemy
fire, he “motioned to the aircraft to depart rather than
remain behind” to evacuate him, sacrificing his own life
“to protect his team”;
Whereas the bravery and valiance of Jewish-American
servicemembers, including those that made the ultimate
sacrifice, illustrate the profound contributions that the
Jewish-American community has made to defending the
Constitution, freedom, and the American way of life;
Whereas the frequency of antisemitic incidents targeting
Jews and those who are perceived as Jewish in the United
States has reached record highs;
Whereas, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation,
anti-Jewish bias accounted for two-thirds of religion-based
hate crime incidents, and Jewish Americans were the targets
of 15 percent of all recorded hate crimes, despite
constituting just 2 percent of the United States population;
Whereas, according to the American Jewish Committee, 91
percent of American Jews say they feel less safe as a Jewish
person in the United States due to violent attacks against
American Jews in the past year;
Whereas, according to the Jewish Federations of North
America, 50 percent of Jewish institutions with a physical
presence, such as synagogues, community centers, and day
schools, lack the resources to adequately protect themselves
against these rising threats;
Whereas, according to the American Jewish Committee, 73
percent of Jewish adults report experiencing antisemitism
online, including on social media;
Whereas, according to Hillel International, 85 percent of
Jewish college students have experienced or witnessed some
form of antisemitism on their university campus;
Whereas, according to the American Jewish Committee, 38
percent of American adults do not personally know someone who
is Jewish, and 30 percent are unfamiliar with the meaning of
the term “antisemitism”; and
Whereas one of the most effective ways to combat
antisemitism and hate is through education and awareness of
the contributions Jewish Americans have made to the United
States through the arts, entertainment, science and
technology, military, government, business, culinary
traditions, and other fields: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives—
(1) calls on elected officials, faith leaders, and civil
society leaders to condemn and counter all acts of
antisemitism;
(2) calls on the executive branch and State and local
leaders to educate the public on the contributions of the
Jewish-American community and uplift Jewish stories and
voices;
(3) takes all possible steps to ensure the safety,
security, and dignity of Jewish Americans in all aspects of
their lives, including the workplace, college and university
campuses, synagogues, and at home;
(4) honors the contributions of Jewish-American
servicemembers who have gone above and beyond the call of
duty to protect freedom; and
(5) commits to protecting religious freedom in America by
ensuring all Americans, including Jewish Americans, can
worship without fear of violence or persecution.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Knott) and the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Raskin) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from North Carolina.
General Leave
Mr. KNOTT. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to submit extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from North Carolina?
There was no objection.
Mr. KNOTT. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, this month we celebrate Jewish American Heritage Month. First proclaimed by President George W. Bush and by each President since, this month recognizes the contributions of the Jewish community to our country.
perceived as Jewish in the United States have reached record highs. According to the American Jewish Committee, 91 percent of American Jews say that they feel less safe in the United States due to violent attacks against American Jews in the past year.
students have experienced or witnessed some form of anti-Semitism on their campus.
{time} 1600
Mr. Speaker, these are not just numbers on a page, but these are a lived experience of all Jewish Americans.
staff members were fatally shot outside the Capital Jewish Museum right here in Washington, D.C.
demonstrators, who were calling for the release of hostages held by Hamas, and threw Molotov cocktails, killing one person and injuring more than a dozen in addition.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
House of Representatives,
Committee on Armed Services,
Washington, DC, May 7, 2026.
Hon. Jim Jordan,
Chairman, Committee on the Judiciary,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Jordan: H. Res. 1251 was referred primarily
to the Committee on the Judiciary with an additional referral
to the Committee on Armed Services.
H. Res. 1251 contains provisions within the Committee on
Armed Services' Rule X jurisdiction. As a result of your
having consulted with the Committee and to expedite this bill
for floor consideration, the Committee on Armed Services will
forego action on the bill. This is being done based on our
mutual understanding that doing so will in no way diminish or
alter the jurisdiction of the Committee on Armed Services
with respect to the appointment of conferees, or to any
future jurisdictional claim over the subject matters
contained in the bill or similar bills.
I would appreciate your response to this letter confirming
this understanding, and would request that you include a copy
of this letter and your response in the committee report or
in the Congressional Record during floor consideration of
this bill. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.
Sincerely,
Mike Rogers,
Chairman.
House of Representatives,
Committee on the Judiciary,
Washington, DC, May 11, 2026.
Hon. Mike Rogers,
Chairman, Committee on Armed Services,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Rogers: Thank you for consulting with the
Committee on the Judiciary and agreeing to be discharged from
further consideration of H. Res. 1251 so that the measure may
proceed expeditiously to the House floor.
I agree that your forgoing further action on this measure
does not in any way diminish or alter the jurisdiction of
your committee, or prejudice its jurisdictional prerogatives
on this measure or similar legislation in the future. I would
support your effort to seek appointment of an appropriate
number of conferees from your committee to any House-Senate
conference on this legislation.
I will insert this exchange of these letters in the
Congressional Record during consideration of this measure on
the House floor. I appreciate your cooperation regarding this
legislation and look forward to continuing to work together
on matters of shared jurisdiction during this Congress. Thank
you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Jim Jordan,
Chairman.
Mr. RASKIN. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Knott for those thoughtful remarks.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I will start by thanking the gentleman from Maryland for yielding and for his support of this resolution, along with his decades of leadership in support of the Jewish-American community and as a member of it.
measure on the floor. I appreciate our work together on issues where we agree.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of my resolution, H. Res. 1251, to recognize Jewish American Heritage Month and honor the role of Jewish Americans throughout our country's 250-year history.
each May to come together and honor the generations of Jewish Americans who help make up an integral part of the rich mosaic of the United States.
takes place amid rising anti-Semitism. As the resolution notes, anti- Jewish bias was identified in two-thirds of 2024 FBI hate crime reports, and American Jews, who are just 2 percent of the population, were targeted in 15 percent of all hate crimes.
Mr. Speaker, 91 percent of Jews feel less safe in America after violent attacks in Colorado, Pennsylvania, New York, and here in Washington, D.C., some of which were deadly.
synagogues, preschools, and community centers, lack the resources to protect themselves. The status quo is unacceptable.
That is why this resolution expresses moral clarity. The House must unite to denounce anti-Semitism and protect Jewish Americans from attacks on their religious freedom, dignity, and safety.
ignorance, and bigotry is education. When 38 percent of Americans don't know someone Jewish and 30 percent aren't familiar with the term “anti-Semitism,” it is essential to take this opportunity in the month of May to build awareness of the role Jewish Americans have played in our country's success.
Independence, I am proud that our resolution highlights the more than 1 million Jewish-American men and women who have defended our freedom in the U.S. military.
Armed Forces, in every major war and conflict. At least 18 Jewish servicemembers have earned the Medal of Honor, our Nation's highest military decoration, for risking their lives above and beyond the call of duty.
of how Jewish Americans have contributed to protecting our liberty and our way of life. They are the clearest refutation of false, bigoted accusations that Jewish Americans lack loyalty for this country.
isn't erased when they are gone. I am proud to have worked across the aisle to protect their legacy.
Act, which passed the House last year, would ensure that hundreds of Jewish servicemembers who were wrongfully buried under Latin crosses have their graves marked with the Star of David.
Americans made bountiful contributions, and we in Congress have a critical role to play in educating Americans about the Jewish community and preserving our history.
firmly against anti-Semitism in any form and commits to protecting every American's right to express their religion without interference or persecution.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Goldman of Texas). The time of the gentlewoman has expired.
Mr. RASKIN. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentlewoman from Florida.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, as we mark Jewish American Heritage Month, I urge my colleagues not only to support this measure, but to take this opportunity to engage with their Jewish and non-Jewish constituents during the month of May to educate them about Jewish contributions to the success of the United States of America.
Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this resolution.
Mr. RASKIN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Florida.
Touro Synagogue in Newport, Rhode Island. In it, he explained the key advantage that would set our new Republic apart from all prior nations.
Here in the United States, he assured the Jewish community: “All possess alike liberty of conscience and immunities of citizenship.” Not liberty for some, but liberty for all.
and maintain a government that “gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance.” We would require “only that they who live under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens, in giving it on all occasions their effectual support.”
everyone who lives here is sewn into the fabric of the American political culture.
The United States doesn't always live up to that promise, Mr. Speaker. All too often, there have been efforts to privilege some Americans over others, to create a hierarchy, to bully particular American communities because of their religion, their ethnicity, their skin color, or their national origin, for cynical and political gain.
treated sometimes as a scapegoat. We see that incidents of anti- Semitism across America remain at record highs today. We see an alarming rise in physical assaults motivated by anti-Semitism, 203 last year alone.
year, including two right here at the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C.
together to counter racism and anti-Semitism which form the gateway to destruction of liberal democracy. We cannot pretend that systematic hatred and discrimination leaves anybody unaffected in the country.
discrimination head-on, to foster what President Washington called “an enlarged and liberal policy,” one that moves our country from the intolerance of white supremacy to the tolerance and universal liberties that he described in that letter to the congregation in Newport.
That is why, Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution which observes “one of the most effective ways to combat anti-Semitism and hate is through education and awareness of the contributions Jewish Americans have made to the United States through the arts, entertainment, science and technology, military, government, business, culinary traditions, and other fields.”
this project. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. KNOTT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
I thank the gentleman from Maryland for his remarks. I am continuing on in the same spirit that was referenced by my colleague: “To bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance.”
Mr. Speaker, all of us as elected leaders and the leaders around this country, we do have a solemn responsibility to confront anti-Semitism wherever it is.
contributed immeasurably to the United States throughout our history, some by serving in the Armed Forces and laying down their lives, as recounted in this resolution. I hope that we may honor their service and sacrifice for their fellow Americans.
Mr. RASKIN. Mr. Speaker, President Washington closed that letter to the congregation in Newport, Rhode Island, this way. He said: “May the Children of the Stock of Abraham, who dwell in this land, continue to merit and enjoy the good will of the other inhabits; while everyone shall sit in safety under his own vine and fig tree, and there shall be none to make him afraid.”
I thank the gentlewoman from Florida for her resolution. I thank the gentleman from North Carolina for his
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
{time} 1610
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Knott) that the House suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1251.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. KNOTT. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion will be postponed.