Congresswoman Maria Salazar, along with Representatives Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Debbie Wasserman Schultz, has introduced the bipartisan Commission to Study Acts of Antisemitism in the United States Act. This legislation aims to establish a national commission to investigate the rise in antisemitic violence and provide actionable recommendations to Congress and the President.
Rep. Salazar highlighted the urgency of addressing this issue, stating, “Since the brutal Hamas terrorist attack on innocent Israeli civilians on October 7, 2023, antisemitic incidents have skyrocketed, resulting in an overall increase of 900% over the past 10 years, including recent violent, hate-fueled attacks that have shocked communities across the country.” She emphasized that “the U.S. must identify and report these acts of hate against the Jewish community to put an end to them immediately.”
Rep. Miller-Meeks underscored the growing threat by citing various incidents: “Whether it’s the brutal attack in Boulder, the murder of two Israeli Embassy staffers outside a Jewish museum in D.C., or the 80 percent spike in campus antisemitic incidents, the threat is real and growing.” She expressed confidence that “this commission will get to the root of the problem and help us take strong, serious action needed to protect Jewish Americans and restore order and accountability.”
Rep. Wasserman Schultz noted that “antisemitism was already surging before October 7th,” but since then it has intensified significantly. She remarked that “as we’ve unfortunately witnessed, hatred that starts online does not stay online.” The congresswoman believes this bipartisan commission will be instrumental in shaping effective policies to address this troubling trend.
Recent cases underscore this alarming rise in antisemitic violence across America. In Boulder, Colorado, an illegal immigrant from Egypt attacked peaceful marchers with a makeshift flamethrower during a protest for hostage release, injuring eight people. In Washington D.C., two young Israeli Embassy staffers were murdered outside a Jewish museum by a radical Hamas supporter shouting “Free Palestine.” Additionally, college campuses have seen an over 80 percent increase in antisemitic incidents involving threats, vandalism, harassment, and physical assaults.
The proposed commission will bring together Jewish leaders alongside law enforcement officials and civil society experts from affected communities. Their task will be to investigate these acts of hate thoroughly while identifying their root causes. They are expected to deliver a formal report with concrete policy recommendations aimed at strengthening national data collection efforts as well as improving accountability for such incidents.
