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H.R.1911 - Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism Act of 2017

115th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1911

To amend the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to monitor and combat anti-Semitism globally, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 5, 2017
Mr. Smith of New Jersey (for himself, Mr. Schneider, Mr. Roskam, Mr. Engel, Mr. Weber of Texas, Mrs. Lowey, Mr. Deutch, Mr. Bilirakis, and Mr. Veasey) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

A BILL
To amend the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to monitor and combat anti-Semitism globally, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the "Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism Act of 2017".

SEC. 2. FINDING.

Congress finds that since the Global Anti-Semitism Review Act of 2004 was enacted, in many foreign countries acts of anti-Semitism have been frequent and wide in scope, the perpetrators and variety of threats to Jewish communities and their institutions have proliferated, and in some countries anti-Semitic attacks have increased in frequency, scope, violence, and deadliness.

SEC. 3. MONITORING AND COMBATING ANTI-SEMITISM.

Subsection (a) of section 59 of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 (22 U.S.C. 2731) is amended—

(1) in paragraph (2)—

(A) in subparagraph (A)—

(i) by inserting before the period at the end the following: ", who shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate"; and

(ii) by adding at the end the following new sentence: "The Special Envoy shall report directly to the Secretary."; and

(B) in subparagraph (B)—

(i) by striking the first sentence; and

(ii) in the third sentence, by striking "The Secretary may allow such officer or employee to retain the position (and the responsibilities associated with such position)" and inserting "Such officer or employee may not retain the position (or the responsibilities associated with such position)"; and

(2) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:

"(3) DUTIES.—The Special Envoy shall serve as the primary advisor to, and coordinate efforts across, the United States Government relating to monitoring and combating anti-Semitism and anti-Semitic incitement that occur in foreign countries.

"(4) RANK AND STATUS OF AMBASSADOR.—The Special Envoy shall have the rank of ambassador.

"(5) QUALIFICATIONS.—The Special Envoy should be a person of recognized distinction in the field of—

"(A) combating anti-Semitism; or

"(B) religious freedom.".