```

[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1578 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1578

  Honoring and commending the American Jewish Committee on its 118th 
                              anniversary.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           November 18, 2024

Mr. Green of Texas (for himself, Mr. Costa, Ms. Stevens, Mrs. Fletcher, 
 and Mr. Rulli) submitted the following resolution; which was referred 
            to the Committee on Oversight and Accountability

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
  Honoring and commending the American Jewish Committee on its 118th 
                              anniversary.

Whereas this resolution may be cited as the ``Original Resolution honoring and 
        commending the American Jewish Committee on its 118th anniversary'';
Whereas the American Jewish Committee (AJC) was founded on November 11, 1906, in 
        New York City by a group of American Jews to raise awareness about 
        persecution and pogroms targeting Jews in Russia and who understood that 
        the fight against antisemitism was inextricably linked to advancing 
        human rights and democratic values for all;
Whereas the AJC recognizes that the protection of minorities underlies the 
        fabric of democracies, and speaks out when vulnerable communities are 
        threatened;
Whereas the AJC, in partnership with the Jewish community and other civil 
        society leaders, has been an essential resource and advocate in the 
        fight against the rising tide of hate and bigotry;
Whereas the AJC's groundbreaking research on prejudice and racism was cited in 
        the historic Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education of 
        Topeka;
Whereas the AJC, an early supporter of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as well as 
        the Voting Rights Act of 1965, has not wavered in its dedication to the 
        civil rights struggle in the United States, and it remains committed to 
        safeguarding human rights at home and abroad;
Whereas the AJC has a long history of building coalitions and advocating for 
        bipartisan, transnational solutions to address immigration;
Whereas the AJC's Belfer Institute for Latino and Latin American Affairs (BILLA) 
        works to strengthen ties between Jews and Latinos, and, in December 
        2023, BILLA hosted the Strategic Forum for Leaders of Ibero-American 
        Jewish Communities in Santiago, Chile;
Whereas the AJC strengthens bonds with diverse faith and ethnic communities to 
        underscore its commitment to pluralism, to combat the rise of 
        antisemitism and religiously motivated hate crimes, and to ensure all 
        faiths and minorities are protected against oppression and acts of 
        violence and are able to practice in their houses of worship without 
        fear;
Whereas, following the horrific attack at the Tree of Life or L'Simcha 
        Congregation in Pittsburgh which killed 11 worshippers, the AJC launched 
        a global campaign encouraging people of conscience around the world to 
        attend Shabbat services to confront hate-motivated violence with 
        solidarity and determination;
Whereas the names of the Tree of Life attack victims are Richard Gottfried, Rose 
        Mallinger, Jerry Rabinowitz, Edgewood Borough, Cecil Rosenthal, David 
        Rosenthal, Bernice Simon, Sylvan Simon, Daniel Stein, Melvin Wax, and 
        Irving Younger;
Whereas, in November 2016, the AJC launched the Muslim-Jewish Advisory Council, 
        an unprecedented initiative, which fostered a network of hundreds of 
        American Muslim and Jewish leaders to protect and expand the rights of 
        religious minorities in the United States;
Whereas, in January 2020, the AJC partnered with the Mecca-based Muslim World 
        League to lead 62 Muslim representatives from over 28 countries to 
        Auschwitz, a historic undertaking that brought one of the most senior 
        Muslim delegations to a Nazi death camp ever;
Whereas the AJC has played a pivotal role in advancing Christian-Jewish 
        relations for over 100 years, including through the heroic leadership of 
        Rabbi Marc H. Tanenbaum, AJC Director of Interreligious Affairs, which 
        dramatically contributed to the declaration of the Holy See known as 
        Nostra Aetate on October 28, 1965, transforming for the better Christian 
        teachings on Jews and Judaism;
Whereas the AJC's Jacob Blaustein Institute for the Advancement of Human Rights 
        works to combat religious intolerance, prevent genocide and mass 
        atrocities, and oppose all forms of discrimination;
Whereas, in July 2015, the AJC launched the Mayors United Against Anti-Semitism 
        campaign to build a nationwide coalition of elected officials committed 
        to fighting antisemitism;
Whereas, since Mayors United Against Anti-Semitism's inception, nearly 200 
        European mayors from 31 countries and more than 700 mayors and municipal 
        leaders from all 50 States plus the District of Columbia have signed 
        onto the statement condemning anti-Jewish hatred, pledging to promote 
        respectful coexistence;
Whereas the AJC has been a steadfast supporter of Israel, becoming the first 
        American Jewish organization to open an office in Israel, and an 
        effective advocate of Israel's security and place among nations;
Whereas the AJC seeks to expand Israel's bilateral and multilateral ties with 
        strategically important countries and international bodies while also 
        working to counter assaults on Israel's legitimacy;
Whereas, in 2018, the AJC crafted a pledge of unity and resolve reaffirming the 
        long-established transatlantic partnership between North America and 
        Europe, which was signed by more than 30 world leaders from both 
        continents, including current President Joe Biden, former Speaker of the 
        House John Boehner, and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair;
Whereas the AJC's Project Interchange has brought more than 6,200 opinion 
        leaders and policymakers to Israel from over 120 countries and all 50 
        States;
Whereas the AJC's Leaders For Tomorrow (LFT) program for high school students 
        seeks to empower young Jews to speak up for Israel and Jewish people and 
        has reached almost 3,000 students;
Whereas, in the wake of Russia's attack on Ukraine in 2022, two AJC-sponsored 
        flights transported hundreds of Ukrainian Jewish refugees to Israel;
Whereas the AJC's advocacy is underpinned by the notion that American leadership 
        in global affairs is essential to our national interests, the 
        preservation and advancement of democratic values and human dignity, and 
        the security of our allies;
Whereas the first University Presidents Summit on Campus Antisemitism was hosted 
        by the AJC in partnership with Hillel International and the American 
        Council on Education (ACE) in April 2022 to address challenges Jewish 
        students face on campus;
Whereas the AJC's Transatlantic Institute worked to renew the EU-Israel 
        Association Council, which met again for the first time in decades in 
        October 2022;
Whereas, each year, the AJC engages in diplomatic outreach during the United 
        Nations General Assembly, and, in September 2024, the AJC met with over 
        80 world leaders to advocate for friendships with Israel, urge leaders 
        to counter antisemitism, implore the international community to address 
        human rights abuses as well as nuclear development in Iran, and to 
        emphasize support for Ukraine in its war against Russia;
Whereas the AJC has been a stalwart for human rights and a bulwark against 
        injustice worldwide, embracing a global approach with 17 international 
        offices, 25 United States offices, and 38 international Jewish community 
        partnerships;
Whereas, since the horrific events of October 7, 2023, the AJC has written 
        articles concerning the Israel-Hamas war and continues to provide 
        recommendations on how to address antisemitism across the globe;
Whereas, on May 21, 2024, the AJC released an updated Call to Action Against 
        Antisemitism, a Society-Wide Nonpartisan Guide for America, which 
        included specific guidelines for addressing antisemitism in light of the 
        October 7 attacks; and
Whereas the AJC has spearheaded the effort to combat antisemitism online and has 
        brought attention to Jewish voices by creating the Voices Against 
        Antisemitism campaign, a video series featuring American Jewish 
        celebrities and social media influencers reckoning with the aftermath of 
        the Hamas attack: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This resolution may be cited as the ``Original Resolution honoring 
and commending the American Jewish Committee on its 118th 
anniversary''.

SEC. 2. HONORING AND COMMENDING THE AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE ON ITS 
              118TH ANNIVERSARY.

    That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes the 118th anniversary of the historic 
        founding of the American Jewish Committee; and
            (2) honors and commends the American Jewish Committee for 
        its efforts regarding human rights worldwide, interfaith 
        dialogue, and the promotion of Israel's security and place in 
        the world.
                                 <all>
```