I 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 221 

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 

JANUARY 3, 2019 

Mr. SMITH of New Jersey (for himself, Mr. SCHNEIDER, Mr. ENGEL, Mr. 

KING of New York, Mr. VEASEY, Mr. ZELDIN, Mrs. LOWEY, and Ms. 

GRANGER) 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. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Special Envoy to Mon5 itor and Combat Anti-Semitism Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. FINDING. 

7 Congress finds that since the Global Anti-Semitism 

8 Review Act of 2004 was enacted, in many foreign coun9 tries acts of anti-Semitism have been frequent and wide 


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1 in scope, the perpetrators and variety of threats to Jewish 

2 communities and their institutions have proliferated, and 

3 in some countries anti-Semitic attacks have increased in 

4 frequency, scope, violence, and deadliness. 

5 SEC. 3. MONITORING AND COMBATING ANTI-SEMITISM. 

6 (a) IN GENERAL.—Subsection (a) of section 59 of the 

7 State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 (22 

8 U.S.C. 2731) is amended— 

9 (1) in paragraph (2)— 

10 (A) in subparagraph (A)— 

11 (i) by inserting before the period at 

12 the end the following: ‘‘, who shall be ap13 pointed by the President, by and with the 

14 advice and consent of the Senate’’; and 

15 (ii) by adding at the end the following 

16 new sentence: ‘‘The Special Envoy shall re17 port directly to the Secretary.’’; and 

18 (B) in subparagraph (B)— 

19 (i) in the heading, by striking ‘‘AP20 POINTMENT’’ and inserting ‘‘NOMINA21 TION’’; 

22 (ii) by striking the first sentence; 

23 (iii) in the second sentence, by strik24 ing ‘‘If the Secretary determines that such 

25 is appropriate, the Secretary may appoint’’ 


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1 and inserting ‘‘If the President determines 

2 that such is appropriate, the President 

3 may nominate’’; and 

4 (iv) in the third sentence, by striking 

5 ‘‘The Secretary may allow such officer or 

6 employee to retain the position (and the 

7 responsibilities associated with such posi8 tion) held by such officer or employee prior 

9 to the appointment’’ and inserting ‘‘Such 

10 officer or employee may not retain the po11 sition (or the responsibilities associated 

12 with such position) held by such officer or 

13 employee prior to the nomination’’; and 

14 (2) by adding at the end the following new 

15 paragraphs: 

16 ‘‘(3) DUTIES.—The Special Envoy shall serve 

17 as the primary advisor to, and coordinate efforts 

18 across, the United States Government relating to 

19 monitoring and combating anti-Semitism and anti20 Semitic incitement that occur in foreign countries. 

21 ‘‘(4) RANK AND STATUS OF AMBASSADOR.— 

22 The Special Envoy shall have the rank of ambas23 sador. 


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1 ‘‘(5) QUALIFICATIONS.—The Special Envoy 

2 should be a person of recognized distinction in the 

3 field of— 

4 ‘‘(A) combating anti-Semitism; 

5 ‘‘(B) religious freedom; or 

6 ‘‘(C) law enforcement.’’. 

7 (b) NOMINATION.—Not later than 90 days after the 

8 date of the enactment of this Act, and not later than 120 

9 after any such position becomes vacant, the President 

10 shall nominate the Special Envoy for Monitoring and 

11 Combating anti-Semitism under section 59 of the State 

12 Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956, as amended 

13 by subsection (a) of this section. 

Æ 


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