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[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1166 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1166

   Honoring and praising the American Jewish Committee (AJC) on the 
                   occasion of its 112th anniversary.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           November 30, 2018

    Mr. Al Green of Texas (for himself, Ms. Clarke of New York, Ms. 
  Wasserman Schultz, Ms. Meng, Mr. Gonzalez of Texas, Mr. Cohen, Ms. 
   Moore, Mr. Brady of Pennsylvania, and Mr. Rothfus) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight 
                         and Government Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
   Honoring and praising the American Jewish Committee (AJC) on the 
                   occasion of its 112th anniversary.

Whereas the American Jewish Committee (AJC) was founded on November 11, 1906, in 
        New York City by a group of American Jews who wanted to raise awareness 
        about persecution and pogroms targeting Jews in Russia and understood 
        that the fight against anti-Semitism was inextricably linked to 
        advancing human rights and democratic values for all;
Whereas AJC recognizes that the protection of minorities underlies the fabric of 
        democracies, and speaks out when vulnerable communities are threatened;
Whereas 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 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 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, as it remains committed to 
        safeguarding human rights at home and abroad;
Whereas AJC has a long history of building coalitions and advocating for 
        bipartisan, transnational solutions to address immigration;
Whereas AJC's Belfer Institute for Latino and Latin American Affairs (BILLA), 
        has long been at the forefront of efforts to strengthen ties between 
        Jews and Latinos, and in January 2017, BILLA established a Latino Jewish 
        Leadership Council of 35 prominent leaders inspired by commonalities as 
        diverse immigrant and diaspora communities with strong ties to 
        homelands, and as peoples with first-hand knowledge of prejudice and 
        discrimination;
Whereas AJC strengthens bonds with diverse faith and ethnic communities to 
        underscore its commitment to pluralism, to combat the rise of anti-
        Semitism and religiously motivated hate crimes, 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, 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 Pittsburgh 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 AJC's Muslim-Jewish Advisory Council is a group of 50 recognized Muslim 
        and Jewish leaders which advocates for a domestic policy agenda aimed at 
        protecting and expanding the rights of religious minorities in the 
        United States;
Whereas 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, AJC launched the Mayors United Against Anti-Semitism 
        campaign to build a nationwide coalition of elected officials committed 
        to fighting anti-Semitism, and nearly 200 European mayors from 31 
        countries and more than 350 mayors and municipal leaders from all 50 
        States, plus the District of Columbia, signed a statement condemning 
        anti-Jewish hatred and pledging to promote respectful coexistence, 
        representing over 86 million Americans and 70 million Europeans;
Whereas 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 the nations;
Whereas 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, whether on campus, 
        in multinational organizations, or elsewhere;
Whereas, in 2016, AJC launched the Governors United Against BDS campaign through 
        which Governors from all 50 States and both parties condemned BDS and 
        reaffirmed support for Israel as a vital United States ally and economic 
        partner;
Whereas AJC's Project Interchange has brought more than 6,000 opinion leaders 
        and policymakers to Israel from over 110 countries and all 50 States;
Whereas 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, in September 2018, AJC crafted a pledge of unity and resolve 
        reaffirming the transatlantic partnership signed by more than 30 world 
        leaders from both sides of the Atlantic, including former Vice President 
        Joe Biden, former Speaker of the House John Boehner, and former British 
        Prime Minister Tony Blair;
Whereas each year, AJC embarks on a marathon of advocacy on the sidelines of the 
        United Nations General Assembly, and in September 2018, AJC held over 85 
        frank, off-the-record discussions with heads of state, foreign 
        ministers, and other senior officials from 62 countries; and
Whereas AJC has been a stalwart for human rights and a bulwark against injustice 
        worldwide, embracing a global approach with 11 international offices, 22 
        United States offices, and 36 international Jewish community 
        partnerships: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes the 112th anniversary of the historic 
        founding of the American Jewish Committee; and
            (2) honors and praises the American Jewish Committee on the 
        occasion of its anniversary for its efforts regarding human 
        rights worldwide, interfaith dialogue, and the promotion of 
        Israel's security and place in the world.
                                 <all>
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