Title: A resolution condemning the antisemitic terrorist attack that occurred at Congregation Beth Israel Synagogue on January 15, 2022, in Colleyville, Texas, expressing gratitude that no innocent lives were lost, and applauding the dedication and bravery of law enforcement and emergency response officials in responding to the attack.
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement

Summary:
This resolution condemns the attack on Congregation Beth Israel Synagogue in Colleyville, Texas, on January 15, 2022.

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 526 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

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117th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 526

     Condemning the antisemitic terrorist attack that occurred at 
Congregation Beth Israel Synagogue on January 15, 2022, in Colleyville, 
   Texas, expressing gratitude that no innocent lives were lost, and 
applauding the dedication and bravery of law enforcement and emergency 
            response officials in responding to the attack.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           February 17, 2022

    Mr. Cruz (for himself, Mr. Cornyn, Ms. Rosen, Mr. Grassley, Ms. 
    Baldwin, Mr. Risch, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Cramer, Mr. Kaine, Mrs. 
Blackburn, Ms. Sinema, Mr. Boozman, Ms. Cortez Masto, Mr. Hagerty, Mr. 
 Hickenlooper, Mrs. Hyde-Smith, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Scott of Florida, Mr. 
Brown, Mr. Sullivan, Mr. Warnock, Mr. King, Mr. Hawley, Mr. Young, Mr. 
  Hoeven, Mrs. Gillibrand, Mr. Coons, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. 
 Rubio, Mr. Blunt, Mr. Romney, Mrs. Capito, Mr. Moran, Mr. Braun, Mr. 
    Crapo, Mr. Cotton, Mr. Cassidy, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Graham, Mr. 
Marshall, Mrs. Fischer, Mr. Tillis, Mr. Burr, Ms. Collins, Mr. Kennedy, 
    Mr. Ossoff, Mr. Booker, Mr. Kelly, Ms. Hirono, Mr. Warner, Mr. 
 Blumenthal, Mr. Lankford, Mr. Portman, Mr. Johnson, and Mr. Scott of 
     South Carolina) submitted the following resolution; which was 
                        considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
     Condemning the antisemitic terrorist attack that occurred at 
Congregation Beth Israel Synagogue on January 15, 2022, in Colleyville, 
   Texas, expressing gratitude that no innocent lives were lost, and 
applauding the dedication and bravery of law enforcement and emergency 
            response officials in responding to the attack.

Whereas on the afternoon of January 15, 2022, 4 individuals at Congregation Beth 
        Israel Synagogue in Colleyville, Texas were taken hostage and held at 
        gunpoint by an armed antisemitic terrorist;
Whereas during the hostage standoff, the terrorist echoed the demands of other 
        militant Islamists, including the Islamic State (ISIS), Ayman al-
        Zawahri, lieutenant to Osama bin Laden and mastermind of many of 
        deadliest al Qaeda terror attacks, and others within al Qaeda, that the 
        United States release from Federal prison a certain radicalized 
        terrorist known as the ``Lady of al Qaeda'';
Whereas the ``Lady of al Qaeda'' was captured in Afghanistan with handwritten 
        notes about perpetrating a ``mass casualty attack'' and a list of 
        targets located in the United States that included the Empire State 
        Building, the Statue of Liberty, and Wall Street, and was later 
        convicted of the attempted murder and assault of United States nationals 
        in 2010 and sentenced to 86 years in prison;
Whereas the hostages were able to run to safety and escape due to the quick 
        thinking and bravery of one of the hostages, who threw a chair at the 
        terrorist;
Whereas the safe resolution to the January 15th terrorist attack on Congregation 
        Beth Israel demonstrated the critical importance of professional safety 
        and security training, facility walk-throughs, and security assessments 
        for all Jewish community institutions;
Whereas since 2005, through the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, Congress has 
        supported professional safety and security training for houses of 
        worship, which was conducted by Jewish community institutions, including 
        Congregation Beth Israel Synagogue, and by the Secure Community Network 
        under the auspices of the Conference of Presidents of Major American 
        Jewish Organizations and the Jewish Federations of North America;
Whereas the perpetrator targeted the people worshiping at Congregation Beth 
        Israel Synagogue because they were Jewish;
Whereas the people of the United States are grateful for the swift action of 
        local, State, and Federal law enforcement officials and emergency 
        response teams who responded to this vile and antisemitic attack;
Whereas Good Shepherd Catholic Community Church provided support and housed 
        family members of the worshipers held inside Congregation Beth Israel 
        Synagogue during the 11-hour standoff;
Whereas Pleasant Run Baptist Church offered their thoughts and support during 
        the standoff, and allowed for their parking lot to be used by the media;
Whereas worshipers who were watching the service virtually contacted local law 
        enforcement officials once they realized there was an incident underway 
        at Congregation Beth Israel Synagogue;
Whereas antisemitism is a pernicious and offensive form of prejudice that runs 
        contrary to the values of the United States; and
Whereas in 2020 and 2021, there were 8,366 incidents of extremism or 
        antisemitism in the United States;
Whereas while there can be no exhaustive definition of antisemitism in all its 
        many forms, the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance has 
        developed the Working Definition of Antisemitism, with examples, that 
        serves as an essential definitional tool used to determine contemporary 
        manifestations of antisemitism;
Whereas more than half of the religiously motivated hate crimes reported to the 
        Federal Bureau of Investigation in 2020 were anti-Jewish hate crimes;
Whereas Jewish Americans make up about 2 percent of the population of the United 
        States but crimes against them make up 55 percent of the anti-religious 
        hate crimes in the United States;
Whereas the number of antisemitic incidents, including assaults, vandalism, and 
        harassment, in the United States have increased over the past decade: 
        Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) condemns the antisemitic attack at Congregation Beth 
        Israel Synagogue of Colleyville, Texas on January 15, 2022;
            (2) expresses gratitude that there was no loss of innocent 
        life and that the hostages were able to escape unharmed and 
        return safely to their loved ones;
            (3) honors the selfless and dedicated service of the law 
        enforcement and emergency response officials who responded to 
        the attack;
            (4) condemns antisemitism in the United States, and around 
        the world; and
            (5) reaffirms the commitment of the United States--
                    (A) to condemn antisemitism in all its forms;
                    (B) to protect the right of the people of the 
                United States to freely exercise their religious 
                beliefs; and
                    (C) to ensure the safety and security of all people 
                of the United States.
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