Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1292
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL]
Introduced: 2017-06-06
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Department of State

Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad

Federal officials

Human rights

Racial and ethnic relations

Religion
Latest action: action_date: 2017-06-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

Summaries:
action_date: 2017-06-06
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism Act of 2017</b></p> <p>This bill amends the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to provide that the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism shall have the rank of ambassador and be appointed by the President by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.</p> <p>The Special Envoy shall: (1) be a person of recognized distinction in the field of combating anti-Semitism or religious freedom; (2) serve as the primary advisor to, and coordinate efforts across, the U.S. government relating to monitoring and combating anti-Semitism and anti-Semitic incitement in foreign countries; and (3) report directly to the Secretary of State.</p>

tv_txt: II 115th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1292 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 6, 2017 Mr. Rubio (for himself and Mrs. Gillibrand ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations A BILL To amend the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to monitor and combat anti-Semitism globally, and for other purposes.

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