In an exchange at a Wednesday hearing of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo promised Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ), a senior member on the Committee, that he would work for the appointment of a Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism.

Rep. Smith had asked the Secretary to act on the appointment of the vacant Special Envoy position. “And in 2004, I authored the Anti-Semitism Special Envoy. That, too, has not been filled,” Smith said to Pompeo of the vacancy. “And I know that you care deeply about combating the scourge of anti-Semitism, which is rising all over the globe. Please move on that as well.”

“You have my word,” the Secretary told Smith in response. [Click here to watch video of Rep. Smith’s question and Secretary Pompeo’s answer.]

The Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism heads the State Department office responsible for leading U.S. efforts to counter anti-Semitism around the globe. The position was created through Rep. Smith’s original provisions in the Global Anti-Semitism Act of 2004.

Rep. Smith, who is also a co-chair of the House Bipartisan Taskforce for Combating Anti-Semitism, co-led a letter to Pompeo with other taskforce members urging the Secretary to appoint an Anti-Semitism Special Envoy as quickly as possible.

“Without a Special Envoy, the United States lacks the focus of a person solely dedicated to spearheading our important diplomatic efforts in the fight against anti-Semitism. Appointing this important position will make clear to foreign governments that combating anti-Semitism remains an American priority and that the U.S. maintains its traditional leadership in the fight,” the letter to Secretary Pompeo, signed by 120 Members on the taskforce, stated.

The letter cited increasing anti-Semitism around the world, making the case for the prompt appointment of a Special Envoy.

“Anti-Semitic views, rhetoric, and threats to the safety and security of Jewish communities are on the rise around the globe.,” the letter stated. “Violent anti-Semitic extremist groups, now closely connected through the internet, are borrowing and refining strategies and tactics from each other. In Europe, anti-Semitic sentiments and violence have skyrocketed, including murders, physical harassment of Jews, demonization of Israel and its supporters, and Holocaust distortion.”

Recently, Smith’s legislation—the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism Act, HR 1911—would elevate the Special Envoy position at the State Department to the rank of Ambassador reporting directly to the Secretary of State. This legislation has passed out of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and currently awaits further action in the House.