Reps. Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Kathy Manning (D-NC) today officially launched the House Task Force for Combating Antisemitism for the 118^th Congress. The bipartisan group of lawmakers is dedicated to confronting the alarming rise in attacks against Jews throughout the country and across the world.

          “Antisemitism won’t disappear by ignoring it or wishing it away—it must be defeated,” said Smith, who serves as Co-Chair of the bipartisan task force together with Manning.

          “With hatred against the Jewish community escalating, we must step up our efforts in the fight against this pernicious evil now more than ever and ensure officials at all levels have the resources they need to protect our communities from these horrific hate-fueled crimes.”

          Joining the group of lawmakers at the kickoff meeting was Ambassador Deborah Lipstadt—the US Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism—whose State Department post was created by a law authored by Smith and elevated to the role of ambassador by another Smith law.

          A host of international Special Envoys from around the world also joined the official launch, including Katharina von Schnurbein from the European Commission, Fernando Lottenberg from the Organization of American States (OAS), Dr. Felix Klein from Germany, Eddo Verdoner from The Netherlands, and Øystein Lyngroth from Norway.

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