A resolution condemning antisemitism and recent antisemitic attacks in the United States.

Bill Number

S.Res. 296

Origin Chamber

Senate

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Crime and Law Enforcement

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-06-24: Star Print ordered on the resolution.

Last Updated

2025-07-22T19:37:12Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

This Senate Resolution (S. Res. 296) aims to condemn antisemitism in all its forms, particularly in response to recent violent attacks in the United States linked to antisemitic motives. It mourns specific victims, highlights the surge in antisemitic incidents since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, and reaffirms the U.S. commitment to combating hate and protecting Jewish communities as part of safeguarding democracy.

Key Provisions

The resolution includes detailed "Whereas" clauses providing context on two specific attacks and broader trends in antisemitism, followed by a "Resolved" section outlining the Senate's actions:

• Mourns the deaths of Sarah Milgrim (a Jewish American staffer at the Israeli Embassy) and Yaron Lischinsky (an Israeli-German diplomat) in a shooting outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, DC, on May 21, 2025, where the suspect cited motives related to Palestine and Gaza.
• Condemns the antisemitic shooting in Washington, DC, and a separate attack in Boulder, Colorado, on June 1, 2025, involving Molotov cocktails thrown at a peaceful walk supporting hostages held by Hamas, which injured multiple people.
• Notes celebrations of these attacks on social media, including calls for more violence and glorification of the perpetrators.
• Cites statistics from reports by the American Jewish Committee, Anti-Defamation League, and FBI showing a dramatic rise in antisemitic incidents (e.g., 9,354 in 2024, up significantly since 2023; Jewish Americans facing 68% of religiously motivated hate crimes despite being 2.4% of the population).
• Emphasizes that antisemitism threatens all of society and democracy.
• Senate Actions:
• Unequivocally condemns antisemitism and the specified attacks.
• Stands in solidarity with Jewish communities in the U.S. and worldwide, and those affected by the attacks.
• Wishes swift recovery for victims of the Boulder attack.
• Encourages society to denounce and combat antisemitism to prevent its normalization.
• Recognizes the need for resources post-attacks, such as those from the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Nonprofit Security Grant Program (which provides funding to enhance security at nonprofit facilities vulnerable to threats).
• Reaffirms the U.S. commitment to fighting hate, bigotry, antisemitism, and violence against Jewish Americans.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This is a non-binding resolution, so it introduces no changes to existing laws or statutes. It serves as a formal expression of the Senate's position rather than enacting new legal requirements or amendments.

Potential Impacts

• On Citizens: Raises public awareness of rising antisemitism, potentially encouraging community vigilance, reporting of hate incidents, and behavioral changes to enhance safety (e.g., as noted in surveys where 56% of Jewish Americans altered their routines due to fear). It may foster broader societal efforts to combat hate, benefiting Jewish individuals and other minority groups.
• On Government Agencies: Highlights the role of agencies like the FBI (in tracking hate crimes) and FEMA (in providing security grants), which could indirectly support increased funding or prioritization for anti-hate initiatives without mandating action.
• On International Relations: Acknowledges global surges in antisemitism post-October 7, 2023, and references U.S.-Israel ties through victim profiles and events; it may signal U.S. solidarity with Israel and Jewish diaspora worldwide, potentially influencing diplomatic responses to Middle East conflicts, though it has no direct foreign policy enforcement.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Jewish Communities: Primary focus, including individuals, organizations (e.g., American Jewish Committee, Anti-Defamation League), and institutions like synagogues or museums that face heightened threats.
• Victims and Families: Specifically, families of Sarah Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky, and injured participants in the Boulder event.
• Broader U.S. Society: All Americans, as the resolution frames antisemitism as a threat to democracy and public safety.
• Law Enforcement and Nonprofits: Agencies tracking and responding to hate crimes, and groups eligible for security grants.
• Social Media Platforms: Indirectly implicated due to mentions of unchecked celebrations of violence online, potentially pressuring them for better moderation.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: No enforceable legal effects, but it underscores the FBI's role in hate crime reporting and could inform future legislation on enhancing penalties for antisemitic acts or expanding security funding. It avoids restricting free speech by focusing condemnation on violence and hate rather than political expression.
• Constitutional: Aligns with First Amendment protections by condemning hate without proposing censorship; reinforces equal protection under the Fourteenth Amendment by addressing disproportionate targeting of Jewish Americans in hate crimes.
• Political: Demonstrates bipartisan support (introduced by senators from both parties, including Republicans like Mr. Lankford and Democrats like Ms. Rosen and Mr. Schumer), signaling congressional unity on combating domestic extremism amid U.S.-Israel relations and global tensions. It may influence public discourse on linking antisemitism to broader geopolitical events like the Israel-Hamas conflict, potentially shaping election-year narratives on hate and security without partisan bias in the text.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Sen. Lankford, James [R-OK]

Cosponsors (9)

Sen. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV], Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO], Sen. Hickenlooper, John W. [D-CO], Sen. McCormick, David [R-PA], Sen. Fetterman, John [D-PA], Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS], Sen. Thune, John [R-SD], Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY], Sen. Slotkin, Elissa [D-MI]

Recent Actions

• 2025-06-24: Star Print ordered on the resolution.
• 2025-06-23: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text: CR S3494-3495)
• 2025-06-23: Introduced in Senate

Bill Versions

• Condemning antisemitism and recent antisemitic attacks in the United States. — issued 2025-06-23 — PDF (6 pages)