LaMalfa: House Must Be Stronger in Battling Anti-Semitism

(Washington, DC) – Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) issued the following statement after the House passed H. Res. 246, a resolution opposing efforts to delegitimize the State of Israel and the Global Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions Movement targeting Israel.

LaMalfa said: "The recent rise in anti-Semitic rhetoric in America must be strongly condemned. I'm a co-sponsor of this resolution to express our opposition to the BDS movement against Israel, however, the House should also be voting on legislation that takes legitimate steps to combat these efforts to undermine one of our strongest allies, such as the bipartisan legislation already passed by the Senate 77-23. Democrat leadership refuses to let that happen for fear of fractures within their own party. Just last week, one of their members introduced legislation that actually supports this hate-fueled BDS movement – even drawing disgraceful comparisons between boycotting Israel now and boycotting Nazi Germany in the 1940s. The people's House must do more than send a message – we must take firm action to support our ally Israel and oppose anti-Semitism in America."

On February 5, 2019, the Senate passed S.1 (H.R. 336), the Strengthening America's Security in the Middle East Act. This bill takes legitimate steps to combat and eradicate the anti-Semitic BDS movement by authorizing state or local governments to adopt measures to divest its assets from entities using boycotts, divestments, or sanctions to influence Israel's policies.

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