U.S. Rep. Dave Joyce (R-OH) on May 28 signed on as a cosponsor of a Republican-led bill that would facilitate a federally expedited review of anti-Semitic hate crimes.
Rep. Joyce is currently one of 44 GOP cosponsors of the Preventing Anti-Semitic Hate Crime Act, H.R. 3515, introduced on May 25 by U.S. Rep. David Kustoff (R-TN) to forcefully condemn the rise of anti-Semitism across the United States.
“I’m sickened by the recent surge of anti-Semitic violence, harassment and rhetoric targeting Jewish Americans,” Rep. Joyce said. “But tragically, this hate is not new.”
For instance, the congressman said that his home state of Ohio last year saw its largest increase in anti-Semitic incidents in over 40 years, with the majority of such incidents occurring in the northeastern part of the state.
“As a former prosecutor, I’m proud to take action to ensure that those who commit these vile acts of hate are brought to justice,” said Rep. Joyce. “I will always stand with Ohio’s Jewish community against any and all anti-Semitic threats.”
If enacted, H.R. 3515 would expedite the U.S. Department of Justice’s review of anti-Semitic hate crimes and require the appointment of a designated official tasked with handling such reviews, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Joyce’s staff.
Among other provisions, H.R. 3515 would require the United States Attorney General to issue a report examining anti-Semitic hate crimes and investigations and submit it to Congress within 90 days of the bill’s enactment and every 90 days afterwards for the following three years, the summary says.
“My father, like so many others in the Greatest Generation, risked his life to defeat the scourge of Nazism,” Rep. Joyce added. “I’m proud to continue his battle against anti-Semitism in Congress. The hatred and intolerance that breeds anti-Semitism is the antithesis of what America stands for and we cannot allow it to take root in our society.”
The Jewish Federation of Cleveland’s Board of Trustees and the Ohio Jewish Communities support the bill, which has been referred for consideration to the U.S. House Judiciary Committee.