Natural State News

Legislation that would beef up reporting of anti-Semitism in the U.S. and impose stiffer sentences in some hate crime convictions is a response to the uptick in such crimes, Sen. Tom Cotton said.

Cotton joined with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) this week to introduce introduced Senate Bill 1939, the "Preventing Anti-Semitic Hate Crimes Act."

"Anti-Semitism has no place in the U.S.," Cotton said in a social media post days before the legislation was introduced. "The Department of Justice must take immediate, decisive action to stop the shocking rise of hate crimes targeting the American Jewish community. Our bill will ensure the racist criminals committing these crimes are held accountable."

In a separate joint statement with Cotton, McConnell referred to the "uptick in hateful anti-Semitic attacks" as "disgusting and totally unacceptable."

"From anti-Israel efforts like the BDS [Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions] movement to violent crimes on American streets, we must confront antisemitism every single place it rears its ugly head," McConnell said. "Our legislation will support state and local law enforcement and ensure the bigoted thugs and criminals who are attacking Jewish Americans face the full force of American justice."

The bill would require U.S. Department of Justice-appointed official to expedite the review of anti-Semitic hate crimes and compile reports over the next three years. The bill also directs the U.S. Attorney General's office to report to Congress about anti-Semitic hate crimes and investigations every 90 days until the end of 2024, and would remove the 10-year penalty cap for anyone convicted of a hate crime who has a prior state or federal hate crime conviction.

SB 1939 was introduced into the Senate on May 27 and now has 22 co-sponsors, all of them Republicans.

Companion legislation, House Bill 3515, was introduced into that chamber two days earlier by Rep. David Kustoff (R-Tennessee) and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R - California). Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-New York) is a co-sponsor of the House bill.

"The recent and drastic surge in Anti-Semitic violence, attacks, and rhetoric is vile and un-American, and I am proud to take action to ensure the perpetrators of these evil hate crimes are brought to justice," Stefanik said in a statement. "Every member of Congress has a moral obligation to stand strongly with the Jewish-American community and speak up on their behalf, and I am proud to do so."

The FBI reports that in 2019, the most recent year for which data is available, more than 60% of all hate crimes against any religious group in the U.S. were aimed at Jews, several percentage points higher than in the year prior.