PROTECTING EUROPE FROM ANTISEMITIC CRIME AND EXTREMISM ACT

On 2026-06-08, Representative Randy Fine (R-FL-6) delivered a floor speech titled "PROTECTING EUROPE FROM ANTISEMITIC CRIME AND EXTREMISM ACT" in the House.

PROTECTING EUROPE FROM ANTISEMITIC CRIME AND EXTREMISM ACT

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 96 (Monday, June 8, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 96 (Monday, June 8, 2026)] [House] [Pages H3948-H3950] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] PROTECTING EUROPE FROM ANTISEMITIC CRIME AND EXTREMISM ACT Mr. MAST. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6297) to require the Department of State to provide briefings on antisemitism in Europe, as amended. The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 6297 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Protecting Europe from Antisemitic Crime and Extremism Act'' or the ``PEACE Act''. SEC. 2. CONSULTATIONS ON ANTISEMITISM IN EUROPE. (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that-- (1) the Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs, in consultation with other relevant officials of the Department of State, should assess the persistent and growing threat of antisemitism and acts of international terrorism in Europe as a matter of importance to the foreign policy of the United States; and [[Page H3949]] (2) the Under Secretary for Political Affairs, acting through the Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs, should diplomatically engage governments of countries of apparent concern on efforts for transatlantic cooperation to counter and address antisemitism and acts of international terrorism that may threaten transatlantic stability, the safety and security of United States citizens, and institutions abroad. (b) Consultation.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for two years, the Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs shall consult with the appropriate congressional committees on the matters described in subsection (a). (c) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.--In this section, the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means-- (1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives; and (2) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mast) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Bera) each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida. General Leave Mr. MAST. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material on H.R. 6297. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Florida? There was no objection. Mr. MAST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, anti-Semitism and international terrorism in Europe are real threats that undermine regional stability, transatlantic security, and the safety of American citizens living abroad. This threat skyrocketed after Hamas' October 7 terrorist attack. France recorded over 1,000 anti-Semitic incidents in just 1 month alone. Germany experienced a 240 percent increase. More recent incidents further underscore that threat. On October 2, 2025, a deadly anti-Semitic attack at a Manchester synagogue during Yom Kippur killed two and injured others. In March 2025, a 22-year-old was arrested in Madrid for attempting to set fire to Rimmon Kosher, a busy kosher restaurant. Authorities charged him with anti-Semitic hate crime, attempted murder, and arson. In March of 2026, two suspects on a motor scooter detonated an explosive device against the outer wall of an Orthodox Jewish school in Amsterdam. Also, in March of 2026, an explosive device detonated in front of a historic synagogue in Belgium during the early morning hours. Beyond anti-Semitic attacks, Europe continues to face threats from the Islamic extremism. In February of 2025, French authorities classified a deadly knife attack in Mulhouse as an Islamic terrorist act, while German authorities disrupted and investigated multiple suspected Islamist-inspired plots during 2025. This legislation builds on the Trump administration's effort to combat anti-Semitism and strengthen international counterterrorism cooperation. It ensures continued U.S. diplomatic engagement with European allies, and it requires regular consultations with Congress. I thank the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Fine), my colleague and the sponsor of this bill, for his leadership on the issue. The bill passed the Committee on Foreign Affairs with broad bipartisan support. I urge my colleagues to join me in advancing it on the floor today. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. BERA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the PEACE Act. Acts of anti-Semitism are on the rise globally. This is also true in Europe, where increasingly vocal fringe political movements, particularly far-right movements, are emboldened by increased political discourse on both sides of the Atlantic that harkens back to the unacceptable political rhetoric of old. Combating anti-Semitism has long been a priority for both Democratic and Republican administrations and has been a central element of U.S. foreign policy for years. This bill expresses the sense of Congress that the State Department should assess and address the threat of anti-Semitism in Europe and requires consultation with Congress on addressing these threats. Mr. Speaker, I support this bill and urge my colleagues to do the same. I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. MAST. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Fine). Mr. FINE. Mr. Speaker, one would have thought after October 7, 2023, the world's worst attack against Jews since the Holocaust, which obviously took place in Europe, there would have been an outpouring of sympathy and less anti-Semitism in the world. In Europe, in particular, that is not what happened. A study conducted by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights recorded an increase of up to 400 percent in anti-Semitic activity since October 7. That same study also found that 96 percent of European Jews that were surveyed, almost every single one said that they encounter anti-Semitism in their daily lives--not once a month, not once a year, but every day in their actual existence. Crimes linked to anti-Semitism are on the rise all throughout Europe. Even our major allies in the region have seen a dramatic increase. France saw 1,600 anti-Semitic acts in 2024, a 300 percent increase since before October 7. The United Kingdom had over 3,500 anti-Semitic incidents in 2024, up dramatically from the 1,600, which is still too many, that they had before October 7, 2023. Statistics only show part of the picture. My friend and colleague, the chairman, gave some stories. What is remarkable is we didn't coordinate, and every story that he told is different than one that I am about to tell you. On February 11 in Paris, a 13-year-old Jewish boy was attacked by five men on his way to synagogue--13 years old, five adult men. During the attack, he was called Jewish slurs by the perpetrators. On March 23, in London, four ambulances operated by a Jewish charity were destroyed in an arson attack by three men. {time} 1620 Mr. Speaker, these are stories that affect Europeans, but the rise of anti-Semitism in Europe affects Americans, as well, particularly when we visit Europe. This isn't just about protecting European Jews. It is about protecting Americans when we go there. On April 29 of this year, two Jewish men were stabbed by someone who said that he went out with the intention of stabbing people who looked visibly Jewish. One of the two was an American. On November 10, 2025, in Milan, a Jewish American was attacked after he was identified based on his ``Orthodox Jewish attire.'' These are Americans being attacked in Europe. My bill would direct the State Department to assess the growing threat of anti-Semitism in Europe and provide diplomatic channels to make clear to our European allies that this conduct is simply unacceptable. After this assessment, the Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs will engage with European countries that are identified as countries of concern to say that they have to cooperate with us to deal with this rising anti-Semitism problem. This commonsense, bipartisan legislation passed through committee unanimously, 49-0, and I thank the cosponsors of the bill, Republicans Max Miller, Mike Lawler, and Representative Claudia Tenney, but also Democrats Eugene Vindman and Laura Gillen. I also thank the chairman and the ranking member, both of whom have supported the bill, and I thank the majority leader for putting it on the floor today. Finally, I would just say this. We said, after the Holocaust, never again, but the facts are that there is a real risk of it happening. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to vote today to take this one small step to make sure that it doesn't happen ever again. Mr. BERA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time for the purpose of closing. [[Page H3950]] Mr. Speaker, I support this measure. I encourage all of my colleagues to do so, as well, and I yield back the balance of my time. Mr. MAST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, the rise of anti-Semitic violence and terrorist attacks across Europe is a stark reminder that radical extremism is not a relic of the past. It is a clear and present danger to freedom, to democracy, and to Western civilization. The United States has to stand firmly with our allies, with the Jewish people, and with all those who reject terror and defend liberty. Peace through strength is not just a slogan. It is a necessity. Weakness invites aggression. Strength deters aggression. H.R. 6297 sends a clear message that America will continue to lead in 

Referenced legislation: HR6297, HR6297