Lankford, Rosen Remember Third Anniversary of Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting

WASHINGTON, DC– Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Jacky Rosen (D-NV), co-chairs of the Senate Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Antisemitism, today commemorated the third anniversary of the 2018 shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, the deadliest attack on the Jewish American community in US history.

“Today we remember the tragedy of the deadly attack against the Jewish community at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, and we stand side by side with the Jewish community,” said Lankford. “Senator Rosen and I and our colleagues on the Senate Bipartisan Task Force for Combatting Antisemitism continue to call out the unacceptable wave of antisemitism in our nation and around the world and ensure we increase access to Holocaust education resources. After the violent attack at the Tree of Life Synagogue, we secured important resources in law that help faith-based nonprofits and houses of worship increase security in the face of their unique risks. Jewish Oklahomans, Jewish Americans, and people of all faiths should be able to worship safely and without fear.”

“Three years ago, the lives of 11 innocent people were taken during a horrific act of terror fueled by antisemitic hate. May the memories of those whose lives were lost that day forever be a blessing,” said Rosen. “We can honor the memory of those lost by taking action to stand against antisemitism. In the wake of this attack on the Jewish community, my colleagues and I launched the Senate Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Antisemitism, a group whose work is more important than ever as antisemitism continues to surge across the nation and the world. We must all stand together and make clear that hate has no place in our communities.”

In June, Lankford and Rosen led a group of 56 Senators—representing over half the Senate—in announcing the relaunch of the Task Force. First launched in 2019, the collaboration is the first of its kind in the Senate, serving as a corollary to the House of Representatives Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Antisemitism. Last year, Lankford and Rosen applauded the signing by the President of the Securing American Nonprofit Organizations Against Terrorism Act of 2019, companion legislation to a bipartisan bill they both cosponsored, to make Federal Emergency Management (FEMA) grants to available to eligible nonprofit organizations (tax-exempt organizations and those determined to be at risk of a terrorist attack) for security measures.

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