releases: https://barletta.house.gov/media-center/barletta-bulletins/stronger-than-hate
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| url | title | date | year | month | party | chamber | state | member_name | bioguide_id | domain | scraper | source | date_source | text | has_text | collected_at | updated_at |
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| https://barletta.house.gov/media-center/barletta-bulletins/stronger-than-hate | Stronger Than Hate | 2018-11-01 | 2018 | 2018-11 | Republican | House | PA | Lou Barletta | B001269 | barletta.house.gov | legacy | Last weekend, the people of Pittsburgh suffered a terrible tragedy when 11 innocent men and women from The Tree of Life Synagogue in Squirrel Hill were murdered in the name of hate. To target a religious community in any way disregards each and every value we hold dear as Americans, and to do so with such a cowardly and heinous attack is pure evil. Let me be clear: there is no place for anti-Semitism or any similar hatred in our society. Any threat to a religious community is outrageous and inexcusable, and the full force of the law should be brought against the perpetrators. As the Pittsburgh community, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and nation as a whole continue to mourn this tragedy, we thank the brave law enforcement officers who risked their lives to bring the man responsible for this monstrous crime into custody, as well as the first responders and medical staff who worked tirelessly to save all those who were injured. Since joining the House Committee on Homeland Security, I have worked with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to ensure all members of our community have the resources necessary to practice their religion peacefully and without fear of persecution. Earlier this Congress, I chaired a bipartisan hearing on the importance of the Nonprofit Security Grant (NSG) Program, which provides organizations that are at high risk of a terrorist attack with funding for security enhancements such as security guards and monitoring systems. This funding can help houses of worship, such as synagogues and churches, save lives when dealing with threats to public safety. Just last year, NSG grants were instrumental in helping Jewish Community Centers (JCCs) respond to a wave of bomb threats. As a former mayor, I know how critical this funding is in helping communities in times of crisis, and I will continue to advocate for this important program. However, simply responding to these attacks is not enough, which is why I have repeatedly worked to eliminate anti-Semitism altogether. For example, I'm proud to co-sponsor Representative Carolyn Maloney's (D-NY) Never Again Education Act (H.R. 5460), legislation that will give teachers across the United States the resources and training they need to teach our children the important lessons of the Holocaust and the consequences of intolerance and hate. Threats like those made to JCCs across Pennsylvania last year, as well as the vicious attack on the Tree of Life Synagogue, should never occur in the first place. By educating our children about the darkest chapters in our world's history, we can help ensure the hatred that fuels these terrible acts is eradicated once and for all. Unfortunately, anti-Semitism is also alive in our global economy, disguised as the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement. BDS is an international campaign that encourages the boycotting of companies and organizations that do business with the Jewish State of Israel. This thinly-veiled act of anti-Semitism cannot be tolerated, and I am proud to have fought against it throughout my eight years in Congress. The Freedom of Religion is a fundamental right provided to American citizens in the Constitution. Any threat to this right is an attack on one of the core pillars of our democracy and must be confronted. I forcefully condemn the anti-Semitic attack at The Tree of Life Synagogue and remain committed to providing our local communities with the resources they need to keep our families safe and ensuring all Americans have the freedom to practice their religion peacefully without fear. All my best, Lou Barletta Member of Congress | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |