Ocean County Leader

At a congressional briefing on Capitol Hill today, Rep. Chris Smith (R-Manchester) met with Elan Carr—the former U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism—and fellow leaders in the fight against antisemitism to discuss ongoing threats faced by Jewish individuals both domestically and internationally.

"Elan Carr, who served as an extraordinarily effective U.S. Special Envoy under President Trump, has extensive experience in exposing and combating the rampant bias, cruelty, violence, and hate against members of the Jewish community," said Smith, Co-Chair of the House Task Force for Combating Antisemitism. "His continued work to fight antisemitism in all of its many forms commands respect on both sides of the aisle and around the world."

As Special Envoy, Carr led the U.S. State Department Office charged with anticipating, preventing, mitigating, and responding to threats against Jewish communities worldwide. The ambassadorial-level position—which was established by two laws authored by Smith—has proven successful in elevating and advancing the United States’ efforts to address the alarming rise in antisemitism.

Following the briefing, Smith—who also serves as Co-Chair of the Israel Allies Caucus—met with family members of Americans who continue to be held hostage by Hamas as part of a congressional roundtable ahead of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to Congress on Wednesday.

"The monstrous and genocidal atrocities we have seen pouring out of Gaza since October 7th are antisemitic hate crimes—the logical consequence of unbridled hatred for Jews and the nation of Israel," said Smith, who thanked the families for their powerful witness to the cruelty that has been imposed upon their loved ones.

"We will do everything we possibly can to end their agony and bring them home," Smith said.

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