Kustoff’s first bill: Combating Anti-Semitism Act

Freshman Congressman David Kustoff is looking to send a message about the importance of religious freedom with the filing of his first piece of legislation, reports Michael Collins.

“Religious intolerance,” he said, “is not accepted.”

Kustoff’s bill, which the West Tennessee Republican introduced last week with Rep. Derek Kilmer, D-Wa., was inspired by the recent spate of bomb threats at Jewish Community Centers across the country, including one in Nashville.

The Combating Anti-Semitism Act would increase the federal penalty for making bomb threats and other credible threats of violence against community religious centers. It also would enable authorities to prosecute such acts as a hate crime.

Kustoff, of Germantown, approaches the issue with a perspective shaped by his profession and religion.

He’s a former federal prosecutor. He served two years as the U.S. attorney for West Tennessee. He’s also one of only two Jewish Republicans in the House. 

“Frankly, it wouldn’t matter what my religion is,” Kustoff said, explaining his motivation for the bill. “The government has to send a message that these threats and these actions won’t be tolerated, and they will be prosecuted. If someone breaks the law, they can go to prison for a long time.”

Note: The Kustoff press release on the bill is HERE.  A  separate press release on the brief floor speech he made in support of the measure is HERE.