Providing balanced coverage of government. All with the support of americas cable companies. Cspan, 45 years and counting. Powered by cable. We take you live now to the u. S. Senate where today members are continuing work on a measure to reauthorize funding for the federal Aviation Administration for another five years, ahead of fridays renewal deadline. The legislation would increase the number of air Traffic Controllers and require the f. A. A. To use new technology designed to prevent collisions on runways. Youre watching live coverage on cspan2. The presiding officer the senate will come to order. The chaplain, dr. Barry black, will lead the senate in prayer. The chaplain let us pray. Eternal lord god, were reminded of your mercies that have been of old; you have been our dwelling place in all generations. Because of your mercies, we are not consumed. Great is your faithfulness. Today, guard and guide our senators. Provide them with a sense of purposeful direction. As they strive to unite their best efforts for the health, strength, and safety of this nation. May they also work for peace and justice in our world. Cleanse anything in them that would block the flow of your blessings and joy. May gratitude to you be the motive for everything they think, say and do. Amen. The presiding officer please join me in reciting the pledge of allegiance to the flag. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of america, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under god, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. The presiding officer the clerk will read a communication to the senate. The clerk washington, d. C. , may 8, 2024. To the senate under the provisions of rule 1, paragraph 3, of the standing rules of the senate, i hereby appoint the honorable peter welch, a senator from the state of vermont, to perform the duties of the chair. Signed patty murray, president pro tempore. The presiding officer under the previous order, the leadership time is reserved. Morning business is closed. Under the previous order, the senate will resume consideration of h. R. 3935, which the clerk will report. The clerk calendar number 211, h. R. 3935, an act to amend title 49 United States code to reauthorize and improve the federal Aviation Administration and other Civil Aviation programs and for other purposes. Like new york and several other states, my home state of oregon requires holocaust and genocide studies with ageappropriate frickin available. I remember an and think of me friend holocaust survivor who when he was in his 80s and early 90s told his story of hundreds at universities, colleges, schools and high schools places of worship, prisons and clubs. Personally and through his book from a name to a number. Thats the kind of unforgettable education that makes a real difference may his memory be a a blessing. I want to emphasize, strongly, its important for leaders to stand for antisemitism no matter where it comes from. Many of my call the claim to care about the rise of at the semitism in this country, but when White Supremacists marched in charlotte stilled virginia with torches and chanting jews will not replace us, the president at the time donald trump said the were very fine from both sides. When the participants of that unite the right rally who has died the scope of holocaust while comparing jews exterminated in concentration camps to cookies being baked in an oven. Former President Trump posted nick fuentes at maralago in november 2022. General john kelly who served as then President Trumps chief of staff has dated the former president spoke favorably about hitler including hitler had done some good things. Just a few months ago donald trump said quote any jewish person that votes for democrats hates the religion. Despite these persistent examples of comments of others have called at the semitic and continue relationships with well known antisemite i have not heard one word of century for my colleagues across the aisle there can fact that weve seen is consolidation of support for the former president. If my call is given at the semitism they would condemn and denounce these comments from the leader of their party. So ill offer my coat on the site of the of the opportunity right now to condemn these previous comments. If you would have the courage to stand up against . Let the record show no one spoke up at this time. I look forward to the testimony and conversation today again with hope we can have a constructive dialogue about how to fight back against antisemitism so all students can be safe and feel safe at school whether thats at a college or university. I yield back. Thank you very much, Ranking Member or pursuant to Committee Role all Committee Members who we should certain statements in record they do so by submitting them to the committee click. Electronically and microsoft word format by 5 p. M. After 14 days from the date of the sink which is may 22, 22 and 4. The objection of the record open for 14 days after the date of the sink to allow such statements and other materials referenced during hearing to be submitted for the official record. I note the subcommittee, there are members of colleagues that are not a permanent part of the subcommittee who may be waiting on for the purpose of todays ring. And now lets get to the introductions of our distinguished panel. Our first witnesses mr. David banks, the chancellor of the new york city Public Schools for the newark City Department of education in new york, new york. New york city Public Schools is a largest, the largest system in the nation. He was a point by Merrick Adams on january 1, 2022 and and started his career as a School Safety officer, after which he began his first teaching job at Ts Public School 167. 167. He serves as an assistant principal at ps 191 before coming a founding a founding principle at the bronx school for law government and justice. He is a native new yorker and graduate of new york city Public School system. He holds a bachelors degree from Rutgers University and earned his j. D. From st. Johns university of law. Our second witness is carla silvestri, who is the president of the Montgomery County board of education for the Montgomery CountyPublic Schools in rockville, maryland. She was elected to her second fouryear term on november 8, 2022. Shes cohesively a second term as president of the board of education. Educational sixpence begin at the university of pennsylvania where she worked at the collaborative for Science Education working as a teacher, professional development and handson Science Education in West Philadelphia schools. She served as Vice President for children and youth who are for a large nonprofit managing preventive school year and summer youth programs. She graduate from Florida State university with a bachelors degree in biology and received her masters degree in education from the university of pennsylvania. Greetings from the sunshine state. We are glad to lets you to Ranking Member bonamoci for and reduction of a a witness. I welcome to the committee emerson sites, senior staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties union who works on the speech, privacy, and technology project. He focuses on First Amendment freespeech protections and among other things he previously served as Legal Advisor for africa at the International Center for nonprofit law and serves as an assistant general counsel to the new york city council. He held the basses degree in Political Science from stanford university, a masters in Public Affairs from the Princeton School of public and International Affairs and a juris doctor from the New York University school of law. Welcome to the committee. Our final witness is ms. Ford shes a superintendent of the Berkeley Unified School district in berkeley, california. She is an urban educator into an activist with over 21 years of experience. Aside from serving a superintendent of Berkeley Unified School district she is a professor, senior lecturer at the urban education at loyola miramonte university. Shes active in the committee serving as a board member organizations such as other nonprofits with missions aligned to restrict respect shr of Delta Sigma Theta sorority incorporated. Shielded the aa masters from education from university of california at berkeley. Welcome to all of witnesses. We thank you for being here and look forward to your testimony. Pursuant to committee will i would ask you limit each other oral presentations to five minutes, some of the written statements. Your full written statement is in the record but just like us up here you get five minutes. Thats what our little timer system will do it. If by chance you go past i would give you a little wave and thats great way to say wrap it up. I recognize, i want to recognize a few of your responsibility to provide Accurate Information to the subcommittee. With that lets get started. Its now a pleasure to recognize mr. Banks 45 minute testimony. Welcome, welcome. You are recognized. [inaudible] okay. Hope i didnt lose my time. [inaudible] [laughing] thank you so much begin. Good morning, chairwoman thoughts, chairman bean, Ranking Member scott, Ranking Member bonamoci, and distinguished member of the committee and subcommittee. Thank you for inviting me to address the horrific rise in antisemitism. The number one religiousbased hate crime in america. I also want to thank rabbi, Michael Cohen and reverend for joining me here today. Today i will share how we are confronting the scourge of antisemitism in the new york city Public Schools. The new York City School system which is our nations largest is a committee of over 1 Million Students and staff. We speak over 180 different languages in our schools. Our diversity however means our classrooms are not insulated from the global stage. Since october 7 our students and staff, jewish and muslim, israeli and palestinian have suffered immensely. I i come to come have felt deep pain mr. Flake of my own to electricity israel with the Jewish Community relations council. Again and again my mind has returned to my visit to a profoundly moving experience for me. In the immediate aftermath of october seven, new city a adams made remarks condemning the terror attacks. I sent messages to our School Community strongly condemning the heinous acts of hamas. The words are not enough. There have been unacceptable incidents of antisemitism in our schools. When jewish students or teachers feel unwelcome or unsafe, that should sound the alarm for us all. By regulation urgency of addressing this crisis from my seat. As an educator of 30 plus years, as a leader of the system nurturing the next generation of new yorkers, it is not on my job to produce good readers and writers. Our schools must also build good people, people to demonstrate respect and appreciation for our shared humanity. When it comes to reading of antisemitism our Public Schools must be part of the answer. Let me tell you about our work to make this moment which will focus on safety, engagement and education number one, safety is a precondition for learning. I started my career as a School Safety officer and my father was a proud decades long office of newark city police department. Keeping schools safe is in my dna. When antisemitism rears its head i believe we must respond, and we have. We have removed, discipline, or are in the process of disciplining at least a dozen staff and School Leaders, including removing a principal in the middle of a school year. We have to spend at least 30 students. Weve involve the nypd when hate crimes are committed, and weve retrained all 1600 principles on our discipline goal to ensure it is enforced properly. Secondly, we have engage dozens of partners help us design longerterm solutions. My instinct as a leader in moments of crisis is never to shy away from an issue but rather to lean into it to understand better. New york city is home to the largest Jewish Community outside of israel and many of the nations foremost jewish institutions. So we have strengthened our relationships with these partners which include the federation, the j. C. Rc, antidefamation league, the jewish childrens museum, project witness and many more. I also launched for the first time in our history and Interfaith Advisory Council because we must model for our students how to build bridges, engage in genuine dialogue and share each others pain in challenging times. And finally education. We cannot simply discipline our way out of this problem. The true antidote to the goods and buys is to teach. My own children learned about antisemitism firsthand from our nextdoor neighbors who were Holocaust Survivors in teaneck new jersey. But as survivors pass on and the light of current events, the need for education becomes even more pressing. Our students cannot grow up to get anyone as the other pixel in addition to covering the holocaust, where creating a robust holocaust educator guide to bg museum of jewish heritage and building a brand brank and highlighted culture contributions of the Jewish Community because the history of the jewish people extends far beyond the holocaust. Weve also partner with the office of the prevention of hate crimes and in you hate crimes curriculum. Weve expanded our antisemitism resources and workshops. Finally let me just say this. At new york city Public Schools we are focused on our charge to fight hate and foster inclusion through safety, engagement and education. We are working hard and of long way to go. Theres always more to do. I hope in europe we can be a candle in the darkness. Thank you. Thank you very much, mr. Banks. Ms. Silvestri, you are recognized for five minutes. Welcome. Chairman bean, Ranking Member bonamoci and members of the subcommittee, good morning. My name is carla silvestri and im the president of the board of education for Montgomery CountyPublic Schools in maryland. I appreciate the opportunity to speak with you today about our efforts to address antisemitism in our School System. Let the begin by assuring the committee the board of education i lead is committed to combating antisemitism, hate speech and racism wherever and whenever we see it. I cant tell you weve gotten it right every time but as a board were committed to working with our administrators and our community to constantly improve our processes and outcomes. Montgomery county Public Schools is the 15th largest School District in the country with 160,000 students and nearly 25,000 employees. We are one of the most diverse districts in a nation are families and from every major religion and ethnicity, or speak over 162 languages at home. More than onethird of our county residents are foreignborn. In Montgomery County n elected parttime board of education with a governance and oversight role. The board sets the standard for achievement and accountability. Our formation is education. This is the lens through which we approach our relationships with students, employees in the community. This is this is a perspeco todays hearing. I also bring the perspective of my history when i was eight i came to this country to escape the violence stemming from guatemalans civil war. I became a proud u. S. Citizen in 2007 and went on to be elected to serve in the board of education by the citizens of Montgomery County. I am also the parent of a student in our School System, and incidents of antisemitism and eightbased language are extremely important to me. With that in mind, i knew that the committee is aware of recent press reports of public complaints around antisemitic imagery, language and vandalism in our district. Let me be clear. We do not shy away from imposing consequences for hatebased behavior, including antisemitism. Our policy is to initiate an investigation each time the School System receives a complaint or we witnessed particular at the cement hate filled a racist language or action. There are a range of consequences f