Two members of the U.S. Senate, Democratic Tim Kaine of Virginia and Republican Marco Rubio of Florida have introduced the 'Combatting European Anti-Semitism Act', a bipartisan legislation aimed at address the troubling trend of anti-Semitism across Europe.

The two are members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee,.

“I am alarmed by the steady increase in anti-Semitism we’re witnessing in America and Europe. We must be vigilant in reporting any incidents of anti-Semitism to ensure the safety, security and inalienable rights of Jewish communities,” said Tim Kaine. As concern has grown over this trend in Europe, Jewish and civil rights groups in the United States are sounding the alarm over a similar phenomenon here at home.

While this particular bill dictates State Department reporting procedures in Europe, Kaine, in introducing the bill, acknowledged the problem as increasingly familiar.

Kaine ran as Hillary Clinton’s vice presidential running mate this year.

“This legislation will help the State Department and Europeans work together to combat anti-Semitism and protect religious freedom for Jews and society at large.”

“I am deeply concerned with the recent harassment and violence seen across Europe against Jews in schools and synagogues, as well as certain governments amplifying anti-Semitic messages,” said Marco Rubio.

“America must prioritize working with European governments to combat this insidious global phenomenon. This bipartisan legislation will ensure the State Department has the information it needs to assess and understand the challenges so that we might combat European anti-Semitism in all its forms.”‎

The bipartisan bill requires enhanced reporting to Congress in the State Department’s Annual Report on International Religious Freedom anti-Semitic incidents in Europe.

It also directs the State Department to include information on the security challenges and needs of European Jewish communities, efforts by the U.S. government to partner with European governments, law enforcement and civil society to combat anti-Semitism, and efforts by European governments to adopt a working definition of anti-Semitism.

This bill was introduced in the House of Representatives by the Bipartisan Taskforce for Combatting Anti-Semitism which includes Representatives Nita Lowey (D-NY), Chris Smith (R-NJ), Eliot Engel (D-NY), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Kay Granger (R-TX), Steve Israel (D-NY), Peter Roskam (R-IL) and Ted Deutch (D-FL) earlier last month.