A three-page State Department memo released in July suggested that reporting out one form of hatred for special attention would purportedly set a bad precedent and could be interpreted as favoritism.

[3] In September, Smith and Voinoich stepped up their efforts to advocate for the bill's passage amidst a push by Congressional Republicans to focus attention on antisemitism.

The letter was signed by 104 prominent Americans, including former Republican vice presidential nominee Jack Kemp, former United Nations ambassador Jeane Kirkpatrick, ex-CIA directorJames Woolsey and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Garry Wills.

[2] A group of religious leaders, former administration officials, academics, writers, and artists, sent a letter to Powell in September protesting the department's opposition to the Lantos bill.

[3] Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice appointed Republican congressional staffer Gregg Rickman as the first special envoy.

[8] In 2021, the act was amended to elevate the Special Envoy to the rank of an ambassador, which means the position must be nominated by the U.S. President and confirmed by the U.S.