Rockland Reporter

Reps. Mike Lawler, Josh Gottheimer, Max Miller, and Jared Moskowitz have reintroduced the bipartisan Antisemitism Awareness Act in the House of Representatives. This legislation aims to protect Jewish students on college campuses by requiring the Department of Education to use the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism when enforcing federal anti-discrimination laws.

Rep. Lawler emphasized the urgency of this bill, stating, "Since the horrific terrorist attacks by Hamas on October 7th, 83% of college students said they witnessed or experienced antisemitism on campus." He added that no person should feel unsafe due to their faith.

The bill has garnered support from various organizations. The Jewish Federations of North America stated that "this bill is just as important now as it was a year ago," while Jonathan Greenblatt from the Anti-Defamation League urged Congress to act swiftly.

Rep. Gottheimer highlighted an increase in antisemitic violence since October 7th and stressed the need for a clear framework to address these issues. Rep. Miller noted that "antisemitism has spread like wildfire on college campuses," emphasizing the necessity for federal policy.

Senators Tim Scott and Jackie Rosen are expected to introduce companion legislation in the Senate soon.

The act also has backing from numerous organizations including Hadassah, AJC, and CUFI. These groups advocate for adopting the IHRA definition as a standard tool for addressing antisemitism in educational settings.

In addition to Lawler's leadership, many other members of Congress have cosponsored the bill, demonstrating broad bipartisan support for combating antisemitism and ensuring safe environments for Jewish students across U.S. campuses.