Antisemitism Awareness Act Reintroduced to Protect Jewish Students from Rising Hatred on U.S. Campuses

The Antisemitism Awareness Act (AAA), a critical piece of legislation aimed at protecting Jews from the growing danger of anti-semitism in America, has been reintroduced in the United States House of Representatives after it was previously stalled in the Senate due to political disagreements. This bill, if passed, would mandate that the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights use the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) definition of antisemitism when investigating discrimination complaints under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

The Combat Antisemitism Movement, an organization representing over 850 groups dedicated to fighting antisemitism worldwide, has welcomed this reintroduction, seeing it as a crucial step in ensuring the safety and dignity of Jewish communities. The bill is spearheaded by Republican Congressman Mike Lawler of New York, along with bipartisan support from Representatives Max Miller (R-OH), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), and Jared Moskowitz (D-FL).

Originally introduced in October 2023, in the aftermath of the horrific Hamas atrocities in Eretz Yisrael, the AAA swiftly passed in the House with a strong bipartisan majority of 320 to 91 on May 5, 2023. However, despite this overwhelming support, it never reached a vote in the Senate due to political maneuvering. Reports indicate that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer hesitated to bring the bill to the floor independently, fearing divisions within his party. Some Democrat legislators opposed the bill, arguing that the IHRA definition—which includes certain forms of anti-Israel rhetoric as antisemitic—was too broad. Meanwhile, certain Republicans expressed concerns about free speech and some even opposed the IHRA’s recognition that accusing Jews of deicide (the false and historically dangerous claim that Jews are collectively responsible for the death of Yeshu) is antisemitic.

As a result, despite its urgent necessity, the bill was left without a clear path forward. But with antisemitic incidents continuing to rise, particularly on university campuses where frum bochurim and bnos Yisrael are increasingly encountering hostility, Lawler and his colleagues decided to take action and reintroduce the legislation.

“Colleges and universities have repeatedly failed to uphold federal law and protect Jewish students,” Lawler declared upon reintroducing the bill. “The Antisemitism Awareness Act makes it clear: antisemitism will not be tolerated—on campus or anywhere else.”

The renewed push for the bill is also being supported in the Senate by Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) and Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV), who are expected to introduce a corresponding Senate version soon.