Staff Reports
The House approved a bill to boost the definition of antisemitism in federal civil-rights law, even though some left-wing Democrats and right-wing Republicans opposed the measure. The Antisemitism Awareness Act would require the Education Department to use the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism in enforcing anti-discrimination law. The bill was passed 320-91 on Wednesday amid an increase in anti-Israel and anti-Jewish sentiment at universities.
The IHRA definition was adopted by the 31-nation alliance in 2016, and the U.S. is part of the alliance. The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Mike Lawler, a New York Republican, stated that the legislation is necessary because of the alarming harassment and bullying of Jewish individuals at various schools. He emphasized the importance of addressing antisemitic behaviors such as justifying the killing of Jews and using blood libel.
House passes bill bolstering ‘antisemitism’ definition amid alarm over campus protestshttps://t.co/FvlzE4Thjn pic.twitter.com/qVpNYocdxX
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) May 2, 2024
While the bill received bipartisan support, it faced opposition from both ends of the ideological spectrum. Democrats like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rashida Tlaib, and Ilhan Omar, along with Republicans like Lauren Boebert, Marjorie Taylor Greene, and Matt Gaetz, voted against it. Their concerns centered around potential implications for free speech and objections to certain examples in the IHRA definition.
Pro-Palestinian groups took issue with the IHRA definition’s contemporary examples, particularly one related to denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination. Some Republicans argued that the definition could implicate Christians for their beliefs about the death of Jesus. Additionally, procedural objections were raised about the bill’s lack of a full committee hearing or markup to address concerns.
Despite the opposition, the bill’s passage was praised by various Jewish groups, including the Combating Antisemitism Movement. They expressed the importance of swift action in the Senate to pass the Antisemitism Awareness Act. This legislative development reflects efforts to combat rising antisemitism and protect Jewish individuals in educational settings.
