Gottheimer helps lead bipartisan, bicameral Antisemitism Awareness Act
Combating Antisemitism, Ensuring Federal Anti-Discrimination Laws are Enforced
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representative Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) helped introduce the bipartisan Antisemitism Awareness Act alongside Representatives Mike Lawler (NY-17), Max Miller (OH-7), and Jared Moskowitz (FL-23) to require the Department of Education to use the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism when enforcing federal anti-discrimination laws.
The IHRA definition underscores that antisemitism includes denying Jewish self-determination to their ancestral homeland of Israel, holding Jews collectively responsible for actions of the State of Israel, and applying double standards to Israel. Senator Tim Scott (SC) introduced the legislation in the Senate.
The legislation is co-sponsored by Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Donald Norcross (NJ-01), Tom Kean (NJ-07), David Kustoff (TN-08), Shontel Brown (OH-11), Elise Stefanik (NY-21), and Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18).
“Just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse, since the heinous terrorist attack on Israel, there has been an explosion of antisemitism, violence and intimidation at home and around the world — especially on our college campuses. As the only Jewish member of the New Jersey congressional delegation, I’m full of grief, anger, and disgust following the darkest day in Jewish history since the end of the Holocaust,” Gottheimer said. “I’m helping lead the bipartisan Antisemitism Awareness Act because we have an obligation to teach future generations about this evil and protect Jewish students from violence and the virulent impact of all hate.”
The organizations that endorse the Antisemitism Awareness Act include: Israeli-American Council (IAC), Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA), Conference of Presidents of American Jewish Organizations (COP), Hadassah, Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM), Zionist Organization of America (ZOA), Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America (OU), American Jewish Committee (AJC), and Anti-Defamation League (ADL).
