House overwhelmingly passes Gottheimer-led bipartisan legislation standing up to antisemitic hate on campuses

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) and Mike Lawler’s (NY-17) bipartisan legislation Wednesday — the Antisemitism Awareness Act — overwhelmingly passed in the U.S. House of Representatives.

This legislation, which is supported by thirty of the country’s leading Jewish groups, requires the Department of Education to use the widely-supported International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism in Title VI discrimination investigations. The IHRA definition has been used by the U.S. State Department over the last three administrations.

By codifying this definition into law, Jewish students will be more protected from antisemitic discrimination, harassment, and threats. This bill will give investigators at the Department of Education a clear framework and the proper tools for  identifying and evaluating antisemitism, helping resolve some of the 137 active Title VI investigations and hold harassers accountable.

The bill passed the House by a vote of 320-91.

“We cannot stand idly by as protesters call for the death of Jews on college campuses and across the country,” Gottheimer said. “When I spoke at Columbia last week, I told administrators that we need deeds, not words to protect Jewish students. This bill is a critical step to take the action we so desperately need to stand against hate.”

“What is happening at Columbia, at Yale, at UCLA, and so many other schools, is reprehensible and alarming,” Lawler said. “When people engage in harassment or bullying of Jewish individuals where they justify the killing of Jews or use blood libel or hold Jews collectively responsible for the actions of the Israeli government – that is antisemitic. It’s unfortunate that needs to be clarified, but that’s why this bill is necessary.”