The House of Representatives passed a bipartisan bill Wednesday aimed at combating anti-Semitism, as pro-Palestinian protests disrupt universities across the United States.
The bill passed by a vote of 320-91. Twenty-one Republicans and 70 Democrats voted against the bill.
The bill, entitled the Anti-Semitism Awareness Act, would authorize the Department of Education to adopt the broad definition of anti-Semitism used by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, an intergovernmental organization, to enforce anti-discrimination laws. It’s mandatory.
The international organization defines anti-Semitism as “a particular perception of Jews that may be expressed as hatred of Jews.” The group said “rhetorical and physical manifestations” of anti-Semitism include calls for the killing or harm of Jews or for holding Jews collectively responsible for actions taken by the state of Israel. It added that this includes.
The prospects for this bill to be debated in the Senate are uncertain.
Asked whether the Senate would consider the bill, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York told reporters early Wednesday, “We haven’t seen what the House sends us yet.” Stated.
Rep. Mike Lawler (RN.Y.) introduced a bipartisan bill with support from moderate Democrats who support Israel in its war with Hamas.
“In every generation, Jews have been scapegoated, harassed, expelled from their homelands, and murdered,” Lawler said in a speech on the House floor before the vote.
“Jews need our help right now,” he said. “They need action now.”
The bill comes as Republicans seek to launch an investigation into anti-Semitism on college campuses in response to pro-Palestinian protests. The current bill was introduced in late October in the wake of the Oct. 7 attack on Israel by Hamas, but was debated this week.
Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said in a letter Monday to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) that “the specific and thoughtful strategy outlined by the Biden administration There is nothing on the floor this week that will accomplish that.” To combat anti-Semitism.
Jeffries had called for a vote on the bipartisan Anti-Semitism Act. The law aims to address concerns about the rise of anti-Semitism by appointing a new chief of staff to the president who will be dedicated to implementing a coordinated strategy to counter anti-Semitism.
“Efforts to quell anti-Semitism and hatred in any form are not a Democratic or Republican issue,” Jeffries wrote. “This is an American issue that must be addressed now with great urgency and bipartisanship.”
Lawler’s bill faced opposition from some progressive and far-right lawmakers, as well as the American Civil Liberties Union, which said the bill’s definition of anti-Semitism was “too broad.”
“Speech critical of Israel or any other government alone cannot constitute harassment,” ACLU leaders wrote to lawmakers last week, urging them to oppose the measure.
The letter points out in part an example of anti-Semitism that is included in the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition, stating that anti-Semitism includes “for example, claiming that the existence of the state of Israel is the right of Jewish self-determination. “This could include denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination.” Racist initiatives. ”
Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, voted against the bill after telling reporters Tuesday that Republicans are weaponizing anti-Semitism.
“We all must continue to speak out against anti-Semitism and make it clear that we hate it, just as we condone Islamophobia and other forms of hatred and discrimination that exist in our world. “We also do not tolerate anti-Semitism,” she said.
Jayapal also argued that many Jewish organizations do not support the bill because it has “too broad a definition.”
“So why would you do that? Unless you want to weaponize anti-Semitism and use it as a political ploy,” she said. “Let’s remember that many of these Republicans said nothing when Donald Trump and people elsewhere in Charlottesville were saying really anti-Semitic things.”
Separately, Rep. Jerry Nadler (D.N.Y.) said the definition is too broad and threatens constitutionally protected free speech rights. He also voted against the bill.
Rep. Sarah Jacobs, D-Calif., issued a statement after voting against the bill, saying that she has “experienced anti-Semitism throughout her life,” but that the bill would be a “free speech and freedom of assembly” move. “It suppresses the First Amendment rights of people to the United States Constitution.”
Jacobs also said she did not believe that anti-Zionism was “inherently anti-Semitic,” adding, “Confusing free speech with hate crimes does nothing to make Jewish students any safer.” It shouldn’t be.”
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) voted no. This bill is proposed because we disagree with one example of anti-Semitism listed in the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition, which states that to describe Israel or Israelis: The use of “symbols and images” such as “claims of defamation” is mentioned.
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Congressman Matt Gaetz (R-Florida) voted. It opposes the bill for similar reasons, citing the same examples of anti-Semitism that are considered harmful to many Jews.
“The Bible is clear,” he wrote about X, “there are no myths or controversies regarding this.”
Activists against anti-Semitism point out that throughout history Jews have been scapegoated for events such as the crucifixion of Jesus, and these claims have been used to justify violence against Jews. There is.
