Bipartisan Antisemitism Awareness Act (S. 558) Considered by Congress

On February 13, 2025, the bipartisan Antisemitism Awareness Act (S. 558) was re-introduced in Congress  by sponsor Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) to require the Department of Education to use the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism when enforcing federal anti-discrimination laws. On April 30, 2025, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Committee held a mark up session. The legislation is co-sponsored by 41 Representatives, and endorsed by: ADL (Anti-Defamation League), American Jewish Committee (AJC), Conference of Presidents of American Jewish Organizations (COP), Christians United for Israel (CUFI), Zionist Organization of America (ZOA), Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC), National Jewish Advocacy Center, Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA), Hadassah, The Endowment for Middle East Truth (EMET), Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM), Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America (OU), The Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey, and B’nai B’rith. 

On May 2, 2025, the Interfaith Alliance announced its opposition to the Antisemitism Awareness Act (AAA). The Alliance stated that the AAA "would needlessly stifle political free speech and empower the administration’s repressive agenda." The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), American Muslims for Palestine, Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), Center for Constitutional Rights, Defending Rights and Dissent, Jewish Voice for Peace, National Lawyers Guild, Palestine Legal, and US Campaign for Palestinian Rights also oppose the Act.

On February 5, 2025, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) applauded the re-introduction of the Act. The bipartisan bill, reintroduced in Congress by Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY), Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Rep. Max Miller (R-OH) and Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) will ensure the Department of Education has a  clear framework for identifying and addressing antisemitic discrimination, particularly on college and university campuses. “As ADL data shows, antisemitism is at crisis levels in the U.S., creating the urgent need for decisive action,” said Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the ADL. “The Antisemitism Awareness Act makes clear that antisemitism, including anti-Zionist harassment, has no place in our schools or society and, importantly, reinforces the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism as a critical tool for the U.S. Department of Education. We urge Congress to act swiftly and send a powerful message that combating antisemitism remains a national priority and deeply appreciate the efforts by Reps. Mike Lawler, Josh Gottheimer, Max Miller, and Jared Moskowitz and Sens. Tim Scott and Jacky Rosen to quickly reintroduce this bipartisan bill.”

The AAA would broaden the definition of antisemitism, essentially by defining anti-Zionism as antisemitic for the purposes of civil rights law. 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. The IHRA definition is the most widely recognized definition of antisemitism in the world, having been adopted by more than 40 countries and 35 states across the United States. The bipartisan legislation also provides clear protections for the First Amendment.

Last Congress, the Antisemitism Awareness Act overwhelmingly passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 320-91. The Senate subsequently did not consider the legislation. On November 14, 2024, the ACLU urged senators to reject the Act because it would "censor political speech critical of Israel on college campuses under the guise of addressing antisemitism."

“Since the heinous October 7th attacks on Israel, we have seen an explosion of antisemitic violence and intimidation on college campuses and in communities across New Jersey and the nation. Far too many in our community no longer feel safe in their own homes or classrooms,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). “That’s why I’m reintroducing the Antisemitism Awareness Act, which will give state officials and law enforcement a clear framework for identifying and addressing antisemitism to hold harassers accountable. Our bipartisan bill adopts the most widely recognized definition of antisemitism in the world, already used by more than 40 countries and 35 states. Hate and discrimination have no place in New Jersey or the country, and we must act now to protect our Jewish students and families from threats, intimidation, and violence.”

“With Jewish college students still facing unprecedented levels of discrimination, intimidation, harassment, and violence, the need for the Antisemitism Awareness Act remains as urgent as when it was first introduced. CAM has proudly supported the bill from the start, and we commend Representative Lawler for his dogged commitment to seeing the legislative process to the finish and Speaker Johnson for his strong leadership in the fight against rising antisemitism. We urge the new Congress to prioritize rapid passage of the act, and look forward to seeing its positive impact on campuses across the United States,” said the Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM).

“Hadassah is proud to support the Antisemitism Awareness Act and believes that the Department of Education should leverage the widely used and respected International Holocaust Remembrance Association definition of antisemitism when enforcing anti-discrimination laws. Antisemitism has reached alarming heights and is impacting the lives of Jews young and old. In Hadassah’s recent report, From Fear to Resilience: Women Facing Antisemitism, Jewish women shared stories of how antisemitism is making them feel unsafe and prompting them to drop out of school. We applaud Representatives Lawler, Gottheimer, Miller and Moskowitz for their bipartisan leadership in fighting hatred. We urge Congress to pass this critical legislation,” said Carol Ann Schwartz, National President of Hadassah.

‘We commend Congressman Gottheimer for introducing the Antisemitism Awareness Act, which will help states like New Jersey align with more than 35 other states in adopting a clear, uniform definition of antisemitism. Without this standard, institutions and individuals can evade accountability for fostering hostile environments that target Jews based on their beliefs, values, practices, or heritage. This legislation is a crucial step in ensuring a consistent and effective approach to identifying, addressing, and preventing antisemitism,” said Jason M. Shames, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey.

Read the Congress.gov summary of the Act.

Read the May 2, 2025 Interfaith Alliance article.

Read the November 14, 2024 ACLU letter opposing the Act.