Congressman Mike Lawler Reintroduces Antisemitism Awareness Act To Congress

By Idy Perl

On Wednesday, Congressman Mike Lawler reintroduced the Antisemitism Awareness Act, co-led by Congressmen Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05), Max Miller (OH-07), and Jared Moskowitz (FL-23), to Congress. The bill was passed in the House with overwhelming support during the last Congress session but never came up for a vote in the Senate, requiring it to now be voted on again in the House. 

The Antisemitism Awareness Act will require the Department of Education to use the IHRA (International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance) definition of antisemitism when enforcing federal anti-discrimination laws. This will ensure that antisemitism is called out and recognized for what it is so that discrimination laws can have clear parameters in order to protect Jewish students in schools and colleges across America. The act builds on President Trump's executive order from 2019 that sought to protect and define antisemitism to prevent discrimination against Jews. 

“The House overwhelmingly passed my bipartisan Antisemitism Awareness Act last session, and today I am proud to reintroduce this critical legislation in the new Congress. Since the horrific terrorist attacks by Hamas on October 7th, 83% of college students said they witnessed or experienced antisemitism on campus,” Rep. Lawler said  “This is unacceptable. No person should feel unsafe, targeted, or ostracized because of their faith - and the Antisemitism Awareness Act will stop it from happening. When I met with Jewish students at Columbia University last spring, their fear was palpable. Many wondered if they could ever feel safe on campus again. They deserve better—as does every student, and that’s what this bipartisan bill will accomplish,” he concluded. 

“Since the heinous October 7 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," Rep. Josh Gottheimer added. "Far too many in our community no longer feel safe in their own homes or classrooms. 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.”