U.S. Senators Katie Britt, Tim Scott Introduce Bill to Combat Antisemitism on College Campuses

WASHINGTON, D.C., April 23, 2024 — U.S. Senators Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), and 27 of their Senate colleagues have introduced the bipartisan Antisemitism Awareness Act.

This timely bill would help combat the antisemitic bigotry and targeted harassment of the Jewish community that has been growing on college campuses, especially in the wake of Hamas’ barbaric terrorist attack on October 7, 2023. Specifically, the Antisemitism Awareness Act would require the U.S. Department of Education to consider the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism when enforcing federal anti-discrimination laws. The legislation is similar to S.3141, which was introduced by Senators Scott, Britt, and a group of Republican colleagues in October.

“Now more than ever, we must send a resounding message that antisemitism has no place in America. Make no mistake – ‘Never Again’ is now, and not just overseas,” said Senator Britt. “Whether it’s on college campuses or the streets of our nation’s largest cities, there is a disturbing amount of people unable or unwilling to distinguish good from evil. Meanwhile, extremists chant ‘Death to America,’ ‘Death to Israel,’ and even explicitly pro-Hamas refrains and open calls for the eradication of the Jewish people. Let me be crystal clear – any non-citizen on U.S. soil who supports Hamas should be immediately deported, and any American educational institution authorizing, facilitating, or otherwise supporting pro-terrorism activities should lose every cent of federal funding and subsidization. I am proud to stand with my Jewish brothers and sisters in Alabama, across our country, and abroad.”

“Our nation’s institutions of higher learning have become hotbeds of antisemitism, especially in the wake of the brutal attacks against Israel and innocent civilians by Hamas and Iran,” said Senator Scott. “It’s critical the Department of Education has the tools and resources it needs to investigate antisemitism and root out this vile hatred wherever it rears its ugly head.”

“Hamas’ horrific terrorist attack on October 7 led to a dramatic increase in antisemitism on college campuses,” said Senator Casey. “Amidst this appalling increase, we must do everything we can to protect Jewish students on college campuses. This bill will make sure that going forward, the Education Department will take action against all forms of antisemitic discrimination.”

The Antisemitism Awareness Act is also cosponsored by Senators Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Ron Wyden (D-Oreg.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Jerry Moran (R-Kans.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Christopher Coons (D-Del.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Kristen Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Pete Ricketts (R-Nebr.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), John Cornyn (R-Tex.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.).

Senator Britt has been an outspoken and strong supporter of the Jewish community and Israel, traveling with a bipartisan group of her Senate colleagues to meet with leaders across the region and emphasize the United States’ unequivocal support for Israel immediately following the October 7 atrocities.

In addition to supporting multiple bills and resolutions standing with Israel, Senator Britt has cosponsored several pieces of legislation to combat the rise in antisemitism in the United States, including Senator Scott’s Stop Antisemitism on College Campuses Act and Senator Rubio’s resolution calling on the Biden Administration to revoke student visas for non-citizens studying in the United States who support Hamas or other foreign terrorist organizations.

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