Senator Scott’s Antisemitism Awareness Act Praised During Committee Hearing on Antisemitic Disruptions on College Campuses

WASHINGTON — Today, at the hearing for the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.)’s Antisemitism Awareness Actreceived praise from hearing witnesses who called on Congress to pass his bill to help protect Jewish students. Additionally, one witness debunked several myths surrounding the legislation. Senator Scott made the following statement on the reception of his legislation:

Click here to watch the witness’s remarks

“Now more than ever, we should be standing with our Jewish friends at home and abroad. Over the last three years, Jewish students have been harassed and intimidated; their rights and safety threatened. This is why I have championed this legislation since 2016 and will continue to do so until it is signed into law,” said Senator Scott. “It is time to formally codify the IHRA’s definition of antisemitism for purposes of Title VI. Doing so will provide the Department of Education with a tool and a clear definition of what antisemitism is. It is ghoulish nonsense to oppose this legislation. I remain encouraged by the growing support of the ‘triple A.’ Thank you to Dr. Cassidy for holding today’s hearing and to the supporters of this critical and timely legislation.”

Background:

In addition to introducing the Antisemitism Awareness Act during the 119th Congress, Senator Scott has worked relentlessly to push back on the alarming rise of blatant and vile antisemitism on college campuses by:

• Introducing the Stop Antisemitism on College Campuses Act to defund colleges and universities that enable violent antisemitism on their campuses;
  In 2024, calling on the president of Columbia University to resign over rampant antisemitism on campus;
• In the 118th Congress, leading a resolution to condemn the explosion of antisemitism on U.S. college campuses, call out university presidents who have enabled and refused to take action against this antisemitism, and urge the Biden Department of Education to take necessary actions to ensure that colleges and universities are complying with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act to protect Jewish students.

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