During a recent hearing of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, U.S. Senator Tim Scott’s Antisemitism Awareness Act received commendations from witnesses urging Congress to pass the bill to protect Jewish students. The hearing also included testimony that addressed and corrected several common misconceptions about the legislation.
Senator Scott expressed his commitment to supporting the Jewish community, stating, “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.”
The Senator emphasized the importance of adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) definition of antisemitism for Title VI purposes, arguing, “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.”
Expressing gratitude for the support of his bill, Senator Scott added, “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.”
Senator Scott initially introduced the Antisemitism Awareness Act during the 119th Congress. He has been actively working against the rise of antisemitism on college campuses.
