The House of Representatives passed the Antisemitism Awareness Act on Wednesday in a 320-91 vote, amid ongoing unrest and protests on college campuses across the country. The bipartisan bill, led by Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) and co-sponsored by 15 Democrats, requires the Department of Education to use the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism when enforcing federal anti-discrimination laws.
The passage of the bill sparked a debate on free speech, with some Democrats and Republicans arguing that it could infringe on constitutionally-protected rights. Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.), who is Jewish, expressed concern that the bill would put the "thumb on the scale" in favor of one definition of antisemitism and could "chill" free speech.
The vote comes as college protests continue to rage on, with many pro-Palestinian protesters calling for their colleges to divest funds from Israeli military operations. Some Jewish students and elected officials have labeled these protests as antisemitic, while others have warned against conflating antisemitism with views critical of Israel's government.
Speaker Mike Johnson has been vocal in his criticism of the college protests, recently visiting Columbia University, where the demonstrations initially began. During his visit, he called for the resignation of Columbia University President Minouche Shafik and suggested deploying the National Guard to quell the protests.
Despite the bill's passage, Democrats expressed frustration with Speaker Johnson's tactics, feeling that they were forced to rescue the legislation despite their reservations. Many Democrats viewed the bill as an effort to divide their party rather than effectively combat antisemitism, preferring the more comprehensive and bipartisan bill introduced by Rep. Kathy Manning (D-N.C.).
"We're mostly frustrated about the fact that it's a bunch of bulls--t that's never going to go anywhere in the Senate, and here we are wasting time and energy," said a House Democrat who voted for the bill.
The vote also highlighted the precarious position of Jewish and politically vulnerable Democrats, who found it challenging to vote against a bill aimed at combating antisemitism. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), a Jewish progressive with concerns about the IHRA definition, voted for the bill "on the theory that it's basically meaningless and harmless."
The passage of the Antisemitism Awareness Act comes amid controversy surrounding Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), who faced backlash for defending his vote against the bill using an antisemitic trope. Gaetz claimed that the bill's definition of antisemitism, which includes the claim that Jews killed Jesus, violates the Constitution and "common sense."
Jeff Miller, a close ally of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, called Gaetz an "anti-semite" and a "pedophile" in response to his post on X, formerly Twitter. Claims that Jews are responsible for the execution of Jesus have long been regarded as an antisemitic trope and rejected by historians and theologians.
As the debate surrounding the Antisemitism Awareness Act continues, it remains uncertain whether the Senate will take up the bill. The controversy surrounding Rep. Gaetz's comments and the ongoing college protests highlight the complex nature of the issue and the challenges in addressing antisemitism while protecting free speech rights.
