Senate Committee Advances Antisemitism Awareness Act Amid Opposition

The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee has postponed a final vote on the Antisemitism Awareness Act (AAA) after approving several amendments, including one from Sen. Bernie Sanders affirming the right to oppose the devastation in Gaza, which may jeopardize Republican support for the bill. The AAA seeks to standardize how campus antisemitism is investigated by directing the Department of Education to use the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism, amid a significant rise in campus incidents. The Protecting Students on Campus Act, another key bill, would require universities to improve civil rights complaint tracking and reporting. Debate over the AAA is contentious, with about 50 amendments proposed and some Democrats expressing concerns about expanding presidential authority, while others who were potential supporters now appear likely to vote against the bill. Sen. Bill Cassidy, the committee chair, has made combating antisemitism a focus of his tenure, citing the need for strong congressional leadership as incidents surge. The future of the AAA remains uncertain as committee divisions and amendment disputes persist.