In response to the October 7, 2023, terrorist attack against Israel by Hamas and a significant rise in antisemitism on U.S. college campuses, Senators Rick Scott and Marco Rubio introduced the Preventing Antisemitic Harassment on Campus Act.
The bill aims to hold Institutes of Higher Education (IHEs) accountable for failing to address and prevent antisemitic incidents, which have surged by over 500% since the attack.
The legislation seeks to strengthen enforcement of federal prohibitions on antisemitism, requiring schools to take responsibility for protecting Jewish students.
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Senator Rick Scott said, “Jewish students deserve to be safe, and any college or university in this nation that’s enabling antisemitism on campus and leaving students terrified for their safety must be held accountable. Colleges and universities must reject all forms of hate and prejudice and hold those accountable who are complicit in the rise in antisemitism we are seeing on campuses across the country. I am proud to join Senator Rubio in introducing the Preventing Antisemitic Harassment on Campus Act to address these issues head-on.”
“Colleges and universities claim to value diversity and inclusion but have failed to address dangerous antisemitic incidents that have been plaguing campuses for the past year. My Preventing Antisemitic Harassment on Campus Act is a critical step toward ensuring that our educational institutions carry out their responsibility to protect Jewish students from hate and discrimination,” Rubio added.
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The Preventing Antisemitic Harassment on Campus Act would:
- Extend Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to prohibit discrimination based on religion, with exceptions for religiously affiliated programs.
- Implement clear, escalating penalties for IHEs that repeatedly violate these protections.
- Ensure Title VI is enforced equally against antisemitic discrimination as with other forms of discrimination.
- Require IHEs to inform students, faculty, and staff if they are found in violation of Title VI.
- Mandate the U.S. Department of Education to monitor lawsuits related to antisemitism at colleges receiving federal funds.
The proposed bill aims to ensure that schools take a firm stance against antisemitism and protect students from hate and discrimination.
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