WASHINGTON (NewsNation) — The House Committee on Rules is scheduled to discuss legislation that could make some speech on college campuses punishable by law. The chamber is expected to vote on the bill sometime this week.
If passed, the “Antisemitism Awareness Act” could dramatically redefine what can be incorporated under the blanket of antisemitic acts of harassment. The bill was initially written in a bipartisan manner back in October following Hamas’ deadly incursion into Israel that killed about 1,200 Israelis.
A review of the bill comes in the wake of House Speaker Mike Johnson’s visit to Columbia University in which he addressed protesters directly, receiving a sea of boos and jeers. The Louisiana Republican said universities may lose federal funding if they can’t control the protests.
How does this impact protesters?
If the bill is passed, certain language and chants could be punished under federal anti-discrimination law.
The Antisemitism Awareness Act would require the Education Department to use the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition of antisemitism when enforcing federal anti-discrimination laws on college campuses.
The definition of antisemitism would change to include denying Jewish “self-determination to their ancestral homeland of Israel.” It would also include holding Jews collectively responsible for the actions of the Israeli government.
The definition would also include the following:
- Calling for, aiding or justifying the killing or harming of Jews.
- Making dehumanizing, demonizing or stereotypical allegations about Jews.
- Accusing Jewish citizens of being more loyal to Israel than to the interests of their own nation.
- Denying the Jewish people the right to self-determination. For example, claiming the existence of a state of Israel is a racist endeavor (anti-Zionism).
- Drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis.
Lawmakers fighting antisemitism
US Speaker of the House Mike Johnson takes questions from the media after meeting with Jewish students, as pro-Palestinian students and activists continue to protest the Israel-Hamas war on the campus of Columbia University in New York City on April 24, 2024. Tensions flared between pro-Palestinian student protesters and school administrators at several US universities on April 22, as in-person classes were cancelled and demonstrators arrested. (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP) (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images) 
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 24: Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) speaks during a press conference at Columbia University on April 24, 2024 in New York City. Johnson visited the campus as school administrators and pro-Palestine student protesters made progress on negotiations after the school set a midnight deadline for students to disband the encampment there, and agreed on a 48-hour extension. Johnson called for the resignation of Columbia University President Minouche Shafik. (Photo by Alex Kent/Getty Images) 
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 24: Rep. Anthony D’Esposito (R-NY) speaks alongside Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) (R) during a press conference at Columbia University on April 24, 2024 in New York City. Johnson visited the campus as school administrators and pro-Palestine student protesters made progress on negotiations after the school set a midnight deadline for students to disband the encampment there, and agreed on a 48-hour extension. Johnson called for the resignation of Columbia University President Minouche Shafik. (Photo by Alex Kent/Getty Images)
Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., introduced the bill and joined House Republicans at Columbia University to condemn pro-Palestinian protesters.
“The Antisemitism Awareness Act will help put a stop to the antisemitic intimidation of Jewish students on campus once and for all. I’m glad this bipartisan legislation will be coming up for a vote next week and I urge all my colleagues to support it,” Lawler posted to X, formerly known as Twitter.
Sen. Tim Kaine, R-Va., weighed in on the college protests happening across the country in an interview with NBC Sunday.
“This is a tough one because people have a right to protest and make their views known and almost, you know, overwhelming percentages of people do that peacefully. But, there are those who intimidate or harass others. There are those who speak in hate speech or antisemitism. So, giving people the latitude to do what they ought to be able to do and also trying to curb acceptable behavior,” Kaine said.
The bill has more than 40 co-sponsors, 13 of whom are House Democrats.
NewsNation’s Joe Khalil and Sean Noone contributed to this report.