{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.scott.senate.gov/media-center/press-releases/senator-scott-champions-bill-to-combat-antisemitism-on-college-campuses-in-wake-of-skyrocketing-incidents/", "Senator Scott Champions Bill to Combat Antisemitism on College Campuses in Wake of Skyrocketing Incidents", "2023-10-26", "2023", "2023-10", "Republican", "Senate", "SC", "Tim Scott", "S001184", "www.scott.senate.gov", "timscott", "https://www.scott.senate.gov/media-center/press-releases/jsf/jet-engine:press-list", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and Congressman Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) introduced the Antisemitism Awareness Act, which directs the Department of Education to use of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance\u2019s (IHRA) definition of antisemitism when investigating antisemitic acts on campus. Currently, the Department of Education lacks a clear definition of antisemitism when determining whether an antisemitic or anti-Israel incident on campus crosses the line from free speech into harassing, unlawful or discriminatory conduct.\n\nAccording to the Anti-Defamation League, violent language and threats against the Jewish community and Israel increased 488% in the first 18 hours after Hamas\u2019 terror attacks on October 7, 2023.\n\n\u201cOur nation\u2019s institutions of higher learning have become hotbeds of antisemitism, especially in the wake of the brutal Hamas terror attacks against Israel and innocent civilians,\u201d said Senator Tim Scott. \u201cIt\u2019s critical the Department of Education has the tools and resources it needs to investigate antisemitism and root out this vile hatred wherever it rears its ugly head.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe amount of antisemitism we consistently see on college campuses is disturbing and unacceptable,\u201d said Rep. Mike Lawler. \u201cColleges and universities have long been breeding grounds of antisemitism and the recent Hamas attack has taken it to the next level. Now, more than ever, it\u2019s critical that we crack down on antisemitic hate within our own country. The Antisemitism Awareness Act is a strong step in the right direction on this front, providing the Department of Education with a clear definition of antisemitism in order to combat this scourge on college campuses. The fact is, antisemitism is rampant in our country and we must quash it as quickly as possible. I\u2019m thankful for the bipartisan support of the Antisemitism Awareness Act and for the support from a wide range of Jewish organizations that are standing up, endorsing this legislation, and saying enough is enough. We must confront antisemitism at all times, unequivocally.\u201d\n\nThe IHRA definition of antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, often expressed as hatred toward Jews, which includes:\n\nCalling for, aiding or justifying the killing or harming of Jews;\n\nMaking dehumanizing, demonizing or stereotypical allegations about Jews or the power of Jews as a collective, such as the myth of a Jewish conspiracy or Jews controlling the media, economy, government or other societal institutions;\n\nHolocaust denialism;\n\nAccusing Jewish citizens of being more loyal to Israel than to the interests of their own nation;\n\nDenying the Jewish people the right to self-determination. For example, claiming the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor (anti-Zionism); and\n\nDrawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis.\n\nThe Antisemitism Awareness Act is endorsed by the:\n\nRepublican Jewish Coalition;\n\nJewish Federations of North America;\n\nOrthodox Union;\n\nZionist Organization of America;\n\nAmerican Jewish Committee;\n\nIsraeli-American Council;\n\nChristians United for Israel;\n\nEndowment for Middle East Truth;\n\nHadassah; and\n\nCouncil of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations.\n\nCosponsors of the Antisemitism Awareness Act include Senators Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Rick Scott (R-Fla.).", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:43:12Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.scott.senate.gov/media-center/press-releases/senator-scott-champions-bill-to-combat-antisemitism-on-college-campuses-in-wake-of-skyrocketing-incidents/"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.8835968803614378, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}