Press Releases

Washington, D.C. - 2/5/2025... Today, Rep. Mike Lawler (NY-17) released the following statement after reintroducing the bipartisan Antisemitism Awareness Act co-led by Reps. Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05), Max Miller (OH-07), and Jared Moskowitz (FL-23). Senators Tim Scott (SC) and Jackie Rosen (NV) will be introducing companion legislation in the Senate in the coming weeks.

The Antisemitism Awareness Act will require the Department of Education to use the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism and its contemporary examples when enforcing federal anti-discrimination laws. Usage of the IHRA definition in this context is a key step in calling out antisemitism where it is and ensuring antisemitic hate crimes on college campuses are properly investigated and prosecuted. The Antisemitism Awareness Act builds on President Trump's Executive Order from 2019 that sought to protect and define antisemitism and prevent discrimination against those of the Jewish faith.

“The House overwhelmingly passed my bipartisan Antisemitism Awareness Act last session, and today I am proud to reintroduce this critical legislation in the new Congress. Since the horrific terrorist attacks by Hamas on October 7th, 83% of college students said they witnessed or experienced antisemitism on campus,” said Rep. Lawler (NY-17). “This is unacceptable. No person should feel unsafe, targeted, or ostracized because of their faith - and the Antisemitism Awareness Act will stop it from happening.”

“When I met with Jewish students at Columbia University last spring, their fear was palpable. Many wondered if they could ever feel safe on campus again. They deserve better—as does every student, and that’s what this bipartisan bill will accomplish,” concluded Rep. Lawler.

“Since the heinous October 7 attacks on Israel, we have seen an explosion of antisemitic violence and intimidation on college campuses and in communities across New Jersey and the nation. Far too many in our community no longer feel safe in their own homes or classrooms,” said Rep. Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). “That’s why I’m reintroducing the Antisemitism Awareness Act, which will give state officials and law enforcement a clear framework for identifying and addressing antisemitism to hold harassers accountable. Our bipartisan bill adopts the most widely recognized definition of antisemitism in the world, already used by more than 40 countries and 35 states. Hate and discrimination have no place in New Jersey or the country, and we must act now to protect our Jewish students and families from threats, intimidation, and violence.”

“Antisemitism has spread like wildfire on college campuses, especially in the wake of Hamas’s ruthless attack on Israel. College students celebrate terrorists who brutally murder innocent civilians as ‘martyrs’ and faculty members call Hamas’s assault ‘exhilarating.’ This abhorrent behavior underscores the clear need for federal policy to protect Jewish students on these unfriendly campuses. College campuses should be safe havens for learning, not nests of hatred,” said Rep. Max Miller (OH-07).

“Last year, we saw horrific images across our nation’s college campuses — places like Columbia University, where I visited on Passover with my colleagues to stand with Jewish students who were being harassed. Our message was clear then and now: never should it be acceptable for students to feel unsafe walking to their classes simply because they’re Jewish, and it is imperative that we continue to fight antisemitism in every way, shape, and form, on both sides of the aisle,” said Rep. Jared Moskowitz (FL-23). “The working definition of antisemitism provided by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance is not at all controversial. It’s past time that the Department of Education adopt this definition through our bipartisan bill to protect Jewish students.” 

“Jewish Federations of North America strongly supports swift action of the Antisemitism Awareness Act of 2025. This bill is just as important now as it was a year ago, which is why Congress needs to move quickly. Antisemitism is a global crisis, whether it’s on the streets, at a soccer stadium, or on a college campus. American Jews have been waiting a long time for a bill that offers tools to protect them – we're hopeful it passes this time around,” said the Jewish Federations of North America. 

“As ADL data shows, antisemitism is at crisis levels in the United States, creating the urgent need for decisive action. The Antisemitism Awareness Act makes clear that antisemitism, including anti-Zionist harassment, has no place in our schools or society and, importantly, reinforces the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism as a critical tool for the U.S. Department of Education. We urge Congress to act swiftly and send a powerful message that combating antisemitism remains a national priority and deeply appreciate the efforts by Reps. Mike Lawler, Josh Gottheimer, Max Miller, and Jared Moskowitz and Sens. Tim Scott and Jacky Rosen to quickly reintroduce this bipartisan bill,” said Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL).

“Across the United States, particularly since October 7, 2023, Jewish, Zionist, and Israeli students have been under increasing assault. Across our nation, these students, in practically every university, have been verbally, and sometimes physically, threatened, bullied, and intimidated. Many of our students have been excluded from certain clubs, events, or social groups, simply because of their Jewish identities, or their connections to the land of Israel. Last year, according to the ADL, over 10,000 antisemitic incidents in the US were reported in 2024, the highest amount ever recorded in a single year since 1979. Many students have felt forced to hide their Jewish identities. No one should be forced to conceal who they are, at their very core. When one is feeling that he or she is in a hostile environment and is feeling intimidated, bullied, or threatened, simply for walking across the campus or the quad, how can these students be amenable to classroom instruction? We need to offer our Jewish, Zionist, and Israeli students the very same protections as any other minority group in the United States. That is why we wholeheartedly endorse the Antisemitism Awareness Act,” said Sarah N. Stern, Founder and President of The Endowment for Middle East Truth (EMET).

“At a time of unchecked antisemitism, it is critical that Congress act to protect the American Jewish community - and passing the Antisemitism Awareness Act is a very important step in doing so. We at the Orthodox Union are very grateful for the leadership of Rep. Mike Lawler, [Rep. Josh Gottheimer, Sen. Tim Scott, and Sen. Jacky Rosen] and we hope that Congress will move rapidly to pass this bill and get it to President Trump’s desk for signature,” said Nathan J. Diament, Executive Director for Public Policy of Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations (OU). 

“The Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations thanks Reps. Lawler, Gottheimer, Miller Moskowitz, and Sens. Scott and Rosen for re-introducing the Antisemitism Awareness Act (AAA). Since Hamas’s October 7th attack on Israel, there has been a dramatic increase in antisemitism on college campuses. Hundreds of Jewish college students have filed complaints of antisemitic harassment with the Department of Education as university administrators show they have little understanding of how to identify antisemitism. To address the problem of antisemitism, there must be clarity about what constitutes antisemitism. The AAA will adopt the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism into U.S. law, enabling university leaders to support Jewish students and accurately determine – and discipline those who engage in—antisemitic discrimination on college campuses. The Conference of Presidents urges swift passage of AAA,” said Stephanie Hausner, COO of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations (COP). 

“Hadassah is proud to support the Antisemitism Awareness Act and believes that the Department of Education should leverage the widely used and respected International Holocaust Remembrance Association definition of antisemitism when enforcing anti-discrimination laws. Antisemitism has reached alarming heights and is impacting the lives of Jews young and old. In Hadassah’s recent report, From Fear to Resilience: Women Facing Antisemitism, Jewish women shared stories of how antisemitism is making them feel unsafe and prompting them to drop out of school. We applaud Representatives Lawler, Gottheimer, Miller, and Moskowitz for their bipartisan leadership in fighting hatred. We urge Congress to pass this critical legislation,” said Carol Ann Schwartz, National President of Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization of America. 

“According to the American Jewish Committee's upcoming State of Antisemitism in America 2024 Report, three in ten American adults are either unsure of what antisemitism means or never heard the term. This number jumps for young Americans (ages 18-29): 41% of young Americans are unsure of what antisemitism means or never heard the term, while, at the same time, young American Jews (ages 18-29) are more likely to have experienced antisemitism in the past year than Jews ages 30 and older. These numbers show why it is critical to have a clear understanding of what antisemitism is and why it matters for American society because to even begin to solve the problem of antisemitism, there must be clarity about what it is and what it isn’t. The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism is a clear and concise description of antisemitism in its various forms. AJC has supported efforts by both Republican and Democratic Administrations to use this definition at the Department of Education when investigating Title VI complaints. We applaud Representatives Mike Lawler (R-NY), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Max Miller (R-OH), and Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) for introducing the Antisemitism Awareness Act, for prioritizing the continued use of this important educational tool, and ensuring the safety of Jewish students across the country,” said Ted Deutch, CEO of the American Jewish Committee (AJC). 

“Dear Rep. Lawler – The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA), the oldest and one of the largest pro-Israel organizations in the United States,  strongly endorses the reintroduction of the Antisemitism Awareness Act  ZOA is impressed by the perseverance and leadership you have shown, along with your co-sponsors, to keep this issue in focus as our country is experiencing the worst wave of antisemitism since the Holocaust. Even before the barbaric attacks on peaceful Israeli communities occurred on October 7, 2023, antisemitism was a major problem on our college campuses, in our cities, and even in the halls of the US Congress.  Since then, the problem has gotten exponentially worse. It is essential that the hatred of Jews is clearly identified as antisemitism and that the definition of discrimination against Jews under federal law has no ambiguity. President Biden's policy on antisemitism was purposely ambiguous about the definition to allow some antisemites to disguise their anti-Israel hate. The IHRA definition of antisemitism must be the only standard used by the federal government. The examples included in the IHRA definition make it clear that singling out the world's only Jewish state for special treatment as it defends itself from terrorism as any sovereign nation would do is clearly antisemitism. The passage of this act is a vital first step to reverse this trend towards allowing hatred to prosper in our country.  ZOA salutes Rep. Lawler for the strong leadership you have shown in the House of Representatives in proposing this bill and getting a large coalition to support it. We also salute Sen. Tim Scott and for the companion bill being introduced in the Senate,” said Morton A. Klein, National President of the Zionist Organization of America (ZOA).

“The Republican Jewish Coalition has strongly supported the Antisemitism Awareness Act going back to 2016. Last year, House Republicans passed Congressman Lawler’s bill to ensure that federal civil rights investigators have the tools they need to protect the civil rights of Jewish students. Unfortunately, Senate Democrats failed to act, and the legislation died. Now help is on the way for young Jewish Americans confronting campus bigots - thanks to Republican success in the 2024 elections and strong GOP leadership in the House pushing this forward as a top priority for the 119th Congress,” said National Chairman Senator Norm Coleman and CEO Matt Brooks of the Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC).

“Antisemitism isn’t just a Jewish problem. It’s everyone’s problem. Despite the hollow arguments of some, this legislation neither outlaws antisemitism nor is it anti-Christian. As CUFI Founder Pastor John Hagee and Faith and Freedom Coalition Chairman Ralph Reed wrote last May, ‘This law no more stifles free speech than the presence of a thermometer would change the temperature. This law is sound. The Biblical and moral mandate is clear.' The Antisemitism Awareness Act, like President Trump’s 2019 executive order combatting the same, provides students, parents, teachers, and administrators alike with a clear definition of the world’s oldest and most prevalent hatred. Advancing this legislation is important in making American campuses safe and welcoming for all. Opposition to this legislation is at best rooted in a misunderstanding of the law and/or the Bible, and at worst, is founded on plain old bigotry,” said Chairwoman Sandra Hagee Parker of Christians United for Israel (CUFI).

“With Jewish college students still facing unprecedented levels of discrimination, intimidation, harassment, and violence, the need for the Antisemitism Awareness Act remains as urgent as when it was first introduced. CAM has proudly supported the bill from the start, and we commend Representative Lawler for his dogged commitment to seeing the legislative process to the finish and Speaker Johnson for his strong leadership in the fight against rising antisemitism. We urge the new Congress to prioritize rapid passage of the act, and look forward to seeing its positive impact on campuses across the United States,” said the Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM). 

“Congressman Lawler's reintroduction of the Antisemitism Awareness Act is a critical and timely response to the alarming rise of antisemitism across our nation. By advocating for the federal government's adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism, this legislation provides a vital tool in ensuring that antisemitism - including on our college campuses - is clearly identified and appropriately addressed," said Eric S. Goldstein, CEO of UJA-Federation of New York. 

“‘Never Again’ must always begin with early detection and deterrence. That is why the experts at the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance developed the IHRA definition of antisemitism in the first place, and why this bill incorporates that standard to help officials assess the intent behind already unlawful actions. Our leaders have a responsibility to protect their constituents from acts of hate and bigotry motivated by discriminatory animus, including antisemitism, and they must be given the proper tools to do so. Valid monitoring, informed analysis and investigation, and effective policy-making all require clarity: You cannot fight what you cannot define, and because Jewish identity is so multifaceted, without a standard definition for authorities to reference, it is too easy for antisemites to hide behind this ambiguity, commit heinous acts with impunity, then claim it was not antisemitism because it was not based on this or that characteristic. That is why this bill is so necessary and important, and God willing, when it passes, why it will also be effective in curbing unlawful un-American anti-Jewish hate. We cannot thank Rep. Lawler enough for once again leading this initiative,” said Mark Goldfeder, CEO of the National Jewish Advocacy Center. 

‘We commend Congressman Gottheimer for introducing the Antisemitism Awareness Act, which will help states like New Jersey align with more than 35 other states in adopting a clear, uniform definition of antisemitism. Without this standard, institutions and individuals can evade accountability for fostering hostile environments that target Jews based on their beliefs, values, practices, or heritage. This legislation is a crucial step in ensuring a consistent and effective approach to identifying, addressing, and preventing antisemitism,” Jason M. Shames, CEO of the  Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey.

The list of organizations that endorse the Antisemitism Awareness Act include: 

Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA), Anti-Defamation League (ADL), Endowment for Middle East Truth (EMET), Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America (OU), Conference of Presidents of American Jewish Organizations (COP), Hadassah Women’s Zionist Organization of America, American Jewish Committee (AJC), AIPAC, Zionist Organization of America (ZOA), Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC), Christians United For Israel (CUFI), Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM), UJA Federation of New York, National Jewish Advocacy Center, the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey, and the Democratic Majority for Israel.

Additional cosponsors of the bill include: Claudia Tenney (NY-24), Jefferson Van Drew (NJ-02), Nick LaLota (NY-01), David Kustoff (TN-08), Balderson (OH-12), Don Bacon (NE-02), Virginia Foxx (NC-05), Laura Gillen (NY-04), Burgess Owens (UT-04), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Don Davis (NC-01), David Valadao (CA-22), Kevin Kiley (CA-03), Tim Ryan (NY-18), Thomas Kean (NJ-07), Chuck Edwards (NC-11), Shontel Brown OH-11), Suzanne Schmidt (WA-04), Stephanie Bice (OK-05), John Moolenaar (MI-02), Chuck Fleischmann (TN-03), Young Kim (CA-40), Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11), Mark Alford (MO-04), Tim Moore (UT-01), Jay Obernolte (CA-23), Brad Sherman (CA-32), Jim Baird (IN-04), Randy Weber (TX-14), Dusty Johnson (SD-00), John Rutherford (FL-05), Pete Stauber (MN-08), Mike Carey (OH-15), Tracey Mann (KS-01), Donald Norcross (NJ-01), Vern Buchanan (FL-16), Mark Messmer (IN-08), Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06), Ritchie Torres (NY-15), Craig Goldman (TX-12), Randy Feenstra (IA-04), Ashley Hinson (IA-02), John James (MI-10), Greg Landsman (OH- 01), Brad Schneider (IL-10), Joe Wilson (SC-02), Jeff Crank (CO-05), Grace Meng (NY-06), Ron Estes (KS-04), Nick Langworthy (NY-23), Chris Pappas (NH-01), Celeste Maloy (UT-02), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01), Rob Wittman (VA-01), and Haley Stevens (MI-11). 

Congressman Lawler is one of the most bipartisan members of Congress and represents New York's 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties.