Washington, D.C. — The Orthodox Union Advocacy Center (OUA) expressed deep disappointment and frustration with Congress’ failure to enact the Antisemitism Awareness Act (AAA), an urgently needed bill to combat rising antisemitism on college campuses and nationwide. Despite overwhelmingly bipartisan support, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Speaker Mike Johnson failed to deliver this legislation to President Biden for his signature before adjourning for the year.

The AAA codifies that the Department of Education must use the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism in its application of Title VI. This definition includes targeting of Jews using rhetoric and actions related to Israel and Zionism.

“Congressional leaders dropped the ball,” said Nathan Diament, executive director of Orthodox Union Advocacy. “Antisemitism is surging, Jewish students are being targeted, and Washington let politics get in the way of important policy.”

OUA has been unwavering in its fight for this bill, spearheading lobbying efforts on Capitol Hill and galvanizing public support throughout Jewish communities. OUA called on lawmakers to prioritize meaningful legislation to combat antisemitism in the next legislative session and reaffirmed its commitment to working with leaders in both parties to advance protections for Jewish communities.

“There is no time to waste in the next Congress,” Diament continued. “In the 119th Congress, we plan to propose and advocate for legislation that will include the provisions of the AAA, but be broader and more aggressively fight the surge of antisemitism in America.  We will work with allies to pass this bill early in 2025 in order to protect all Jewish Americans — on campuses, in the streets, and everywhere in this great nation.”  

For more information on OUA’s advocacy efforts, visit the OU Advocacy Center.

###