S558119th CongressWALLET

Antisemitism Awareness Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Senator Tim Scott

Introduced

Summary

Anchors Title VI enforcement to the IHRA working definition of antisemitism. This bill would direct the Department of Education to consider the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's working definition and examples when reviewing complaints of discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in programs that receive federal funds.

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  • Jewish students: Jewish K‑12 and college students would have a clearer, uniform standard for when harassment or discrimination is evaluated as antisemitic under civil rights law.
  • Schools and colleges: Institutions that receive federal funds would be assessed using the IHRA definition as part of Title VI investigations.
  • Department of Education: The department would formally apply the IHRA definition and its examples when deciding whether alleged conduct was motivated by antisemitism.
  • Legal protections: The bill includes rules to preserve First Amendment protections and existing harassment standards while guiding how investigators use the antisemitism definition.

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Enforce Title VI against antisemitism

If enacted, the bill would tell federal education civil‑rights authorities to enforce Title VI against antisemitic discrimination when it is based on race, color, or national origin. It would make the IHRA working definition the definition those agencies must consider in investigations and reviews. The Department of Education would have to take that definition into account when assessing motive in Title VI cases involving Jewish ancestry or ethnicity. The bill would say that sharing a religion does not by itself remove Title VI protection. These rules would take effect upon enactment.

First Amendment rights preserved

If enacted, the bill would say it does not give the Secretary of Education more authority. It would not change the legal standards for when harassing conduct is actionable discrimination. The bill would not shrink any rights under other laws in effect at enactment. It would also preserve First Amendment protections.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Tim Scott

SC • R

Cosponsors

  • Jacky Rosen

    NV • D

    Sponsored 2/13/2025

  • James Lankford

    OK • R

    Sponsored 2/13/2025

  • Charles Schumer

    NY • D

    Sponsored 2/13/2025

  • Lindsey Graham

    SC • R

    Sponsored 2/13/2025

  • Richard Blumenthal

    CT • D

    Sponsored 2/13/2025

  • Rick Scott

    FL • R

    Sponsored 2/13/2025

  • Maggie Hassan

    NH • D

    Sponsored 2/13/2025

  • Susan Collins

    ME • R

    Sponsored 2/13/2025

  • Kirsten Gillibrand

    NY • D

    Sponsored 2/13/2025

  • Shelley Capito

    WV • R

    Sponsored 2/13/2025

  • Ruben Gallego

    AZ • D

    Sponsored 2/13/2025

  • John Barrasso

    WY • R

    Sponsored 2/13/2025

  • John Hickenlooper

    CO • D

    Sponsored 2/13/2025

  • Mike Crapo

    ID • R

    Sponsored 2/13/2025

  • Ron Wyden

    OR • D

    Sponsored 2/13/2025

  • Katie Britt

    AL • R

    Sponsored 2/13/2025

  • Christopher Coons

    DE • D

    Sponsored 2/13/2025

  • John Cornyn

    TX • R

    Sponsored 2/13/2025

  • Catherine Cortez Masto

    NV • D

    Sponsored 2/13/2025

  • Tom Cotton

    AR • R

    Sponsored 2/13/2025

  • Michael Bennet

    CO • D

    Sponsored 2/13/2025

  • John Boozman

    AR • R

    Sponsored 2/13/2025

  • Maria Cantwell

    WA • D

    Sponsored 2/13/2025

  • Pete Ricketts

    NE • R

    Sponsored 2/13/2025

  • John Fetterman

    PA • D

    Sponsored 2/13/2025

  • Chuck Grassley

    IA • R

    Sponsored 2/13/2025

  • Adam Schiff

    CA • D

    Sponsored 2/13/2025

  • Kevin Cramer

    ND • R

    Sponsored 2/13/2025

  • Elissa Slotkin

    MI • D

    Sponsored 2/13/2025

  • Cindy Hyde-Smith

    MS • R

    Sponsored 2/13/2025

  • Mark Warner

    VA • D

    Sponsored 2/13/2025

  • Deb Fischer

    NE • R

    Sponsored 2/13/2025

  • Gary Peters

    MI • D

    Sponsored 2/13/2025

  • Steve Daines

    MT • R

    Sponsored 2/13/2025

  • Cory Booker

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 2/13/2025

  • Cynthia Lummis

    WY • R

    Sponsored 2/18/2025

  • Mark Kelly

    AZ • D

    Sponsored 2/18/2025

  • David McCormick

    PA • R

    Sponsored 2/18/2025

  • Alex Padilla

    CA • D

    Sponsored 2/18/2025

  • John Thune

    SD • R

    Sponsored 3/13/2025

  • Bill Cassidy

    LA • R

    Sponsored 4/28/2025

  • Joni Ernst

    IA • R

    Sponsored 5/5/2025

  • James Justice

    WV • R

    Sponsored 5/5/2025

  • Ashley Moody

    FL • R

    Sponsored 5/5/2025

  • Dan Sullivan

    AK • R

    Sponsored 7/28/2025

  • Mike Rounds

    SD • R

    Sponsored 10/8/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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