PRESS RELEASE: American Jewish Congress Condemns Efforts to Block Antisemitism Awareness Act in the HELP Committee; Praises Chairman Bill Cassidy’s Leadership

May 1, 2025, New York, NY – Yesterday, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee had to postpone a vote on the Antisemitism Awareness Act following the introduction of several amendments by Senators Bernie Sanders (D-VT) and Ed Markey (D-MA). Their goal was to shift the bill’s core focus, undermining urgent efforts to confront the antisemitism crisis facing the Jewish community. Despite the best efforts of Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA), the Chairman of the Committee, the vote had to be delayed.
 
The American Jewish Congress strongly commends Senator Bill Cassidy for his unwavering commitment to combating antisemitism and advancing this legislation. Since assuming the chairmanship, Senator Cassidy has taken decisive steps to prioritize the long-overlooked issue by convening bipartisan discussions, engaging directly with Jewish students, and putting forward meaningful legislative solutions. His leadership stands in sharp contrast to that of his predecessor, Senator Bernie Sanders, who repeatedly refused to hold hearings on campus antisemitism and is now working to undermine the advancement of this legislation.
 
The Antisemitism Awareness Act is an important bill that would empower the Department of Education with the tools to better identify and respond to antisemitic acts on campus. At a time when antisemitism is surging, Congress must act swiftly and decisively.
 
Although the proposed amendments were framed as protecting free speech, the bill already includes robust safeguards for freedom of expression. The motivations behind the delay appear to be political rather than policy-driven, especially considering that the same legislation passed the House of Representatives last year with overwhelming bipartisan support (320–91). The bill has not changed. The threat of antisemitism has only grown. It is the politics of certain Democratic Members of Congress that have shifted.
 
We urge the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee to move this bill forward. Jewish students are being targeted, harassed, and silenced. The stakes are too high for continued inaction. The American Jewish community deserves more than rhetoric. It deserves principled action.