April 10, 2024, New York, NY – Following the introduction of the “Countering Antisemitism Act,” Daniel Rosen, President of the American Jewish Congress, released the following statement:
“The American Jewish Congress applauds the announcement of the “Countering Antisemitism Act” and offers its full-throated support for this critical, bipartisan legislation. We are at a time when no action is too small to respond to the dramatic manifestations of antisemitic hate that we are witnessing throughout the country, especially in the aftermath of the October 7 terror attack in Israel by Hamas. These manifestations range from antisemitism and Holocaust denial on social media platforms to the antisemitic incidents that are proliferating on the streets of our cities, as well as on our schools and university campuses. Thankfully, this legislation is no small feat and is not merely a sporadic response; it is a deeply comprehensive initiative that seeks to offer a holistic approach to improving and elevating the fight against antisemitism.
Last year, the American Jewish Congress enthusiastically welcomed the first-ever National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism, announced by the Biden Administration. Now, this legislation seeks to build on that strategy and lays the pathway to better governmental coordination and implementation in the efforts to combat anti-Jewish hatred and actions.
We are grateful to Senators Jacky Rosen and James Lankford, and Representatives Kathy Manning and Chris Smith, Co-Chairs of the Senate and House Bipartisan Task Forces for Combating Antisemitism, for stepping up and for their leadership. We urge Congressional Leaders and all Members of Congress to endorse this important legislation in support of the Jewish community and to ensure that it reaches President Biden’s desk as soon as possible.”
“Countering Antisemitism Act” – Bill Summary
- National Coordinator to Counter Antisemitism: Establishes a National Coordinator to Counter Antisemitism within the White House to serve as the President’s principal advisor on countering domestic antisemitism; coordinate Federal efforts to counter antisemitism, including reviewing agencies’ implementation of U.S. government strategies to counter antisemitism.
- Interagency Task Force to Counter Antisemitism: Establishes an interagency task force to coordinate the implementation of U.S. government strategies to counter antisemitism.
- Report on Agencies’ Implementation of U.S. National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism: Directs agencies to submit a report to Congress detailing their implementation of the U.S. National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism.
- Annual Threat Assessment: Requires the FBI, DHS, and National Counterterrorism Center to jointly produce an annual threat assessment of antisemitic violent extremism.
- Online Antisemitism: Requires the National Coordinator to Counter Antisemitism to conduct an annual analysis of the spread of antisemitism online and provide recommendations to Congress on how to counter it.
- Antisemitic Discrimination in Higher Education: Requires the Department of Education to designate a senior official to advise on the Department’s efforts to counter antisemitic discrimination in higher education.
- Holocaust Education in Schools: Requires the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum to conduct a study on Holocaust education efforts across public K-12 schools.
- Nonprofit Security Grant Program: Requires the FEMA Administrator to ensure the agency has sufficient resources and personnel needed to carry out the Nonprofit Security Grant Program.
- Designation of Jewish American Heritage Month: Formally establishes May as “Jewish American Heritage Month” in federal law.
