PROTECT Jewish Student and Faculty Act
2/11/2025, 1:21 PMSummary of Bill HR 406
Bill 119 HR 406, also known as the Anti-Semitism Awareness Act of 2021, aims to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965. The bill would require institutions of higher education to include a prohibition of antisemitic conduct in all documents related to student or employee conduct in order to participate in programs under title IV of the Higher Education Act.The bill seeks to address the issue of antisemitism on college campuses by ensuring that institutions of higher education take a proactive stance against discriminatory behavior towards Jewish students and employees. By including a specific prohibition of antisemitic conduct in their conduct policies, colleges and universities would be required to actively combat and prevent acts of antisemitism within their communities.
Supporters of the bill argue that it is necessary to protect Jewish students and employees from discrimination and harassment based on their religion. They believe that by explicitly prohibiting antisemitic conduct in institutional policies, colleges and universities can create a safer and more inclusive environment for all members of their community. Critics of the bill, however, raise concerns about potential limitations on free speech and academic freedom. They argue that the vague definition of antisemitic conduct could lead to censorship of legitimate criticism of the Israeli government or policies, which could have a chilling effect on open dialogue and debate on college campuses. Overall, Bill 119 HR 406 represents an effort to address the issue of antisemitism in higher education by requiring institutions to take a clear stance against discriminatory behavior towards Jewish individuals. The bill has sparked debate over the balance between protecting against hate speech and preserving free speech rights on college campuses.
Congressional Summary of HR 406
Promote Restoring Order To End Campus Targeting of Jewish Students and Faculty Act or the PROTECT Jewish Student and Faculty Act
This bill requires institutions of higher education (IHEs) that participate in federal student aid programs to adopt a standard definition of anti-Semitism in their student and employee codes of conduct and prohibit such conduct on campus.
Specifically, the IHE must include in its documents related to student and employee conduct a definition of anti-Semitism which states that (1) anti-Semitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews; and (2) rhetorical and physical manifestations of anti-Semitism may be directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals, including the property of such individuals, and Jewish community institutions and religious facilities. (This definition is the same as the working definition of anti-Semitism from the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance.)
Additionally, the IHE must include in such documents a statement that anti-Semitic conduct is prohibited on campus and that such conduct may result in expulsion or termination of employment.
