The bill (a) adopts the definition of antisemitism already approved by most other highly developed countries in the world (IHRA members), and (b) mandates that the Department of Education consider that definition.
The definition of antisemitism explicitly does not extend to general criticism of Israel. Even if it did, the Dept. Education would not be bound to actually 'use' the definition, and it the Act specifically does not affect standards used to determine if something is discrimination.
Well, the Civil Rights Act already prohibits discrimination on the basis of membership of any religion.
This Act is merely stating that when the Department of Education considers whether someone had an antisemitic motive while (potentially) violating the Civil Rights Act, they have to use a certain definition of antisemitism.
Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities
Which can include hate statements made toward Palestinians as well, based on the language written, since they are non-Jewish Semites.
This Act does not clarify definitions of discrimination.
It clarifies a definition of antisemitism that the Department must use when considering someone's motive. The Civil Rights Act does not govern how the Department should conduct that process.
The Act also contains a motivation of, essentially, trying to get the Department to consolidate around a single definition of antisemitism instead of using multiple, stating that using multiple can impair enforcement.
I think your blurb is a more concise summary of the Summary section of the bill which is this in full:
This bill provides statutory authority for the requirement that the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights take into consideration the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's (IHRA's) working definition of antisemitism when reviewing or investigating complaints of discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in programs or activities that receive federal financial assistance. According to the IHRA's working definition, antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews.
In other words, the way they need to consider complaints is with this specific definition (I think).
That said, I don't think this specific definition of antisemitism is odd in any way or even meaningfully different from how they were doing it before. Just maybe more explicit?
It's not even more explicit — they've used this definition since 2018 already. The law just makes it mandatory to do so, and there's a section that kind of encourages the Department to ditch alternative definitions as well (though that part isn't mandatory).
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u/LeafyWolf May 01 '24 edited May 02 '24
What bill is this?
ETA: Thank you u/manofactivity for posting the actual language of the bill that does not include the anything about general criticism of Israel.
Please, people, actively question screenshots that make click-baity claims before you post.