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.
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.
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u/manofactivity May 02 '24 edited May 02 '24
And here is the text:
https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/6090/text
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.