The Senate is hoping to pass a bipartisan antisemitism bill that was approved overwhelmingly by the House but is already facing opposition from members who won’t allow leadership to fast-track the legislation.
Two Senate leadership aides said Thursday that both parties were working to secure a time agreement that would allow the chamber to bypass a series of legislative hurdles to quick passage.
However, the bill, which would codify the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism, is facing objections on both sides of the aisle, according to multiple senators.
“It’s who you would expect,” Senate Minority Whip John Thune (R-SD) told the Washington Examiner.
He mentioned Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), while libertarian Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) confirmed that he would object to the legislation when it is brought to the floor.
“I don’t think it’s going to be up today, but I will,” Paul said.
The House passed the Antisemitism Awareness Act on Wednesday in a 320-91 vote, with 70 Democrats and 21 Republicans opposed.
The measure, which would expand the definition of antisemitism as the Department of Education enforces anti-discrimination laws, comes amid pro-Palestinian protests at colleges and universities, some of which have turned violent and antisemitic. Republicans and some Democrats have pressured the Biden administration to clamp down on the demonstrations and threaten taxpayer funding for higher education institutions if they persist on campuses.
Asked whether President Joe Biden would sign the House-passed antisemitism bill into law, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Thursday that the president “welcomes congressional action in this fight.” She declined to offer an overt endorsement of the legislation, saying she wanted to be careful as “several bills” are being discussed.
Opponents say the bill is an overreach because federal laws already guard against antisemitic discrimination and that it could run afoul of free speech protections.
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Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) called it a “ridiculous hate speech bill” that could inadvertently lead the religious speech of Christians to be censored.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), the highest-ranking elected Jewish leader in the United States, initially sidestepped on Wednesday whether he would bring the legislation up for a vote.
