US House Education and Workforce Committee Advances Bills to Fight Antisemitism in America’s Schools

June 25, 2026 - 20:54

The U.S. House Committee on Education and Workforce voted on Thursday to advance a package of legislation designed to combat rising antisemitism within the nation's schools. During a markup session, committee members approved several bills that aim to strengthen protections for Jewish students and hold educational institutions accountable for allowing hostile environments to fester.

Among the measures moved forward is H.R. 8476, the No Antisemitism in Education Act. This bill would require the Department of Education to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's working definition of antisemitism when investigating discrimination complaints. Supporters argue that a clear, consistent definition is necessary to distinguish between legitimate political speech and hateful harassment targeting Jewish identity.

Other bills in the package focus on increasing transparency around campus incidents and ensuring that federal funding is not used to support activities that promote antisemitic rhetoric. Lawmakers cited a sharp increase in anti-Jewish incidents on college campuses and in K-12 schools since the October 7 attacks in Israel, noting that Jewish students have reported feeling unsafe and marginalized.

The committee's vote sends the bills to the full House floor for further debate. Proponents say the legislation is a necessary step to restore a safe learning environment, while some critics have raised concerns about potential overreach into free speech protections. The markup session highlighted the growing bipartisan urgency to address what many lawmakers describe as a crisis in American education.