Senators Coons and Rounds’ Stop Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act clears Senate

WASHINGTON – On Tuesday, the Senate unanimously cleared the Stop Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act led by U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.). The bipartisan bill would stop the IRS from imposing fines and penalties on American hostages and wrongful detainees for late tax payments while they are held abroad.

Many Americans who have been taken hostage or wrongfully detained abroad return home only to be treated like tax cheats – fined and charged interest for non-payment of taxes during their detention. Senator Coons wrote this bill after hearing from Jason Rezaian, a Washington Post reporter who was wrongfully detained by the Iranian government for more than a year. Upon his release and return to the United States, Rezaian owed a large sum to the IRS due to non-payment of taxes during his detention.

“Coming home from being held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad to find that your government has penalized you for being unable to pay your taxes is a moral outrage,” said Senator Coons. “I’m glad that my colleagues agree and that the Stop Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act has been unanimously cleared by the Senate. I urge my colleagues in the House to pass this important bipartisan legislation and join me in supporting Americans unjustly held abroad.”

“Our bipartisan work over the last few years to provide commonsense relief for Americans held hostage or wrongfully detained has finally cleared the Senate,” said Senator Rounds. “For obvious reasons, any American held hostage abroad should not have the heavy hand of the IRS hunting down and charging penalties on missed federal tax payments. While we will continue our efforts to get hostages back, especially from countries like Russia, China, and Venezuela, this legislation will protect Americans from misguided statutory requirements and unnecessary red tape when they return home. I urge my colleagues in the House to pass this bill as quickly as possible.”

“While I don’t believe there was ever any ill intent by the U.S. government to penalize those of us who have been wrongfully detained abroad, there was also no remedy for a challenge just about all of us face upon our return home,” said Jason Rezaian. “I’m heartened that the Senate has chosen to correct an oversight that has affected so many American victims of state-sponsored terror. I hope the House of Representatives follows suit and acts soon to support American survivors of foreign state hostage-taking.”

“The Bring Our Families Home Campaign enthusiastically welcomes the passage of the Stop Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act,” said Harrison Li, Steering Committee Member, the Bring Our Families Home Campaign. “The act will help mitigate one of the innumerable financial challenges that our families must currently unfairly endure while our loved ones remain hostage or wrongfully detained abroad.”

“The James W. Foley Legacy Foundation is forever grateful to Senators Coons and Rounds, and their amazing staff, for their leadership and moral courage in passing this much-needed Stop Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act,” said Diane Foley, Founder and President, the James W. Foley Legacy Foundation.

The Stop Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act (S. 4057) is cosponsored by Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), and Rick Scott (R-Fla.). In the House, this bill (H.R. 7791) is cosponsored by Representatives Dina Titus (D-Nev.), Claudia Tenney (R-N.Y.), Don Beyer (D-Va.), Haley Stevens (D-Mich.), and French Hill (R-Ark.).

In January, President Joe Biden signed Senator Coons’ legislation to establish March 9 as the annual National Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Day and create an official Hostage and Wrongful Detainee flag.

Senators Coons, Blumenthal, and Hirono urge American Bar Association to examine impact of disclosure requirements on survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), and Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) sent a letter to the American Bar Association (ABA) urging the organization to study the prevalence of legal history disclosure requirements and their impact on survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. In many states, including Delaware, admission to the bar requires aspiring lawyers to provide information about past legal proceedings to which they have been a party. There rules can be read to require, for instance, disclosure of an applicant’s efforts to obtain a civil restraining order related to domestic violence or sexual misconduct. In some cases, state bars also require disclosure of an applicant’s participation in administrative proceedings, which could mean that survivors would be forced to disclose information about the adjudication of their complaints of campus sexual misconduct before they are permitted to practice law.

“Even if disclosures do not ultimately prevent an applicant’s bar admission, the need to report these proceedings – and the ambiguity around what information must be disclosed and how that information is used – creates a burden on survivors that seems likely to outweigh the plausible benefits to the bar of such disclosures,” the Senators wrote in their letter to Mary Smith, President of the ABA.

“Moreover, disclosing prior campus sexual misconduct complaints or other proceedings related to sexual assault has in some cases reportedly led to delays in survivors’ bar admission. These delays can have negative professional consequences and endanger applicants’ ability to earn a living,” the Senators continued. “The American Bar Association (ABA) plays a critical role in promoting inclusion and fairness within the legal profession. In the past, the ABA has advocated for important reforms to state bars’ use of mental health inquiries for bar admissions.”

The full text of the letter can be found here.

ICYMI: Senator Coons leads conversations on U.S. global leadership at Wilmington conference

WASHINGTON – In case you missed it, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) hosted and participated in the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition’s (USGLC) annual Mid-Atlantic Regional Summit at the Hotel Du Pont in Wilmington on Friday. In addition to Senator Coons, the multi-panel conference featured Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.); Oksana Markarova, Ambassador of Ukraine to the United States; David Beasley, former Executive Director of the World Food Programme, and other panelists.

Senator Coons joined fellow lawmakers, foreign policy experts, and private-sector leaders in conversations about how America’s leadership and development assistance positively impacts Delaware and supports small businesses and entrepreneurs throughout the state. The conference also placed a particular emphasis on the importance of investments in Africa’s economic growth and global food security.

Here’s what the media covered:

6ABC:

Leaders in foreign policy and global affairs joined together for a summit today at Wilmington’s Hotel Du Pont. The summit was hosted by Delaware Senator Chris Coons. It brought together representatives for seminars on climate, finance, and global food security. … Lisa Blunt Rochester delivered opening remarks to the attendees.

WDEL:

The annual Global Leadership Coalition Mid-Atlantic Summit [was] held today in Wilmington. WDEL’s Mike Phillips reports global economic development was a major topic of discussion.

Delaware Senator Chris Coons says at one point in time, the U.S. was on the wrong side in Angola: “We have an opportunity to move the trajectory in this region in a positive direction to give the people of Angola and Zambia and Malawi opportunity and options and choices and we should take it.”

Coons says U.S.-backed programs like the long-running Presidential Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) have shown tremendous results in the past 20 years, including a 50% increase in the average life expectancy in Zambia. Among the speakers was Oksana Markarova, Ukrainian Ambassador to the United States.

Senator Coons discusses impact of U.S. global leadership on Delaware at Wilmington conference

WILMINGTON, Del. – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) hosted and participated in three different panels at the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition’s (USGLC) annual Mid-Atlantic Regional Summit at the Hotel Du Pont in Wilmington today. The half-day forum brought business, community, and foreign policy leaders together to discuss how America’s diplomacy and development assistance strengthens U.S. national security and has a positive impact on Delaware’s residents and small businesses.

“Today’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Summit highlighted how Delaware is interconnected with the rest of the world, and how our state has a role to play in critical global challenges from world hunger to climate change,” said Senator Coons. “I was thrilled to convene leaders from across our state, country, and world in Wilmington to discuss how Delaware’s industry and ingenuity advance our national security and promote American interests abroad. Our state and nation benefit from stronger ties to partners around the world, and the only way to build a stronger future is to do so together.”

“I am grateful to the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition and Senator Chris Coons for bringing these critical conversations to Delaware, and to all of these regional leaders for sharing their insights,” said Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.). “For the United States to remain a world leader, we must make the right investments in our domestic and global priorities. That’s why forums such as today’s are so crucial – because it gives us an opportunity to come together to talk about how we can expand critical development and diplomacy programs while creating good-paying jobs at home and abroad. I look forward to continuing to work with the stakeholders at this summit to foster a safer, stronger, and more prosperous world.”

“It’s a distinct honor to be in Wilmington today for USGLC’s seventh annual Mid-Atlantic Summit – not only with hundreds of leaders from across the business, veteran, and nonprofit communities – but with Senator Chris Coons, whose remarkable leadership in the U.S. Senate and around the world is delivering for America and for Delaware,” said Liz Schrayer, President and CEO, USGLC. “His leading voice, alongside Congresswoman Blunt Rochester and Senator [Tom] Carper [D-Del.], could not be more important for why investing in development and diplomacy matters for the security and economic interest of Delaware families. As just one example of Senator Coons’ extraordinary leadership, just this past week, the Senator was instrumental in securing $9 billion in critical humanitarian assistance that will literally save millions of lives. This is a big deal.”

The two-part first panel, “Investing in Africa’s Economic Security,” focused on economic development in Africa and identifying opportunities for Africa’s youth to engage and lead. The conversations, moderated by Liz Schrayer, President and CEO, USGLC, also featured Runa Alam, CEO of Development Partners International; Scott Nathan, CEO of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation; Candi Wolff, Executive Vice President, Global Government Affairs at Citi; Patrick Gaspard, CEO of the Center for American Progress; and Mary Maker, a U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Goodwill Ambassador.

The second panel, “Foreign Policy Trends to Watch – Combating Climate Change,” focused on how diplomacy and development programs are driving global climate mitigation, adaptation, resilience, and sustainability. The conversation, moderated by Collin O’Mara, Co-Chair of the Mid-Atlantic Clean Hydrogen Hub (MACH2), and President and CEO, National Wildlife Federation, also featured Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment Jose Fernandez of the U.S. Department of State and Yushan Yan, CEO of Versogen and Founding Director of the UD Center for Clean Hydrogen.

The third panel, “A New Model: Tackling the Global Food Security Crisis,” focused on finding solutions to food insecurity in a time of unparalleled world hunger. The conversation, moderated by Martha Raddatz, Chief Global Affairs Correspondent, ABC News, featured David Beasley, former Executive Director, U.N. World Food Programme; Oksana Markarova, Ambassador of Ukraine to the United States; and Brian Sikes, Chair, CEO, and President, Cargill.

The event also featured Lieutenant Governor Bethany Hall-Long (D); Matt Meyer (D), County Executive, New Castle County; and Kathryn Wengel, Executive Vice President and Chief Technical Operations and Risk Officer at Johnson & Johnson.

Senator Coons statement on Senate passage of bipartisan national security package

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) released the following statement after the Senate passed a national security supplemental funding package by a vote of 79-18.

“Today, the Senate passed critical national security and humanitarian supplemental funding, totaling $95 billion, for our partners and allies around the world, including investments directly in our own military capabilities as we respond to our allies’ needs. It advances our national security and demonstrates that the United States remains a reliable ally and ‘the indispensable nation.’ President Biden first requested this funding six months ago, the Senate first passed this package two months ago, and after months of delays by the House, I am relieved and grateful that there was ultimately a strong bipartisan vote in both the House and Senate.

“The funding package includes security assistance and economic support for Ukraine as its soldiers continue to combat Russian aggression and atrocities; supports the defense of our Israeli allies as they defend themselves against Iran, Hamas, and Hezbollah; and provides additional assistance to our partners and allies in the Indo-Pacific.

“Critically, the bill includes more than $9 billion in humanitarian assistance to confront the risk of famine and the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, respond to the ongoing civil war raging in Sudan, fight the global food crisis and other needs driven by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and address the needs of other vulnerable populations. This is not only a moral obligation but a strategic necessity: Historic levels of human displacement resulting from conflict, climate change, and other natural and man-made disasters contribute to instability across the globe, affect the global economy, and have direct impacts here at home.

“The bill also provides additional funds to the World Bank to address the financing needs of the world’s poorest countries, adding to my efforts in the fiscal year 2024 appropriations bill – enacted into law in March – to provide more than $21 billion in financing across international financial institutions. These investments will not only contribute to the reduction of poverty around the world but reduce the need of partner countries to turn to predatory and coercive lending from China, and we need to build on these efforts in fiscal year 2025.

“While I am proud of what I was able to achieve with my colleagues in the fiscal year 2024 appropriations bill and this supplemental, more work remains to be done. I am disappointed that the enacted law does not include the $20 billion to address the border and combat fentanyl that was in the bipartisan Senate agreement from earlier this year. That deal also included important reforms to address our border security and broken immigration system, as well as the Afghan Adjustment Act, to ensure that we fulfill our promises to our Afghan allies.

“We must continue to build on these efforts and support President Biden’s leadership in strengthening our alliances and leveraging the contributions of other countries to address global challenges and opportunities.”

Senator Coons is Chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations (SFOPS) and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

ICYMI: Senator Coons talks about the latest developments in foreign aid and the U.S. role in international crises

WASHINGTON – In case you missed it, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) joined David Rothkopf on Deep State Radio to discuss the latest developments in the push for foreign aid, tensions in the Middle East and Eastern Europe, the U.S.-Africa partnership, and more.

As Chair of the Senate Appropriations subcommittee that funds U.S. foreign assistance – State and Foreign Operations (SFOPS) – Senator Coons is committed to securing more assistance for Ukraine, Israel, and the Indo-Pacific. On the podcast, he highlighted the importance of additional funding for Ukraine’s defense against Russia’s invasion, saying U.S. failure to aid Ukraine would hinder Ukrainian soldiers’ morale and pose a profound risk to our nation’s reputation.

He also brought attention to the war that has now raged in Sudan for a year and the U.S. role in restoring peace in Sudan as over 5 million people are on the brink of famine.

Senator Coons recently returned from a trip to Cabo Verde, Zambia, Angola, Malawi, and Botswana, and shortly after introduced the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Renewal and Improvement Act.

DSR: The World at a Turning Point: A Conversation with Senator Chris Coons

I’m hugely encouraged that Speaker [Mike] Johnson [R-La.] has finally come out as a Reagan Republican, someone who actually is willing to stand up and fight for investment in Ukraine’s defense, and that he’s given a whole series of press interviews in the last day saying that he’s willing to put his Speakership at risk and face down the Freedom Caucus in order to try and pass the Senate supplemental.

…

President Biden was the first president to go into a war zone, not controlled by the United States, to meet with a foreign head of state, [Ukrainian President] Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and to both encourage him and promise sustained U.S. support. If we back away from their defense, I think the harm to our reputation and standing as a trustworthy and reliable ally and partner is immeasurable . … I think there’s real risk to the Ukrainian tactical situation on the battlefield.

Carper, Coons, Blunt Rochester break ground on NIIMBL’s new SABRE Center

NEWARK, Del. – U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons and Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester (all D-Del.) took part today in a groundbreaking ceremony for the National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals’ (NIIMBL) new Securing American Biomanufacturing Research and Education (SABRE) Center on the STAR Campus in Newark. The SABRE Center will be a pilot-scale biopharmaceutical manufacturing facility to support the work of NIIMBL and enable the growth of the larger biopharmaceutical industry in Delaware.

“Today’s groundbreaking builds upon all the years of work that has gone into transforming the once-shuttered Chrysler plant into the research and development hub it is today,” said Senator Carper. “This facility will be a training center for our future biopharmaceutical workforce, as well as a testing center for biopharma companies to test their products in an FDA-regulated environment – giving us a competitive advantage to attract companies and researchers to the First State. I’m so proud of the different ways Delaware is continuing to be a force in R&D. Here, we have a vibrant research community at the University of Delaware, especially in the life sciences, thanks in large part to the Delaware Biotechnology Institute. This has served as a great model for collaboration among education, and the private and public sector.”

“NIIMBL’s new SABRE Center will be a key asset strengthening Delaware as a hub for biopharmaceutical manufacturing far into the future,” said Senator Coons. “It will bring new investment, create new jobs, and ensure that the next generation of cutting-edge cures comes from the First State. I’m proud to have already secured more than $30 million for the facility we broke ground on today, and I will continue pushing for its success well after we cut the ribbon and watch it become a center for health care innovation.”

“With today’s groundbreaking, we are one step closer to turning the vision of SABRE into reality,” said Congresswoman Blunt Rochester. “This state-of-the-art 70,000 square-foot facility will be instrumental in shaping biomanufacturing and the life sciences here in Delaware by aiding in critical research and development efforts in an FDA-regulated environment, helping attract and retain businesses, and allowing for critical biopharmaceutical workforce training. At a time when we are facing changing demographics and workforce shortages, SABRE’s efforts to help create a more diverse biomanufacturing sector could not be more important. I am proud to join NIIMBL, the University of Delaware, Senators Carper and Coons, and all the academia and industry partners as we break ground on this facility that will help us protect and strengthen our health, our biomanufacturing workforce, and our national security all while boosting innovation in the First State.”

“This exciting testbed and facility, supported by our federal delegation and by our state, promises to accelerate the adoption of innovative manufacturing technologies and help address critical workforce needs in support of our economic competitiveness and our public health,” said Kelvin H. Lee, PhD,Director, NIIMBL.

When completed, the SABRE Center will be a 90,000 square-foot pilot-scale biopharmaceutical manufacturing facility complementing the work already taking place at NIIMBL. It will also serve as a workforce training facility for industry in Delaware and the region and is expected to help bring biopharmaceutical firms to the state and top talent from NIIMBL member companies to Newark for collaborative work.

The federal government has so far invested $45 million in the SABRE Center, $10 million of which was a result of President Biden’s American Rescue Plan, which was signed into law in 2021. Senator Coons and the Delaware congressional delegation secured an additional $35 million for the center through congressional investments, including $12.25 million included in the fiscal year 2024 appropriations bill signed into law last month.

Senator Coons, Young introduce bipartisan legislation to create new AmeriCorps program aimed at reducing polarization

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Todd Young (R-Ind.) introduced bipartisan legislation, the Building Civic Bridges Act, to establish a pilot program through AmeriCorps that would empower local communities to address contentious civic issues and reduce polarization at the local level. The House companion bill was introduced by Representatives Derek Kilmer (D-Wash.) and Andy Barr (R-Ky.)

“Our nation is more polarized than ever, and rebuilding public trust in our country starts with finding ways to address that issue,” said Senator Coons. “This bill will play a crucial role in strengthening civics locally and providing local communities with the resources needed to promote civic engagement. I am grateful to Representatives Kilmer and Barr for spearheading this bipartisan effort with us.”

“Amid growing polarization, civic engagement and debate are essential to maintaining the American spirit,” said Senator Young. “Our bipartisan bill will help bring Americans together to engage respectfully and constructively, promoting positive conversation and greater unity across the nation.”

“In our neck of the woods, we’ve seen inspiring efforts to counter increased division,” said Representative Kilmer. “After a series of horrific attacks – including assault, vandalism, and arson – against faith-based institutions in our region, we saw an interfaith group rise up to try to foster community understanding and build community cohesion. In response to conflict at a local YMCA, we saw a group of leaders work to bring in some conflict resolution capacity and work to sponsor community events to build understanding across differences. In both cases, we saw inspiring local examples of folks in our region trying to advance civic bridgebuilding. In both cases, when they asked if there were resources available from the federal government to support such work, the answer was, ‘Not really. At least, not currently.’ That could change if this bill becomes law. Instead of accepting toxic polarization as the new normal, many community, faith, and civic leaders are leading efforts to foster dialogue, defuse and address sources of conflict, and bridge differences. The bipartisan Building Civic Bridges Act would lend some support to these civic bridgebuilding efforts.”

“Our nation was founded on civic engagement and rigorous debate to achieve the ultimate good,” said Representative Barr. “I am proud to join Representative Derek Kilmer and Senators Chris Coons and Todd Young in introducing this legislation to provide resources to revitalize our civic culture and bring our country together.”

“The Building Civic Bridges Act invites us to truly engage with one another as fellow Americans,” said Eboo Patel, Founder and President, Interfaith America. “This is a time to build bridges, not barriers. By empowering local leaders to expand trust and deepen relationships within our communities, we can focus on that which unites us, rather than the issues that pull us apart. I commend the co-sponsors for the moral imagination behind this bill and welcome the opportunity to ensure that local bridge building efforts flourish in our country.”

“The U.S. Chamber applauds Senators Chris Coons and Todd Young for introducing the Building Civic Bridges Act, a vital measure aimed at strengthening our communities and nurturing civil discourse,” said Michael J. Chirico, Executive Director of Government Affairs, U.S. Chamber of Commerce. “This legislation is pivotal in providing local organizations with essential training resources to unite communities, effectively combat polarization, and confront shared challenges head-on. As communities nationwide grapple with pressing issues, equipping local leaders with these tools is imperative. We strongly support this important legislation.”

“These days it seems nearly impossible to find areas where Americans from both parties can agree,” said AnnMaura Connolly, President, Voices for National Service. “AmeriCorps is that exception. It brings us together as a community and helps us find common ground as a country. So, it is only fitting that an Office of Civic Bridgebuilding should reside within the AmeriCorps agency. We’re grateful to the bipartisan leaders who have come together around this legislation with a goal of building relationships across lines of difference and strengthening civic engagement across the country.”

While the National Endowment for Democracy invests millions overseas in civic bridgebuilding to strengthen democracy, similar efforts are absent in the United States. An NBC News poll from January 2022 shows 70% of Americans agree with the statement that “America has become so polarized that it can no longer solve the major issues facing the country – and that those differences will only continue to grow,” up from 45% in 2010.

The Building Civic Bridges Act would work to address this issue by establishing a nonpartisan pilot program, led by an Office of Civic Bridgebuilding within AmeriCorps, focused on supporting organizations and reducing polarization throughout the country. The office would be empowered to allocate competitive federal grants to support civic organizations and support AmeriCorps members in developing skills that could bridge public divides.

The text of the bill is available here.

A one-pager of the bill is available here.

A section-by-section summary of the bill is available here.

Additional endorsements are available here.

Senator Coons statement on vote to reauthorize FISA

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) released the following statement after voting to reauthorize sections of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA):

“Although this bill is not perfect, tonight I joined a wide bipartisan majority of my colleagues to reauthorize FISA Section 702. This program is critical to the security of our nation, and we could not permit it to lapse.

“I take the protection of Americans’ civil liberties seriously, and this was not an easy decision for me to make. I appreciate that this reauthorization bill contains the most significant reforms to Section 702 that have occurred during my Senate tenure. These reforms apply strict guardrails to the FBI’s access to Section 702 data, and they restrict the FBI’s ability to search the private communications of Americans. This bill also includes important transparency provisions, like opening up the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court to congressional observers and mandating more frequent reports from the intelligence community to Congress. I intend to vigorously exercise this new oversight power. These changes and the ongoing national security threats we face from across the world have made it easier to support this bill. If the choice is between an improved Section 702 program or no program at all, the choice is clear.

“With that said, I will continue pushing for enhanced privacy protections to ensure that Americans’ constitutional rights are properly balanced with national security interests. Defending our national security and protecting our civil liberties are not mutually exclusive.

Senator Coons is a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Senator Coons, colleagues introduce bill to address antisemitism on college campuses

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), and Tim Scott (R-S.C.) introduced legislation to address antisemitic sentiment and actions on college campuses, which has been rising across the nation for years and spiked in the wake of Hamas’ terrorist attack on October 7, 2023. The Antisemitism Awareness Act would require the U.S. Department of Education to consider the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism when enforcing federal anti-discrimination laws.

“No one should be attacked or made to feel afraid because of whom or how they worship,” said Senator Coons. “More action is clearly needed to ensure Jewish students are protected from antisemitic hatred that has been rising in our communities and across the country over recent years and has spiked since the horrific terrorist attacks of October 7. Adopting the IHRA’s definition of antisemitism will ensure that those promoting bigotry on college campuses are held accountable, and this bill gives the Department of Education the clear guidance it needs to do its job.”

“Hamas’ horrific terrorist attack on October 7 led to a dramatic increase in antisemitism on college campuses,” said Senator Casey. “Amidst this appalling increase, we must do everything we can to protect Jewish students on college campuses. This bill will make sure that going forward, the Education Department will take action against all forms of antisemitic discrimination.”

“Our nation’s institutions of higher learning have become hotbeds of antisemitism, especially in the wake of the brutal attacks against Israel and innocent civilians by Hamas and Iran,” said Senator Scott. “It’s critical the Department of Education has the tools and resources it needs to investigate antisemitism and root out this vile hatred wherever it rears its ugly head.”

In addition to Senators Coons, Casey, and Scott, the Antisemitism Awareness Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.).

The Antisemitism Awareness Act would direct the Department of Education to use the IHRA definition of antisemitism, an important tool in addressing and identifying the various manifestations of prejudice and hate against the state of Israel and the Jewish community. This bill would codify the Department of Education’s existing practice of taking into account the IHRA definition when investigating violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.