Hardline House conservatives want Congress to be more hands-off when it comes to fighting antisemitism, arguing that proposed legislation infringes on First Amendment rights.
Christian conservatives have pushed back on two recent bills dealing with Israel and antisemitism, complicating Republican efforts to accuse Democrats of abandoning Jews.
“Congress should just stay out of these fights to crack down on free speech,” Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) told us. “It’s not illegal to be antisemitic.”
The Antisemitism Awareness Act, which passed the House with broad bipartisan support last Congress, hasn’t won any new supporters as it struggles to make it through the Senate.
Following pressure from Christian conservatives, the Senate version of the bill was amended to exclude penalties for those alleging Jews killed Jesus.
But a committee markup last week went south for Republicans after Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) joined with Democrats to approve amendments that endanger the bill’s future among the wider GOP.
House GOP leadership also pulled a bill this week that aimed to protect Israel from boycotts following vocal opposition from conservatives, including Massie and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.).
In a post on X, Greene said it’s her job to defend Americans’ freedoms to boycott whoever they want and that Congress should prioritize domestic issues over foreign nations.
Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) argued that congressional action isn’t needed on antisemitism since most people know it’s wrong.
“We shouldn’t do anything further with antisemitism,” Norman said. “I don’t know how you define it. It’s subjective.”
The leadership angle: GOP leadership has sought to make its crackdowns on anti-Jewish rhetoric and hate crimes a winning issue, especially around student-led protests over the war in Gaza that wreaked havoc on college campuses last year.
President Donald Trump has also prioritized the issue, threatening to pull federal funding from Ivy League universities and deport students who engaged in alleged violence during protests against Israel last year.
The House Education and Workforce Committee will hold a hearing today about combating antisemitism on college campuses.
GOP Conference Chair Lisa McClain argued against the idea that combating antisemitic attacks violates free speech during a news conference Tuesday.
“I’m all for free speech, and I think Republicans are all for free speech, but I’m also following the rules,” McClain said. “This is a safety issue. This should be nonpartisan.”
Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) said he is working with leadership to bring the Antisemitism Awareness Act, which he is co-leading with Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.), back to the floor.
“I’m pushing to get the House to take it up. And when it does come, it’ll pass with broad bipartisan support as it did last Congress,” Lawler said.
