In a recent pledge to Jewish leaders, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said he intends to advance legislation targeting antisemitism on college campuses before the year’s end, according to sources reported by Axios. Schumer’s commitment comes amid heightened concerns over recent pro-Palestinian demonstrations on campuses nationwide, which have sometimes escalated into incidents of harassment toward Jewish students.

The proposed bill, the Antisemitism Awareness Act, seeks to establish a federal definition of antisemitism as a guideline for enforcing anti-discrimination laws.

The bill has gained traction following its overwhelming approval in the House earlier this year, but it remains divisive within the Democratic Party, which has repeatedly kowtowed to antisemitic protesters.

Critics argue that the definition of antisemitism outlined in the legislation is overly broad, potentially stifling free speech. These concerns have fueled debates within Congress, even as pro-Israel groups continue to press Schumer to bring the bill to a Senate vote. The Florence Avenue Initiative, a nonprofit group critical of Schumer’s inaction, has reportedly invested around $5 million in a media campaign targeting the Senate leader.

Schumer, the highest-ranking Jewish lawmaker, is reportedly planning to attach the Antisemitism Awareness Act to a must-pass defense bill after the upcoming election, a strategy aimed at increasing its chances of success. However, skepticism lingers, with sources familiar with the legislative process doubting the bill’s progression through the Senate in the near term.

The issue has also permeated election campaigns. In Pennsylvania, GOP Senate candidate Dave McCormick criticized Senator Bob Casey for Congress’s inaction, aiming to galvanize Jewish voter support. McCormick, in a New York Post op-ed, criticized Senate Democrats for adjourning without passing the bill, framing it as a failure of leadership.

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