Opponents of antisemitism on campus frustrated by Schumer's failure to move on legislation: 'Stunning'

Pro-Israel leaders and activists are expressing frustration and disappointment that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has yet to plan a vote on a bill aimed at tackling the rising tide of antisemitism on college campuses.

Many fear the delay could lead to the bill getting "watered down" - or potentially getting derailed altogether. 

"This is a very good bill. It's a very important bill. It comes at a very, very urgent time in terms of the dynamics of our country, and it should be passed, and it should be passed and signed into law right away. I mean, the sooner the better," said Elan Carr, CEO of the Israeli-American Council and former U.S. special envoy to combat antisemitism.

Carr echoed Cooper's suggestion that the delay could likely be due to concerns that "this bill could reveal fissures that would be embarrassing for some." 

The bill in question is the Antisemitism Awareness Act, passed in bipartisan fashion on May 1. 

A spokesman for Schumer indicated the majority leader's strategy was to attach the bill to another measure senators would feel compelled to vote for.

"Senator Schumer has a long and strong history fighting antisemitism, and the goal with passing antisemitism legislation has long been to use a viable, must-pass vehicle to accomplish that. We fully intend to get it done before the end of the year," said Schumer Communications Director Angelo Roefaro.

The American Jewish Committee's Director of Policy and Political Affairs, Julie Rayman, pointed to Schumer's "earnest commitment to passing impactful legislation to counter antisemitism in the Senate." 

But other proponents of getting the bill passed, such as Carr, expressed fear that Schumer's decision to delay the vote until the lame-duck session - which starts after the November election - might jeopardize the bill's prospects of being passed. 

"One thing I don't want to see happen is that this thing will be amended in ways that will make it actually more harmful than not doing anything at all," Carr said. "My concern is it could get watered down, and the final product could do damage to the very causes that this bill is supposed to advance." 

Carr pointed to a similar situation that happened in Indiana's state legislature, where a bill that passed by both chambers was ultimately vetoed by the governor because it failed to incorporate the entire IHRA definition of antisemitism. 

Gerard Filitti is senior counsel with the Lawfare Project, a nonprofit which provides pro bono legal assistance to protect the civil rights of the Jewish community. He argued that in light of the Education and Workforce Committee's report chronicling Schumer's laissez-faire attitude towards campus antisemitism, there is "a very real concern" that Schumer might not ever bring the Antisemitism Awareness Act to the floor for a vote at all.

"Senator Schumer's lack of leadership on one of the most pressing civil rights issues in our country is stunning," argued Filitti. "Schumer has had six whole months to bring this bill up for a vote, and his failure to do so is not just puzzling but rather troubling; antisemitism is not, and should not be made, a partisan political issue. As with other forms of racism and bigotry, it takes bipartisanship to combat Jew-hatred, and in light of the ongoing crisis of antisemitism we see on college campuses, this bill should have passed the Senate months ago."