Senator Rick Scott’s legislation seeks to impose harsh consequences on universities for neglecting antisemitic harassment, ensuring Jewish students are protected under federal law in latest legislative push

Tallahassee, Florida – In response to a surge in antisemitic incidents following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, Senator Rick Scott has reintroduced the Preventing Antisemitic Harassment on Campus Act. The legislation, which Scott previously championed alongside former Senator Marco Rubio, aims to hold colleges and universities accountable for antisemitic harassment and discrimination under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. Institutions that fail to take action could face severe consequences, including the loss of federal funding.

Scott’s push for stronger protections comes amid growing concerns that university leaders have failed to address antisemitic rhetoric and threats on their campuses. Following the October 7 attack, pro-Palestinian demonstrations escalated, with some turning hostile toward Jewish students.

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Reports of threats, harassment, and campus takeovers have raised alarms among lawmakers and advocacy groups. Scott criticized university administrations for their inaction, stating that Jewish students were afraid to attend class due to the hostility they faced.

“ Following Iran-backed Hamas’s attack on Israel, we saw a drastic rise in antisemitic attacks in the United States with anti-Israel mobs taking over campuses, and we’ve seen an unacceptable failure from leadership at higher education institutions to take action to condemn these mobs and protect Jewish students. Jewish students were afraid to go to class, fearful of the violence these pro-terrorist mobs threatened. That can’t happen,” Sen. Scott said.

The bill builds on recent efforts by former President Donald Trump, who announced a $400 million funding cut to Columbia University for its failure to curb antisemitic incidents. Scott praised Trump’s stance and emphasized the need for further legislative action.

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What the Bill Proposes

The Preventing Antisemitic Harassment on Campus Act seeks to:

• Expand Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to explicitly prohibit religious discrimination in federally funded programs, ensuring that Jewish students are protected under federal law.
• Impose escalating penalties on colleges and universities that repeatedly violate these protections.
• Ensure equal enforcement of Title VI, preventing antisemitic discrimination from being treated differently than other forms of discrimination.
• Require transparency, mandating that institutions notify students, faculty, and staff if they are found in violation of Title VI.
• Empower legal action, allowing the U.S. Department of Education to oversee lawsuits against colleges that receive federal funding but fail to address antisemitic harassment.

A Growing Crisis on Campuses

The urgency behind Scott’s bill is rooted in real and growing fears among Jewish students. In recent months, several U.S. universities have witnessed protests escalating into direct intimidation, with Jewish students reporting instances of harassment, threats, and even physical confrontations. Some have described feeling unsafe in dormitories, libraries, and lecture halls as hostile rhetoric spreads unchecked.

The issue has put pressure on university leaders, many of whom have been accused of failing to take a firm stance against antisemitic behavior. In December 2023, Harvard, the University of Pennsylvania, and MIT presidents faced intense scrutiny from Congress over their handling of antisemitic incidents. Their testimonies, which were widely criticized for vague and noncommittal responses, only fueled the debate on whether universities are doing enough to combat campus hate.

Scott believes his legislation will ensure clear consequences for institutions that allow antisemitism to flourish. By tying compliance to federal funding, he aims to force universities to take action rather than issue performative statements.

“President Trump is completely right to withhold federal funding from higher education institutions that refuse to enforce the law on their campuses and enable antisemitic hate to flourish, and I’m proud to lead this bill to build on his efforts,” Scott added.

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The Road Ahead

The reintroduction of this legislation sets the stage for a heated debate in Congress. While Republicans largely support stricter enforcement of Title VI, some Democratic lawmakers have raised concerns about potential overreach and free speech implications. Still, with mounting public pressure and a growing number of high-profile antisemitic incidents on campuses, Scott’s bill may gain significant traction.

For Jewish students and advocacy groups, the measure represents a crucial step toward ensuring safety and accountability at institutions that receive federal dollars. As incidents of antisemitic harassment continue, the fight over this legislation will likely become a defining issue in the broader battle over campus free speech, discrimination, and federal oversight in higher education.