1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

I'm writing to express my strong opposition to H.R. 6090, the Antisemitism Awareness Act, and I urge you to reject this bill. While I firmly believe that combating antisemitism is crucial, I'm concerned that this legislation may have unintended consequences that could harm free speech and academic freedom. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has expressed similar concerns, arguing that this bill could chill free speech on college campuses by incorrectly equating criticism of the Israeli government with antisemitism ¹. The bill's reliance on the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's (IHRA) definition of antisemitism is also problematic, as it has been criticized for being overly broad and potentially stifling legitimate discussion and debate. Furthermore, Congressman Jamie Raskin has pointed out that the IHRA definition is essentially meaningless, as it fails to provide a clear definition of antisemitism ². Instead, Raskin advocates for the Countering Antisemitism Act, which would provide concrete administrative steps to implement President Biden's whole-of-government approach to fight antisemitism. I share these concerns and believe that rejecting H.R. 6090 is essential to protecting our fundamental rights. I urge you to consider alternative legislation that effectively addresses antisemitism without compromising our values. Thank you for considering my views. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this critical issue.