Condemning Antisemitism on University Campuses and the Testimony of University Presidents in the House Committee on Education and the Workforce
Floor Speech
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 927) condemning antisemitism on University campuses and the testimony of University Presidents in the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows: H. Res. 927
Whereas, on October 7, 2023, the world witnessed Hamas terrorists perpetrate the deadliest attack against the Jewish people since the Holocaust;
Whereas, in the months since, the Anti-Defamation League has recorded 2,031 antisemitic incidents, 400 of which occurred on college campuses, a more than 330-percent increase from the year prior;
Whereas Jewish and Israeli students have faced physical violence, hate-filled disruptions in the classroom, calls from students and faculty advocating for the elimination and destruction of Israel, and other forms of persistent harassment;
Whereas, according to a recent study from the Anti- Defamation League and Hillel International, 73 percent of Jewish college students surveyed have experienced or witnessed some form of antisemitism on campus since the beginning of the school year, up from 32 percent the prior year;
Whereas many university administrations have failed to address the rise of antisemitism;
Whereas to hold universities accountable, the House Committee on Education and the Workforce held a hearing on December 5, 2023;
Whereas, when the Presidents of the University of Pennsylvania, Harvard University, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology were asked if calling for the genocide of Jews violates university policies on bullying and harassment, Presidents Elizabeth Magill, Claudine Gay, and Sally Kornbluth were evasive and dismissive, failing to simply condemn such action;
Whereas President Magill stated, ``It is a context- dependent decision'';
Whereas President Gay insisted that it ``depends on the context'';
Whereas President Kornbluth responded it would only constitute harassment if it were ``targeted at individuals'';
Whereas President Magill has resigned, and the other Presidents should follow suit; and
Whereas acts of hate, intimidation, discrimination, and violence-based on ethnicity or religion have no place in our country or in the global community: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) strongly condemns the rise of antisemitism on university campuses around the country; and
(2) strongly condemns the testimony of University of Pennsylvania President Elizabeth Magill, Harvard University President Claudine Gay, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology President Sally Kornbluth and their failure to clearly state that calls for the genocide of Jews constitute harassment and violate their institutions' codes of conduct in front of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce on December 5, 2023.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Ms. FOXX. Res. 927.
``It depends on the context.'' This was the testimony delivered by so-called prestigious university presidents when presented with the question: Does calling for the genocide of Jews violate your campus bullying and harassment policies?
The context. What a disgraceful, legalistic answer from academia's supposed top minds.
As chairwoman of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, I will tell you what never depends on the context: defending the rights of Jewish students to feel safe on campus.
Condemning calls to incite violence against the world's most persecuted ethnic group is always appropriate and never depends on the context. Holding smug university elites accountable never depends on the context.
That is why I rise today in support of this resolution, and I reserve the balance of my time.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Ms. FOXX. Stefanik), the Conference chairwoman.
Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairwoman Virginia Foxx for yielding, a former college president herself, who understands these issues. I am very grateful for Republican Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik, who is courageously leading this resolution that condemns anti-Semitism on university campuses.
Most Americans are shocked at the insane campus anti-Semitism that has developed. I reviewed this in a lead Op Ed in the Washington Times on December 7.
My analysis was:
Sadly, college campuses have descended from coveted citadels of intellectual freedom to illiberal sewers of intolerance and bigotry. Diversity and inclusion are a George Orwell 1984 implementation excluding conservative thought.
Over the years, as infantile leftists hire only other infantile leftists, the most extreme hire even more extreme, as each tries to outdo the other in leftism. This leads to today's suicidal derangement, even as the regime in Tehran, coordinating with war criminal Putin, develops missiles for a nuclear attack on the big Satan America, which would vaporize college campuses.
The solution for close-minded intolerance on campuses is obvious. To liberate academia from denial of free speech, there should be the inclusion and diversity of more conservative academics overcoming today's blatant discrimination. All Americans in good faith want college education to be uplifting for students to achieve the American Dream.
Mr. Speaker, I look forward to working with my colleague, Congresswoman Manning. This should be bipartisan.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to how much time is remaining.
Mr. Speaker, ``Anti-Semitism on College Campuses: Incident Tracking from 2019 to 2023; 659 total reported anti-Semitic incidents on college campuses since October 7--a 700 percent increase compared to last year.''
This was updated on December 13, 2023.
``Since the terrorist attack on Israel by Hamas on October 7, anti- Semitic incidents against Jewish students on college campuses have reached alarmingly high rates, increasing by 700 percent over the same period last year.
``Hillel International has been working around the clock with our partners to report and address these incidents, and to ensure that all Jewish students feel safe on campus.''
Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record this report from Hillel International. Antisemitism on College Campuses: Incident Tracking From 2019-2023
659: Total reported antisemitic incidents on college campuses since October 7--a 700% increase compared to last year
Since the terrorist attack on Israel by Hamas on October 7, antisemitic incidents against Jewish students on college campuses have reached alarmingly high rates, increasing by 700% over the same period last year.
Hillel International has been working around the clock with our partners to report and address these incidents, and to ensure that all Jewish students feel safe on campus. If you or a student you know experiences an antisemitic incident on campus, report it (anonymously) to receive 24/7 support at ReportCampusHate.org, or contact our free legal helpline, the Campus Antisemitism Legal Line (CALL) for pro bono legal support. In the Month Following the October 7 Attack on Israel, Hillel International Tracked a 700% Increase in Antisemitic Incidents on College Campuses Compared to the Same Period Last Year 306: Total reported incidents of antisemitism from October 7-November 7, 2023 Hillel has never recorded more than 50 total incidents in this same time period since we started tracking in 2019 129: Unique campuses impacted by antisemitic incidents from October 7- November 7, 2023
We have never recorded more than 40 campuses impacted by antisemitism in this same time period
Mr. WILLIAMS of New York. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairwoman for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Stefanik, my colleague from New York, for introducing this much-needed legislation.
With issues as critical as mitigating anti-Semitism and protecting our Jewish community, it is vital that we speak today with moral clarity.
Just days ago, in a hearing in the House Education and the Workforce Committee, we heard shocking testimony from the presidents of what were once our most esteemed educational institutions.
Each one of these institutions has more than 100 years of history educating our youth.
One, Harvard University, is closing in on 400 years of history.
These schools have an embarrassment of riches: Billions of dollars in annual revenue, much of it from Federal funds, billions more in endowments--no, tens of billions of dollars in endowments--they have the resources to reach any educational goal.
When pressed on the solution to the problem of anti-Semitism, each of them testified that education was, in fact, the solution. Education is supposed to be the solution to anti-Semitism.
Yet, with all of that history, with all of those resources, with the esteem of our society and the world, these universities are ground zero for rampant, virulent, obscene, and inhuman anti-Semitism.
The hearings last week exposed not only the lack of moral leadership at these schools; it also exposed a sickness in the culture of our elite universities.
If calling for the murder and genocide of fellow students for the crime of being Jewish is not immediately and completely repugnant, then there is no moral compass at the heart of these institutions.
Mr. Speaker, I am disappointed that our colleagues on the other side of the aisle think that Republicans need a lecture on free speech or freedom of religion. We do not need such a lecture on that. We understand those concepts. Those are our first freedoms, and we are very keenly aware of those.
Mr. Speaker, there are massive problems in postsecondary education in our country, and our committee is doing its best to address some of those problems and to do something about them.
What we knew before the hearing, and what we know even more strongly after the hearing that we held last week, is that Jewish students are facing a massive rise in violence on our college and university campuses.
According to the Anti-Defamation League and Hillel International, 73 percent of Jewish students surveyed said they experienced anti-Semitism on campus this year. That number is up from 32 percent in 2021. Yet, college administrators, like the ones who testified before the committee last week, are not acting to protect students.
Now is not the time for campus leaders to sit on their hands. The only way to salvage American academia and restore a safe learning environment for its students is by rooting out anti-Semitism and standing up against hate.
I thank God that the Committee on Education and the Workforce is up to the task.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Source