[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4087 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4087
To provide a definition of antisemitism for the enforcement of covered
civil rights laws.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 23, 2025
Mr. Moore of Alabama introduced the following bill; which was referred
to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on
Oversight and Government Reform, and Education and Workforce, for a
period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the
committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide a definition of antisemitism for the enforcement of covered
civil rights laws.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Define to Defeat Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The May 26, 2016, International Holocaust Remembrance
Alliance definition of antisemitism is objective and clear, and
the use of alternative definitions of antisemitism, including
instead of or in addition to the IHRA definition, impairs
enforcement efforts by adding multiple standards that leave
room for subjective application and may fail to identify some
of the most insidious modern manifestations of anti-Jewish
hate.
(2) Antisemitism, including harassment on the basis of
actual or perceived Jewish origin, ancestry, ethnicity,
identity, affiliation, or faith, or connection thereto, remains
a persistent, pervasive, and disturbing problem in contemporary
American society.
(3) Jewish people continue to be a targeted minority in the
United States. Data shows, for instance, that Jews are
consistently the most likely of all religious groups to be
victimized by incidents of hate, and that such incidents are
increasing at an alarming rate.
(4) United States officials and institutions have a
responsibility to protect citizens from acts of hate and
bigotry motivated by discriminatory animus, including
antisemitism, and must be given the tools to do so.
(5) Valid monitoring, informed analysis and investigation,
and effective policymaking all require uniform definitions.
(6) While there can be no exhaustive definition of
antisemitism, as it can take many forms, the International
Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's working definition has been an
essential definitional tool used to determine contemporary
manifestations of antisemitism, and includes useful examples of
discriminatory anti-Israel acts that cross the line into
antisemitism.
(7) The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance
definition is used by various agencies of the Federal
Government and the dozens of governments that are members of
International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance. It is recommended
for use by the European Council and the European Parliament,
endorsed by the United Nations Secretary General and the
Secretary General of the Organization of American States,
included in policy guides prepared by the Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe, and formally adopted by a
growing number of European and Middle Eastern nations.
(8) Use of this definition of antisemitism, although it is
not to be taken as an exhaustive definition, will increase the
awareness and understanding of the parameters of contemporary
anti-Jewish discrimination.
SEC. 3. INCLUSION OF MATERIAL RELATED TO ANTISEMITISM IN ANTI-
DISCRIMINATION TRAINING.
The head of each Federal department or agency shall include the
definition of the term ``antisemitism'' under section 7 in any anti-
discrimination training and education materials or modules made
available by the department or agency.
SEC. 4. INSTRUCTIONS TO THE JURY.
In any Federal criminal or civil action before a jury that involves
antisemitism, the court shall include the definition of the term
``antisemitism'' in the instructions to the jury.
SEC. 5. RULES OF CONSTRUCTION FOR COVERED CIVIL RIGHTS LAWS.
In reviewing, investigating, or deciding whether there has been a
violation of a covered civil rights law on the basis of race, religion,
color, ethnicity, or national origin, based on an individual's actual
or perceived connection to an aspect of Jewish identity, each Federal
department and agency conducting such review or investigation or making
such decision shall take into consideration whether the potential
violation was motivated, in whole or in part, by antisemitism.
SEC. 6. ADDITIONAL RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.
(a) General Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this Act may be
construed--
(1) to expand the authority of the head of any Federal
department or agency to enforce or implement a covered civil
rights law;
(2) to alter the standards pursuant to which the head of a
Federal department or agency makes a determination that conduct
constitutes a violation of a covered civil rights law; or
(3) to diminish or infringe upon the rights protected under
any other provision of law that is in effect on the date of
enactment of this Act.
(b) Constitutional Protections.--Nothing in this Act may be
construed to diminish or infringe upon any right protected under the
First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.
SEC. 7. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Antisemitism.--The term ``antisemitism'' has the
meaning given such term by the International Holocaust
Remembrance Alliance on May 26, 2016, and includes the examples
of antisemitism set forth therein.
(2) Covered civil rights law.--The term ``covered civil
rights law'' means any of the following:
(A) Title I of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52
U.S.C. 10301 et seq.).
(B) Title II, title III, title IV, title VI, or
title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C.
2000a et seq.).
(C) Section 1977 of the Revised Statutes (42 U.S.C.
1981).
(D) The Equal Educational Opportunities Act of 1974
(20 U.S.C. 1701-1758).
(E) Section 249 of title 18, United States Code.
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