Antisemitism is a scourge that has no place in any civil society, especially the United States – not now, not ever. On Tuesday, the presidents of Harvard, the University of Pennsylvania, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology were called before the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, which I chair, so they could be held accountable for the serious rise of antisemitism on their campuses. Supporters of Hamas and Palestine are painting swastikas on campus halls and throwing rocks at Hillel buildings. Universities, quick to facilitate the spread of antisemitism, are now slow to condemn it – if they even condemn it at all.

College and university presidents have a responsibility to foster and uphold a safe learning environment for their students and staff. Unfortunately, for years, universities have stoked the flames of the growing “woke” ideology which goes by many names—anti-racism, anti-colonialism, critical race theory, DEI, intersectionality, the list goes on. This “value system” taught in universities is foreign to 99 percent of Americans. It presents a delusion that the color of one’s skin and the outward expression of one’s chromosomes sort society into classes of the oppressed and the oppressors.

Now, it has unfortunately been made clear by these college presidents that Jews are at the bottom of the totem pole and without protection under “woke” ideology. This is entirely abhorrent and unacceptable. Institutional antisemitism and hate are among the poisoned fruits of the cultures within Harvard, the University of Pennsylvania, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and many other expensive colleges and universities. The buck for what has happened must stop on the desk of the presidents who lead these universities, along with the responsibility for making 'never again' true on their respective campuses.

It is incumbent upon us all to stand with the Jewish community and push back on antisemitism wherever and whenever it crops up. As Rabbi Moshe Hauer mentioned in his testimony before the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development recently, the plague of antisemitism has afflicted the United States. This moment is an inflection point. It demands leaders of moral clarity with the courage to delineate good from evil and right from wrong.

A Bipartisan Effort

This week, I was proud to join alongside a bipartisan group of colleagues to introduce H.R. 6585, the Bipartisan Workforce Pell Act. This legislation provides opportunities for students and workers looking to gain skills in high-demand fields by allowing Pell Grants to support students enrolled in high-quality, short-term workforce programs that will lead to career advancement. America has always been a skills-based economy, so it’s critical that we retool the Pell Grant to match the education needs of both students and employers. The Bipartisan Workforce Pell Act achieves this goal by elevating skills-based programs, investing in upskilling, and promoting an education model tailored to workforce needs. This bill is a major win for students and workers, as well as employers who are desperately looking to fill in-demand jobs.

To read a fact sheet on this legislation, click here.

An Article to Share

Recently, I came across an opinion article in the Washington Times entitled “Belief is the ticket”, and I felt compelled to share it with you – especially as we are in the Christmas season. Here is a short excerpt:

“Landing destitute upon New England’s wild coastline as winter set in, the early settlers chose to fight ravaging hunger by scratching mollusks out of the freezing mud rather than consuming seed corn meant for spring planting. These settlers — men and women — demonstrated uncommon fortitude. It would be more than 150 years of self-reliant labor before the establishment of the United States and the Congress that today’s Americans henpeck for trillions of dollars in benefits.”

To read the full article, click here.

Quote of The Week

“Racial prejudice, anti-Semitism, or hatred of anyone with different beliefs has no place in the human mind or heart.”

-Reverend Billy Graham

Have a blessed weekend,