Two key pieces of legislation targeting harassment of Jewish students at higher education institutions are expected to reach the U.S. House floor, as Trump administration officials intensify efforts to combat antisemitism nationwide.

The Republican-led Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee will vote on the Protecting Students on Campus Act and the Antisemitism Awareness Act on April 30, setting the stage for a broader congressional response to growing concerns about Jewish student safety.

The first bill would establish new reporting requirements for universities, mandating that institutions clearly communicate to students how to file civil rights complaints. Additionally, universities would be required to track and report the number of civil rights complaints they receive, and document actions taken to address these issues.

Meanwhile, the Antisemitism Awareness Act aims to standardize how campus investigations handle antisemitism by directing the U.S. Department of Education to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism.

The IHRA’s working definition of antisemitism, which has been adopted by over 35 US states and 91 cities, as well as the US State Department, includes contemporary examples such as denying the Jewish people’s right to self-determination, comparing Israeli policies to those of the Nazis, and holding Jews collectively responsible for the actions of the State of Israel.

A recent report by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) reveals a staggering 41% increase in antisemitism on campuses, including assaults, vandalism, and harassment. Together, Columbia, Harvard, and the University of Michigan account for 16% of incidents reported. Shockingly, 1,694 anti-Israel demonstrations were held at 360 campuses in 46 states last year, comprising nearly 1 in 5 of all reported cases nationwide.

President Donald Trump has made combating antisemitism a priority since beginning his second term. Just ten days after taking office, Trump issued an executive order revoking student visas for foreign students participating in illegal protests.

The administration has also taken unprecedented action against universities deemed insufficiently responsive to antisemitism concerns. Harvard University currently faces a $2.2 billion funding freeze from the Department of Education for refusing to implement adequate policies to protect its Jewish students.