Stefanik and Gottheimer Launch Bipartisan Caucus to Combat Antisemitism on Campuses

Representatives Elise Stefanik from New York and Josh Gottheimer from New Jersey are forming a new congressional group aimed squarely at stopping antisemitism within colleges and universities. This bipartisan body, named the Combating Antisemitism on College Campuses Caucus, will let lawmakers work together to watch how schools handle these threats, according to statements from their offices.

The coalition plans to push institutions to keep Jewish students, faculty, and staff safe while enforcing rules against harassment and discrimination. It also intends to track federal laws targeting campus hatred and Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions activism. Another key goal is shining a light on schools that succeed in this area so they can share their methods across the country.

Antisemitism spreads far beyond student protests and now hits classrooms directly, warns the Anti-Defamation League. Although Gottheimer identifies as a Jewish Democrat and Stefanik as a Catholic Republican, both see the danger clearly. Since October 7th, the date of the Hamas terror attack in Israel, Gottheimer says too many campuses have seen Jewish students harassed or intimidated until they felt like strangers on their own grounds.

That is why Elise and I are teaming up to launch this caucus to hold universities accountable, back up the schools getting it right, like Vanderbilt, and make sure every Jewish kid can have a college experience without fear of discrimination or violence," Gottheimer stated. Stefanik wrote the book Poisoned Ivies and noted she has been proud to lead efforts in Congress against antisemitism and anti-Americanism at higher education institutions. She added that Gottheimer has been a leading partner with whom she worked on this critical issue. We are committed to saving American higher education for the next generation," she said. Fox News' Kelly Phares contributed to this report.