I 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 6578 

To establish the Commission to Study Acts of Antisemitism in the United 

States. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

DECEMBER 4, 2023 

Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS (for herself, Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, Ms. SALAZAR, 

Mr. GOTTHEIMER, Mr. MILLER of Ohio, Mr. MOSKOWITZ, Mr. GOODEN

of Texas, Mr. D’ESPOSITO, Mr. CISCOMANI, Mr. RESCHENTHALER, Mr. 

BALDERSON, Mr. WILSON of South Carolina, Mr. FEENSTRA, Mr. 

AMODEI, Mr. VAN DREW, Mr. MANN, Mr. SCHNEIDER, Mr. 

FITZPATRICK, Mr. ROSE, Mr. BUCHANAN, Mr. KEAN of New Jersey, Mr. 

GUEST, Mr. YAKYM, Mr. VALADAO, and Mr. LAWLER) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 

A BILL 

To establish the Commission to Study Acts of Antisemitism 

in the United States. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Commission to Study 

5 Acts of Antisemitism in the United States Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

7 Congress finds the following: 


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1 (1) Since Hamas deadly invasion of the nation 

2 of Israel on October 7, 2023, there has been a dis3 turbing rise of antisemitism in the United States. 

4 (2) On October 31, 2023, a student at Cornell 

5 University was arrested and charged for threatening 

6 to kill and injure members of the Jewish community. 

7 (3) In October 2023, Federal Bureau of Inves8 tigation Director Christopher Wray stated that anti9 semitism in the United States had reached ‘‘historic 

10 levels’’. 

11 (4) The Anti-Defamation League reported a 

12 nearly 300 percent spike in antisemitic activity in 

13 the United States since Hamas attack on Israel. 

14 (5) In November 2023, a 69-year-old Jewish 

15 man was killed in Los Angeles after being struck in 

16 the head by a protester at an anti-Israel protest. 

17 SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT. 

18 There is established in the legislative branch a com19 mission to be known as the ‘‘Commission to Study Acts 

20 of Antisemitism in the United States’’ (in this Act referred 

21 to as the ‘‘Commission’’). 

22 SEC. 4. DUTIES OF COMMISSION. 

23 Without making any predetermined or political find24 ings, the Commission shall— 


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1 (1) investigate the facts, different sources, and 

2 manifestations of antisemitism in the present day; 

3 (2) examine and evaluate evidence developed by 

4 relevant Federal, State, and local governments, as 

5 well as leading non-governmental organizations with 

6 significant experience gathering data and trends on 

7 antisemitic incidents in the United States, regarding 

8 the facts and circumstances of antisemitic attacks 

9 within the United States, except that such examina10 tion and evaluation shall not interfere with ongoing 

11 law enforcement activities and investigations; 

12 (3) evaluate the different types of actions taken 

13 by Federal, State, and local governments and gov14 ernmental agencies in recent years to combat anti15 semitism; and 

16 (4) report to the President and Congress re17 garding its findings, conclusions, and recommenda18 tions for legislation or administrative actions as the 

19 Commission considers appropriate. 

20 SEC. 5. MEMBERSHIP. 

21 (a) MEMBERS.— 

22 (1) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.—The Com23 mission shall be composed of 9 members appointed 

24 as follows: 


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1 (A) 2 members appointed by the Speaker 

2 of the House of Representatives. 

3 (B) 2 members appointed by the minority 

4 leader of the House of Representatives. 

5 (C) 2 members appointed by the majority 

6 leader of the Senate. 

7 (D) 2 members appointed by the minority 

8 leader of the Senate. 

9 (E) 1 member appointed by the President 

10 of the United States. 

11 (2) CHAIRPERSON; VICE CHAIRPERSON.—The 

12 Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of the Commis13 sion shall be designated jointly by the Speaker of the 

14 House of Representatives and the minority leader of 

15 the House of Representatives at the time of the ap16 pointment. 

17 (3) POLITICAL AFFILIATION.—Not more than 4 

18 members appointed under paragraph (1) may be of 

19 the same political party. 

20 (4) TIMING FOR APPOINTMENT.—All members 

21 of the Commission shall be appointed not later than 

22 10 days after the date of enactment of this Act. 

23 (5) QUALIFICATIONS.—Members of the Com24 mission shall have demonstrated expertise and expeVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:12 Dec 10, 2023 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H6578.IH H6578

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1 rience cataloguing, addressing, and combating anti2 semitism. 

3 (b) TERMS.— 

4 (1) IN GENERAL.—Each member shall be ap5 pointed for the life of the Commission. 

6 (2) VACANCIES.—A vacancy in the Commission 

7 shall be filled in the manner in which the original 

8 appointment was made. 

9 (c) BASIC PAY.— 

10 (1) COMPENSATION.—Except as provided in 

11 paragraph (2), members shall each be paid at a rate 

12 not to exceed the daily equivalent of the annual rate 

13 of basic pay for level III of the Executive Schedule 

14 for each day (including travel time) during which 

15 they are engaged in the actual performance of duties 

16 vested in the Commission. 

17 (2) PROHIBITION OF COMPENSATION OF FED18 ERAL EMPLOYEES.—Members of the Commission 

19 who are full-time officers or employees of the United 

20 States or Members of Congress may not receive ad21 ditional pay, allowances, or benefits by reason of 

22 their service on the Commission. 

23 (3) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Each member shall 

24 receive travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of 

25 subsistence, in accordance with applicable provisions 


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1 under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United 

2 States Code. 

3 (d) QUORUM.—6 members of the Commission shall 

4 constitute a quorum but a lesser number may hold hear5 ings. 

6 (e) MEETINGS.—As soon as practicable after all 

7 members are appointed, but not earlier than 15 days after 

8 the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall 

9 meet and begin the initial operation of the Commission. 

10 The Commission shall meet monthly thereafter. 

11 SEC. 6. EXPERTS; STAFF OF FEDERAL AGENCIES. 

12 (a) EXPERTS.—The Commission may procure tem13 porary and intermittent services under section 3109(b) of 

14 title 5, United States Code, but at rates for individuals 

15 not to exceed the daily equivalent of the annual rate of 

16 basic pay for GS–15 of the General Schedule. The services 

17 of an expert or consultant may be procured without com18 pensation if the expert or consultant agrees to such an 

19 arrangement, in writing, in advance. 

20 (b) STAFF OF FEDERAL AGENCIES.—Upon request 

21 of the Commission, the head of any Federal department 

22 or agency may detail, on a reimbursable basis, any of the 

23 personnel of that department or agency to the Commission 

24 to assist it in carrying out its duties under this Act. 


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1 SEC. 7. POWERS OF COMMISSION. 

2 (a) HEARINGS AND SESSIONS.—The Commission 

3 may, for the purpose of carrying out this Act, hold hear4 ings, sit and act at times and places, take testimony, and 

5 receive evidence as the Commission considers appropriate. 

6 The Commission may administer oaths or affirmations to 

7 witnesses appearing before it. 

8 (b) POWERS OF MEMBERS AND AGENTS.—Any mem9 ber or agent of the Commission may, if authorized by the 

10 Commission, take any action which the Commission is au11 thorized to take by this section. 

12 (c) OBTAINING OFFICIAL DATA.—The Commission 

13 may secure directly from any department or agency of the 

14 United States information necessary to enable it to carry 

15 out this Act. Upon joint request of the Chairperson and 

16 Vice Chairperson of the Commission, the head of that de17 partment or agency shall furnish that information to the 

18 Commission. 

19 (d) SUBPOENA POWER.— 

20 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission may issue 

21 subpoenas requiring the attendance and testimony of 

22 witnesses and the production of any evidence relat23 ing to any matter which the Commission is empow24 ered to investigate under this Act. Such subpoenas 

25 shall be issued by agreement between the Chair26 person and Vice Chairperson of the Commission, or 


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1 by the vote of a majority of the members of the 

2 Commission. The attendance of witnesses and the 

3 production of evidence may be required from any 

4 place within the United States at any designated 

5 place of hearing within the United States. 

6 (2) FAILURE TO OBEY A SUBPOENA.—If a per7 son refuses to obey a subpoena issued under para8 graph (1), the Commission may apply to a United 

9 States district court for an order requiring that per10 son to appear before the Commission to give testi11 mony, produce evidence, or both, relating to the 

12 matter under investigation. The application may be 

13 made within the judicial district where the hearing 

14 is conducted or where that person is found, resides, 

15 or transacts business. Any failure to obey the order 

16 of the court may be punished by the court as civil 

17 contempt. 

18 (3) SERVICE OF SUBPOENAS.—The subpoenas 

19 of the Commission shall be served in the manner 

20 provided for subpoenas issued by a United States 

21 district court under the Federal Rules of Civil Pro22 cedure for the United States district courts. 

23 (4) SERVICE OF PROCESS.—All process of any 

24 court to which application is made under paragraph 

25 (2) may be served in the judicial district in which 


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1 the person required to be served resides or may be 

2 found. 

3 (e) IMMUNITY.—Except as provided in this sub4 section, a person may not be excused from testifying or 

5 from producing evidence pursuant to a subpoena on the 

6 ground that the testimony or evidence required by the sub7 poena may tend to incriminate or subject that person to 

8 criminal prosecution. A person, after having claimed the 

9 privilege against self-incrimination, may not be criminally 

10 prosecuted by reason of any transaction, matter, or thing 

11 which that person is compelled to testify about or produce 

12 evidence relating to, except that the person may be pros13 ecuted for perjury committed during the testimony or 

14 made in the evidence. 

15 (f) CONTRACT AUTHORITY.—To the extent or in the 

16 amounts provided in advance in appropriation Acts, the 

17 Commission may enter into contracts to enable the Com18 mission to discharge its duties under this Act. 

19 SEC. 8. REPORT; TERMINATION. 

20 (a) REPORT.—The Commission shall transmit a re21 port to the President and Congress not later than 1 year 

22 after the date of enactment of this Act. The report shall 

23 contain a detailed statement of the findings and conclu24 sions of the Commission, together with its recommendaVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:12 Dec 10, 2023 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H6578.IH H6578

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1 tions for legislation or administrative actions as the Com2 mission considers appropriate. 

3 (b) TERMINATION.— 

4 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall termi5 nate upon the expiration of the 120-day period 

6 which begins on the date on which the Commission 

7 submits the report under subsection (a). 

8 (2) ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIVITIES BEFORE TER9 MINATION.—The Commission may use the 120-day 

10 period referred to in paragraph (1) for the purpose 

11 of concluding the activities of the Commission, in12 cluding disseminating the report submitted under 

13 subsection (a) and providing testimony to commit14 tees of Congress concerning such report. 

15 SEC. 9. DEFINITION. 

16 In this Act, the term ‘‘antisemitism’’ is a certain per17 ception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward 

18 Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of anti19 semitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish indi20 viduals and their property, toward Jewish community in21 stitutions and religious facilities: 

22 (1) Calling for, aiding, or justifying the killing 

23 or harming of Jews in the name of a radical ideology 

24 or an extremist view of religion. 


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1 (2) Making mendacious, dehumanizing, demon2 izing, or stereotypical allegations about Jews as such 

3 or the power of Jews as collective, such as, especially 

4 but not exclusively, the myth about a world Jewish 

5 conspiracy or of Jews controlling the media, econ6 omy, and government or other societal institutions. 

7 (3) Accusing Jews as a people of being respon8 sible for real or imagined wrongdoing committed by 

9 a single Jewish person or group, or even for acts 

10 committed by non-Jews. 

11 (4) Denying the fact, scope, mechanisms (e.g. 

12 gas chambers) or intentionality of the genocide of 

13 the Jewish people at the hands of National Socialist 

14 Germany and its supporters and accomplices during 

15 World War II (the Holocaust). 

16 (5) Accusing the Jews as a people, or Israel as 

17 a state, of inventing or exaggerating the Holocaust. 

18 (6) Accusing Jewish citizens of being more loyal 

19 to Israel, or to the alleged priorities of Jews world20 wide, than to the interests of their own nations. 

21 (7) Denying the Jewish people their right to 

22 self-determination, e.g., by claiming that the exist23 ence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor. 


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1 (8) Applying double standards by requiring of 

2 it a behavior not expected or demanded of any other 

3 democratic nation. 

4 (9) Using the symbols and images associated 

5 with classic antisemitism (e.g., claims of Jews killing 

6 Jesus or blood libel) to characterize Israel or 

7 Israelis. 

8 (10) Drawing comparisons of contemporary 

9 Israeli policy to that of the Nazis. 

10 (11) Holding Jews collectively responsible for 

11 actions of the state of Israel. 

Æ 


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