Bill Cassidy - Ranking Member of the Senate HELP Committee | Official U.S. Senate headshot
Bill Cassidy - Ranking Member of the Senate HELP Committee | Official U.S. Senate headshot
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), the ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, has spoken out on the ongoing antisemitic attacks and harassment faced by Jewish students on college campuses across the nation.
“No student should fear for their safety at school. There are no grounds for a nuanced response to the sickening calls of violence against Jewish students,” Senator Cassidy emphasized. He stressed the need for immediate action, stating, “The antisemitic scenes unfolding at Columbia University and college campuses across the country is bigotry manifested in violence and threats of violence. This should be responded to by expelling all perpetrators. There should be zero tolerance.”
Senator Cassidy called for the Senate HELP Committee, led by Chair Sanders, to take action, saying, “Chair Sanders and the Senate HELP Committee need to hold a hearing and conduct oversight of this eroding situation.”
In his efforts to address this issue, Senator Cassidy has previously urged for hearings on antisemitism and oversight of the Department of Education. He has also pushed for the Biden administration to use its authority under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to protect Jewish students at educational institutions.
Earlier this year, Senator Cassidy introduced legislation that allows students to file federal civil rights complaints in cases of violence or harassment based on their heritage, including antisemitism. This legislative proposal stemmed from a roundtable on antisemitism led by Cassidy, where it was discovered that students were not aware they could report discrimination to the Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights.
Additionally, Senator Cassidy raised concerns about the impact of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) ideology in higher education, highlighting instances of discrimination against students following a tragic event in Israel.
For more information and updates from HELP Republicans, interested individuals can visit the GOPHELP website or follow them on Twitter at @GOPHELP.
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