H.R. 4087

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4087 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4087

To provide a definition of antisemitism for the enforcement of covered 
civil rights laws.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

June 23, 2025

Mr. Moore of Alabama introduced the following bill; which was referred 
to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on 
Oversight and Government Reform, and Education and Workforce, for a 
period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for 
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the 
committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To provide a definition of antisemitism for the enforcement of covered 
civil rights laws.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Define to Defeat Act of 2025''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The May 26, 2016, International Holocaust Remembrance 
Alliance definition of antisemitism is objective and clear, and 
the use of alternative definitions of antisemitism, including 
instead of or in addition to the IHRA definition, impairs 
enforcement efforts by adding multiple standards that leave 
room for subjective application and may fail to identify some 
of the most insidious modern manifestations of anti-Jewish 
hate.
(2) Antisemitism, including harassment on the basis of 
actual or perceived Jewish origin, ancestry, ethnicity, 
identity, affiliation, or faith, or connection thereto, remains 
a persistent, pervasive, and disturbing problem in contemporary 
American society.
(3) Jewish people continue to be a targeted minority in the 
United States. Data shows, for instance, that Jews are 
consistently the most likely of all religious groups to be 
victimized by incidents of hate, and that such incidents are 
increasing at an alarming rate.
(4) United States officials and institutions have a 
responsibility to protect citizens from acts of hate and 
bigotry motivated by discriminatory animus, including 
antisemitism, and must be given the tools to do so.
(5) Valid monitoring, informed analysis and investigation, 
and effective policymaking all require uniform definitions.
(6) While there can be no exhaustive definition of 
antisemitism, as it can take many forms, the International 
Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's working definition has been an 
essential definitional tool used to determine contemporary 
manifestations of antisemitism, and includes useful examples of 
discriminatory anti-Israel acts that cross the line into 
antisemitism.
(7) The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance 
definition is used by various agencies of the Federal 
Government and the dozens of governments that are members of 
International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance. It is recommended 
for use by the European Council and the European Parliament, 
endorsed by the United Nations Secretary General and the 
Secretary General of the Organization of American States, 
included in policy guides prepared by the Organization for 
Security and Cooperation in Europe, and formally adopted by a 
growing number of European and Middle Eastern nations.
(8) Use of this definition of antisemitism, although it is 
not to be taken as an exhaustive definition, will increase the 
awareness and understanding of the parameters of contemporary 
anti-Jewish discrimination.

SEC. 3. INCLUSION OF MATERIAL RELATED TO ANTISEMITISM IN ANTI-
DISCRIMINATION TRAINING.

The head of each Federal department or agency shall include the 
definition of the term ``antisemitism'' under section 7 in any anti-
discrimination training and education materials or modules made 
available by the department or agency.

SEC. 4. INSTRUCTIONS TO THE JURY.

In any Federal criminal or civil action before a jury that involves 
antisemitism, the court shall include the definition of the term 
``antisemitism'' in the instructions to the jury.

SEC. 5. RULES OF CONSTRUCTION FOR COVERED CIVIL RIGHTS LAWS.

In reviewing, investigating, or deciding whether there has been a 
violation of a covered civil rights law on the basis of race, religion, 
color, ethnicity, or national origin, based on an individual's actual 
or perceived connection to an aspect of Jewish identity, each Federal 
department and agency conducting such review or investigation or making 
such decision shall take into consideration whether the potential 
violation was motivated, in whole or in part, by antisemitism.

SEC. 6. ADDITIONAL RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.

(a) General Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this Act may be 
construed--
(1) to expand the authority of the head of any Federal 
department or agency to enforce or implement a covered civil 
rights law;
(2) to alter the standards pursuant to which the head of a 
Federal department or agency makes a determination that conduct 
constitutes a violation of a covered civil rights law; or
(3) to diminish or infringe upon the rights protected under 
any other provision of law that is in effect on the date of 
enactment of this Act.
(b) Constitutional Protections.--Nothing in this Act may be 
construed to diminish or infringe upon any right protected under the 
First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

SEC. 7. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:
(1) Antisemitism.--The term ``antisemitism'' has the 
meaning given such term by the International Holocaust 
Remembrance Alliance on May 26, 2016, and includes the examples 
of antisemitism set forth therein.
(2) Covered civil rights law.--The term ``covered civil 
rights law'' means any of the following:
(A) Title I of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 
U.S.C. 10301 et seq.).
(B) Title II, title III, title IV, title VI, or 
title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 
2000a et seq.).
(C) Section 1977 of the Revised Statutes (42 U.S.C. 
1981).
(D) The Equal Educational Opportunities Act of 1974 
(20 U.S.C. 1701-1758).
(E) Section 249 of title 18, United States Code.
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