House-Passed Anti-Semitism Bill Stirs Free Speech Debate

Opponents of the bill say it could chill free speech because of ambiguities in the text; opponents have dismissed these concerns as ‘deeply overblown.’

The U.S. Capitol building during a rainy day in Washington on April 2, 2024. Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times

A House-passed bill designed to combat anti-Semitism has spurred debates across party lines about the potential effect it could have on First Amendment rights.

The bill in question, the Antisemitism Awareness Act, overwhelmingly passed the U.S. House of Representatives on May 1 in a 321–91 vote.