WILKES-BARRE — This week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Antisemitism Awareness Act, which was led in the Senate by U.S. Senators Bob Casey, D-Scranton, and Tim Scott, R-South Carolina.
The bill aims to tackle antisemitism on college campuses, a problem that Sen. Casey said has been increasing nationwide for years and surged following Hamas’ terrorist attack on Oct. 7, 2023.
Sen. Casey stated that the legislation will mandate the U.S. Department of Education to take into account the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism when enforcing federal anti-discrimination laws.
The bill will now move on to the Senate for consideration.
“In the midst of the alarming rise in reported antisemitic incidents on college campuses since Oct. 7, we must do everything we can to safeguard Jewish students,” said Sen. Casey. “This is a clear call for Congress to step up and protect students. The House of Representatives responded to that call today, and now it’s the Senate’s turn to take action.”
The Antisemitism Awareness Act would make the Department of Education's consideration of the IHRA’s definition of antisemitism permanent, which is an important tool for clarifying and identifying the different forms of antisemitism.
In addition to Senators Casey and Scott, the Antisemitism Awareness Act is co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Christopher Coons (D-Del.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Kristen Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.). The House companion is sponsored by U.S. Representatives Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.-17), Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.-05), Max Miller (R-Ohio-07), and Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.-23).
Rep. Meuser co-sponsors legislation to defund institutions that advance antisemitism
U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser, R-Dallas, this week co-sponsored H.R. 3773 — the Stop Antisemitism on College Campuses Act — which would revoke federal education funding for colleges and universities that allow antisemitism or support, fund, or facilitate events that promote antisemitism.
Meuser explained that this legislation is a direct response to recent antisemitic incidents at institutions like Columbia University, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), University of Pennsylvania, and many others. He said these incidents include organizing marches, rallies, and anti-Israel protests in partnership with Students for Justice in Palestine, a group that hailed Hamas’ attack as a “historic win for the Palestinian resistance.”
The Anti-Defamation League reported a 488% increase in violent language and threats against the Jewish community and Israel within 18 hours of Hamas’ attack on Israeli civilians. Some examples include Harvard University’s silence about 30 student organizations blaming Israel for Hamas’ attacks and a Cornell professor describing the attacks as “exhilarating” and “exciting,” and a Columbia professor praising Hamas’ actions with words like “astonishing,” “astounding,” “awesome,” and “incredible.”
Meuser said that when college students shout 'From the River to the Sea,' it's not just a chant – it becomes a frightening call for the destruction of the entire Jewish race. Meuser condemned any antisemitic behavior on college campuses and called for institutions receiving federal education funding to address antisemitism and ensure the safety of Jewish students.
H.R. 3773 was sent to the House Education and the Workforce Committee for further consideration.
PUC provides 5 tips to protect consumers amid increasing door-to-door energy sales activity
As the weather gets warmer and energy prices fluctuate, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) urged consumers to protect themselves from questionable energy marketing sales pitches and explore resources for potential energy cost savings for the upcoming cooling season.
PUC Chairman Stephen M. DeFrank stated that the Commission’s rules and regulations offer necessary protections against unscrupulous sales agents, but customers should still be attentive and careful. He encouraged customers to be cautious when shopping for retail energy products to recognize deceptive sales tactics.
The PUC outlined five simple tips to help consumers spot legitimate energy sales offers and avoid potential scams:
• Tip 1: Always check for ID.
Pennsylvania requires energy sales agents to prominently display an ID badge with the supplier's accurate identification, a photograph of the sales agent, the full name of the sales agent, and a customer-service phone number.
• Tip 2: Know who you are dealing with.
Upon initial contact, energy sales agents must clearly identify themselves by name, the energy supplier they represent, and the purpose of their visit or phone call, and consumers should verify the details on the agent’s ID badge.
• Tip 3: Do not make untrue statements about utilities or other organizations.
Energy sales representatives are not allowed to falsely claim that they are representing the customer’s local utility, another supplier, or government agencies like the PUC. They should not wear clothing or carry items that suggest they are affiliated with utilities or other organizations.
• Tip 4: Avoid using misleading or high-pressure sales tactics.
Consumers should avoid sales pitches that pressure them to act right away. Agents must respect a customer’s request to leave the premises and honor requests to be excluded from future door-to-door sales activities. Suspected scams should be reported to the PUC’s Bureau of Consumer Services.
• Tip 5: Compare prices using PAPowerSwitch and PAGasSwitch.
Consumers are encouraged to explore other options through impartial, independent websites like the PUC’s official
PAPowerSwitch.com
PAGasSwitch.com
shopping sites, which offer access to supplier offerings, educational materials, and information on energy efficiency and conservation. The PUC’s PAPowerSwitch shopping site has been recently updated to make shopping for electric supply offers and comparing those offers even easier.
Reps. Watro, Cabell: Roman’s Law passes Senate committee and A bill sponsored by Rep. Dane Watro, R-Hazleton, that would allow delayed school enrollment in Pennsylvania for young children with autism was unanimously approved by the Senate Education Committee today, companion legislation to this was sponsored by Sen. Dave Argall, R-Pottsville, and now goes to the full Senate for consideration. Watro and Rep. Mike Cabell, R-Butler Township, are the prime co-sponsors of the House version of the bill, also known as Roman’s Law.
The legislation would allow the parents or guardians of children who have reached the compulsory school age of 6 to request a waiver from the Pennsylvania Department of Education to delay school enrollment for one year if the child has been diagnosed with autism or other developmental and intellectual disabilities. The child would also be eligible to receive early intervention services from the state during the waiver period. “I met Roman DeAngelo and his parents, Paul and Krista, earlier this year and learned first-hand from them just how critical this legislation is for children like their son, who is autistic,” said Watro. “A delayed start would allow for early intervention programs to provide the necessary supports for these youngsters to develop the social and emotional skills necessary for future success, and to be better prepared when they enter the classroom.”
“Thank you to Reps. Watro and Cabell for championing this important legislation,” said Argall. “This waiver would be a lifeline for the families who do everything they can to provide opportunity to their developmentally delayed children. An extra year of specialized support can make a world of difference for these kids.”
Also under the bill, the parent or guardian may enroll the child in kindergarten or first grade for the next school year at the end of the waiver period.
The U.S. House of Representatives this week passed the Antisemitism Awareness Act, led in the Senate by U.S. Senators Bob Casey, D-Scranton, and Tim Scott, R-South Carolina.
The legislation would allow the parents or guardians of children who have reached the compulsory school age of 6 to request a waiver from the Pennsylvania Department of Education to delay school enrollment for one year if the child has been diagnosed with autism or other developmental and intellectual disabilities. The child would also be eligible to receive early intervention services from the state during the waiver period.
“I met Roman DeAngelo and his parents, Paul and Krista, earlier this year and learned first-hand from them just how critical this legislation is for children like their son, who is autistic,” said Watro. “A delayed start would allow for early intervention programs to provide the necessary supports for these youngsters to develop the social and emotional skills necessary for future success, and to be better prepared when they enter the classroom.”
“Thank you to Reps. Watro and Cabell for championing this important legislation,” said Argall. “This waiver would be a lifeline for the families who do everything they can to provide opportunity to their developmentally delayed children. An extra year of specialized support can make a world of difference for these kids.”
Also under the bill, the parent or guardian may enroll the child in kindergarten or first grade for the next school year at the end of the waiver period.
