Calling on elected officials and civil society leaders to counter antisemitism and educate the public on the contributions of the Jewish-American community.

Summary of H.Res. 1251 (119th Congress, 2nd Session)

Title: Calling on elected officials and civil society leaders to counter antisemitism and educate the public on the contributions of the Jewish-American community

Sponsor/Status:
- Introduced in the House on April 30, 2026
- Primary sponsors: Reps. Wasserman Schultz (for herself), Fitzpatrick, Carter (LA), Miller-Meeks
- Referred to the House Judiciary Committee and, in addition, to the Committee on Armed Services

Purpose and Intent
- To urge elected officials, faith leaders, and civil society leaders to condemn and counter antisemitism.
- To direct executive, state, and local leaders to educate the public about the contributions of Jewish Americans and elevate Jewish stories and voices.
- To promote safety, security, and dignity for Jewish Americans in all settings (workplace, colleges/universities, synagogues, and homes).
- To honor Jewish-American servicemembers who have served—and sacrificed—in defense of the United States.
- To affirm and protect religious freedom in the United States, ensuring Jews and all Americans can worship without fear of violence or persecution.

Key Provisions and Provisions (as enacted by the resolution)
- Section 1: Condemnation and countering antisemitism
- Calls on elected officials, faith leaders, and civil society leaders to condemn and counter acts of antisemitism.
- Section 2: Education and public awareness
- Requests executive branch, as well as state and local leaders, to educate the public about Jewish-American contributions and to uplift Jewish stories and voices.
- Section 3: Safety and security
- Requires taking steps to protect the safety, security, and dignity of Jewish Americans in the workplace, higher education settings, synagogues, and homes.
- Section 4: Recognition of military service
- Specifically honors Jewish-American servicemembers who have served with distinction.
- Section 5: Religious freedom
- Reaffirms commitment to protecting religious freedom in America, ensuring Jews and other Americans can worship without fear of violence or persecution.

Substantive Context and Rationale (as reflected in the bill text)
- The resolution frames antisemitism as a growing threat, citing FBI hate crime data and various studies indicating rising anti-Jewish incidents, online antisemitism, and concerns for campus safety.
- It emphasizes the historical contributions of Jewish Americans—from founding-era figures to Medal of Honor recipients—and positions education about Jewish heritage as a tool to counter antisemitism.
- It references Jewish American Heritage Month (established by prior resolutions and presidential proclamations dating back to 1980) as part of the framework for ongoing recognition and education.

Affected Parties and Impacts
- Governmental and non-governmental actors:
- Federal, state, and local officials; faith leaders; civil society organizations; educational institutions.
- Jewish American community:
- Anticipated benefits include increased awareness, targeted safety measures, and strengthened protections for worship and community life.
- General public:
- Increased exposure to and understanding of Jewish contributions to U.S. history and culture.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects
- This is a House resolution (not a bill proposing new law) that expresses congressional intent and a call to action.
- No explicit implementation timeline or funding authorization is provided within the text of the resolution.
- Referral to Judiciary and Armed Services committees suggests focus areas: civil rights/anti-discrimination, security and veteran/military-related considerations, and broader policy implications.

Notes
- The resolution reflects an aspirational, educational, and commemorative approach rather than direct statutory changes.
- As a concurrent or simple House resolution, it does not by itself create new law or mandatory programs, but it can shape policy discussions and influence future legislative or executive actions.