Scoop: Schumer and Johnson in standoff over antisemitism bill
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Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Speaker Mike Johnson are staring each other down over a bill aimed at curbing antisemitism, we have learned.
Why it matters: Schumer promised Jewish leaders earlier this year that he would try to pass the bill this Congress. Now he's shifting blame to Johnson if Congress doesn't act.
- Schumer wants the Antisemitism Awareness Act — aimed at college campuses — attached to one of the year-end packages that must pass Congress, like the National Defense Authorization Act.
- But Johnson wants Schumer to put the bill on the Senate floor by itself, according to sources.
"We are trying to get them to do it," Schumer told Axios, referring to the House.
- "I have offered several times to get it in either the NDAA or the appropriations bill," he said.
- "Republicans are clearly feeling the pressure to get this done via the NDAA, which Sen. Schumer has long said is the best and fastest way," said a Schumer spokesperson. "The Republican leadership won't take yes for an answer."
Driving the news: With his narrow majority, Johnson has indicated to allies that attaching too many unrelated items to the National Defense Authorization Act could imperil its passage.
- House Republicans are trying to make it easier for Johnson to include it by suggesting he also attach legislation to sanction the International Criminal Court, according to people familiar with the matter.
- That sanctions bill previously passed the House 247-155 with 42 pro-Israel Democrats voting in its favor.
Zoom out: The antisemitism legislation also overwhelmingly passed the House in the summer, but it has divided Democrats.
- If it isn't passed this year, Republicans are eager to act on it in 2025, when they'll have the Senate majority.
- That would force Senate Democrats to potentially take a difficult vote next year.
The bottom line: With limited time left on the calendar — and his priority set on confirming judges — Schumer is unlikely to put the antisemitism bill on the Senate floor on its own.
