North Allegheny News

On June 24, 2024, Reps. Kristin Marcell (R-Bucks), Martina White (R-Philadelphia), and Rob Mercuri (R-Allegheny) held a press conference in Harrisburg to announce a discharge resolution for House Bill 1986. The resolution addresses the Democratic majority’s failure to advance legislation countering the rise of antisemitic actions on college campuses and in Pennsylvania communities.

House Bill 1986 mandates transparency in Holocaust and genocide education. "With an Economist poll finding that 1 in 5 young Americans believe the Holocaust is a myth, it is clear we need to ensure our children understand the profound impact of these historical events and recognize the importance of combating antisemitism in all its forms," said Marcell. She criticized the Democratic majority for not acting on legislation this session to address these issues despite increasing antisemitic incidents across the Commonwealth.

White announced her intention to introduce two bills aimed at combating antisemitism on campuses and in public spaces. The first bill would prohibit funding higher educational institutions that support or promote antisemitism. "Pennsylvania taxpayers should not enable or support antisemitism," said White. "We must protect our Jewish students and hold these institutions accountable."

The second bill from White would restrict wearing face coverings and masks in public spaces, with limited exceptions. "Too many perpetrators of antisemitic acts use masks to hide their identities," said White. "This legislation will ensure that those who commit these crimes cannot evade justice."

Mercuri plans to introduce legislation requiring any universities receiving state funding to have anti-harassment policies addressing antisemitism. "This is a commonsense measure to ensure every student and employee at our universities can feel safe on campus," said Mercuri. "By enacting these policies, we can keep improving the accountability and transparency of our universities to the taxpayers."

For further details or inquiries, contact Will Patterson at wpatterson@pahousegop.com.