Sikh American Anti-Discrimination Act of 2026

Bill Number

H.R. 7100

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 2

Policy Area

Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2026-01-15: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Last Updated

2026-07-07T08:05:45Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The Sikh American Anti-Discrimination Act of 2026 aims to combat anti-Sikh hate and discrimination by directing the U.S. Attorney General to create a dedicated task force within the Department of Justice (DOJ). This task force will focus on defining, tracking, educating about, and addressing bias against Sikhs, recognizing their history of targeted violence and underreported incidents in the United States.

Key Provisions

• Findings Section: Outlines the background of Sikhism as a monotheistic religion founded in the 15th century, common identifiers (e.g., turbans, beards, iron bracelets, kirpans as symbols of kindness and honor), and forms of anti-Sikh hate. It details historical events like the 1907 Bellingham Riots, post-9/11 surges, the 2012 Oak Creek Gurdwara shooting (killing six and injuring others), and recent FBI data showing Sikhs as the third-most targeted religious group despite being less than 1% of the population. It notes underreporting of hate crimes, foreign-influenced transnational repression (e.g., threats from abroad), and various discrimination types including violence, harassment, stereotyping, civil rights violations, and intimidation.

• Establishment of Task Force: The Attorney General must create the Task Force on Anti-Sikh Hate and Discrimination within 180 days of enactment.

• Duties of the Task Force:
• Develop a clear definition of "anti-Sikh hate and discrimination" for DOJ use in deciding prosecutions and collecting data on hate crimes (under 18 U.S.C. § 249, which covers willful bodily injury based on religion or other traits).
• Create an educational program on Sikh identity and recognizing anti-Sikh bias, to be shared with local and federal law enforcement, elementary/secondary schools (public K-12 institutions), and colleges/universities.

• Reporting Requirements:
• Submit an annual report to the House and Senate Judiciary Committees covering: hate crimes against Sikhs, legal actions against perpetrators, emerging threats (including transnational repression), and DOJ efforts to fight anti-Sikh bias.
• Every five years, provide a summary report of the annual ones.

• Additional Mandates:
• Translate all public Task Force materials into Punjabi (a language spoken by many Sikhs).
• Hold quarterly meetings with Sikh community members and organizations for collaboration.

• Rule of Construction: Requires the DOJ to officially adopt and use the Task Force's definition of anti-Sikh hate for all relevant purposes.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This bill introduces a new, Sikh-specific task force within the DOJ, which does not currently exist. It mandates a standardized definition for anti-Sikh hate to guide prosecutions and data collection under existing hate crime statutes (e.g., 18 U.S.C. § 249), potentially filling gaps in how such crimes are identified and reported. It also requires new educational outreach and reporting to Congress, expanding beyond general hate crime frameworks to address underreporting and transnational elements not explicitly covered in prior laws.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: The DOJ will need to allocate resources for the task force, including staff, education programs, translations, and reporting, which could strain budgets but improve coordination on hate crimes. Law enforcement and schools may see increased training, leading to better incident response.

• On Citizens: Enhances protections for the Sikh community (about 500,000 in the U.S.) by raising awareness, improving hate crime tracking, and deterring bias through education and prosecutions. It could reduce underreporting and empower victims via clearer definitions and community collaboration.

• On International Relations: Addresses foreign government involvement in transnational repression (e.g., threats or assassinations against U.S.-based Sikhs), potentially strengthening U.S. diplomatic efforts against such interference and signaling commitment to protecting religious minorities from abroad.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Sikh Community and Organizations: Primary beneficiaries, gaining dedicated advocacy, education, and protection against violence, harassment, and discrimination.
• Department of Justice and Law Enforcement: Responsible for implementation, including task force operations, prosecutions, and training dissemination.
• Educational Institutions: K-12 schools and higher education entities required to receive and potentially adopt anti-bias education programs.
• Congress (Judiciary Committees): Receives ongoing reports to oversee progress and inform future policy.
• General Public: Indirectly affected through broader awareness of Sikh identity and hate crime prevention.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Strengthens enforcement of federal hate crime laws by providing a targeted definition and data tools, potentially increasing successful prosecutions without creating new crimes. It builds on existing civil rights frameworks to address religious discrimination explicitly.

• Constitutional: Supports First Amendment protections for religious exercise (e.g., wearing kirpans or turbans) by combating policies that restrict them, while aligning with Equal Protection Clause efforts against bias-based violence.

• Political: Promotes equity for a small but disproportionately affected religious minority, potentially setting a precedent for similar task forces on other groups. It highlights bipartisan support (introduced by Representatives Gottheimer and Valadao) and responds to national strategies like the 2024 U.S. plan against Islamophobia, fostering inclusive anti-hate policies amid rising bias incidents.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]

Cosponsors (49)

Rep. Valadao, David G. [R-CA-22], Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-NY-3], Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17], Rep. Thompson, Mike [D-CA-4], Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-18], Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10], Rep. Costa, Jim [D-CA-21], Rep. Sherman, Brad [D-CA-32], Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12], Rep. Norcross, Donald [D-NJ-1], Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8], Rep. Swalwell, Eric [D-CA-14], Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Rep. Pallone, Frank [D-NJ-6], Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10], Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19], Rep. Meeks, Gregory W. [D-NY-5], Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12], Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-9], Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36], Rep. Kiley, Kevin [R-CA-3], Rep. Boyle, Brendan F. [D-PA-2], Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5], Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9], Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7], Rep. Liccardo, Sam T. [D-CA-16], Rep. Steil, Bryan [R-WI-1], Rep. Stevens, Haley M. [D-MI-11], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5], Rep. Jackson, Jonathan L. [D-IL-1], Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28], Rep. Courtney, Joe [D-CT-2], Rep. Smith, Adam [D-WA-9], Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1], Rep. Garbarino, Andrew R. [R-NY-2], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9], Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2], Rep. Kean, Thomas H. [R-NJ-7], Rep. Pou, Nellie [D-NJ-9], Rep. Meuser, Daniel [R-PA-9], Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12], Rep. Mejia, Analilia [D-NJ-11], Rep. Subramanyam, Suhas [D-VA-10], Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4], Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2], Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6], Rep. Kiggans, Jennifer A. [R-VA-2]

Recent Actions

• 2026-01-15: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
• 2026-01-15: Introduced in House
• 2026-01-15: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Sikh American Anti-Discrimination Act of 2026 — issued 2026-01-15 — PDF (9 pages)