Multiple American politicians have joined the bid to support a Congressional bill seeking to formally combat discrimination against Sikh Americans in the United States. Among the newest additions to the rally, US Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren joined as a co-sponsor of the legislation now gaining bipartisan momentum in the US House of Representatives.

“I’m proud to represent a large Sikh community in San Jose, and I’ve just signed onto @RepJoshG’s Sikh American Anti-Discrimination Act,” Rep Zoe Lofgren, a member of the Democratic Party, announced on X ahead of the weekend. “No community should ever be afraid to worship in America, and this bill will elevate the DOJ’s focus on anti-Sikh hate.”

In an official news release published this week, Lofgren stated, “No religious community should ever feel afraid to worship in America. Sikh Americans have faced increased discrimination and hate crimes, and it’s necessary for the Department of Justice to elevate its attention to this issue. I’m proud to represent a large Sikh community in San Jose, and I will do everything in my power to ensure the federal government combats anti-Sikh discrimination.”

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What is the Sikh American Anti-Discrimination Act?

The US bill championing the safety of Sikhs earned unanimous praise from Sikh American communities in the United States over the week. It first made major headlines on January 20 (US time), when US Congressman Josh Gottheimer, a member of the Sikh American Congressional Caucus, formally introduced the bipartisan Sikh American Anti-Discrimination Act.

Alongside New Jersey’s Gottheimer, who is a Democrat, Republican Congressman David Valadao (California), who serves as the American Sikh Congressional Caucus, is co-leading the charge behind the legislation.

Also known as HR 7100, the Sikh American Anti-Discrimination Act was referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary on January 15, 2026, in a bid to “direct the Attorney General to establish a task force on anti-Sikh hate and discrimination,” as per the official Congress website.

By pushing for the creation of a Task Force within the US Department of Justice, the bill, in turn, urges for the creation of a formal definition of anti-Sikh hate. Moreover, it also requests officials to develop an education program on anti-Sikh discrimination for schools, law enforcement and higher education institutions.

If created, the DOJ Task Force would also be tasked with issuing an annual report to Congress on hate crimes and discrimination targeting Sikh Americans. On top of that, it would also require direct engagement with Sikh communities and advocacy organisations to inform prevention and enforcement efforts.

As per the bill text highlighted on Josh Gottheimer’s official website, the Congressman said that he and others had decided to take decisive action after taking heed of concerns raised by Sikh families and community leaders in North Jersey. “The bipartisan Sikh American Anti-Discrimination Act will turn those conversations into action — strengthening how our federal government defines, tracks, and prevents anti-Sikh hate crimes so that every American can practice their faith freely and safely,” he added.

Meanwhile, Congressman David Valadao stated, “For decades following the 1984 Sikh Genocide, Sikh Americans have faced heightened discrimination and hate crimes, and it’s past time for the Department of Justice to take meaningful action to address this violence and transnational repression. I’m honored to represent the Central Valley’s vibrant Sikh community in Congress, and I remain committed to raising awareness and advancing efforts to protect their rights and safety.”

Local Sikh American communities join in support

The anti-discrimination legislation has been supported by national and local Sikh organisations, including the Sikh Coalition, Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF), New Jersey Sikh Gurdwara Council, American Sikh Caucus Committee, and the New Jersey Sikh Youth Alliance.

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American Sikh Caucus Committee’s Pritpal Singh took to his official X account this past week to express his gratitude to Valadao and Gottheimer for their initiative.

“Establishing a DOJ task force to define, track, and prevent anti-Sikh discrimination is a practical and necessary step toward accountability and public safety. Deep appreciation to Bhupindar Singh and Boota Singh Kharoudh, Sikh American leaders on the East Coast, for their initiative and leadership,” he wrote on X. “Most of all, we are grateful to be Americans—free to practice our faith openly, raise our families in peace and prosperity, and live under equal justice and the rule of law.”

The Sikh Coalition had also tweeted online: “By creating a task force on hate crimes and other discrimination against our community, this bill takes an important step toward both prevention and accountability.”

Rising hate crimes against Sikh Americans

The official text on Gottheimer’s website established that the legislation sought to counter the continued rise in anti-Sikh hate and discrimination nationwide. The Congressman’s side further noted that Sikhs remain the third-most targeted religious group in the USA, with over 150 reported attacks in 2025 alone.

Gottheimer, who represents New Jersey’s 5th district, particularly pointed out that New Jersey is home to about 100,000 Sikh residents, making it one of the largest Sikhs populations in America.

Even the Sikh Coalition raised the issue in a blog post in August 2025. Citing the FBI’s annual hate crime statistics report for 2024, it said that even though a slight reduction was observed in anti-Sikh hate incidents, the religious group was the most-targeted community after Jewish and Muslim groups.