WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. House on Thursday passed bipartisan legislation introduced by Reps. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., and Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., that would restrict federal student aid to colleges and universities that participate in certain commercial boycotts of Israel.
The Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act passed the House on Sept. 3 by a 237-169 vote and now heads to the Senate.
Under the legislation, colleges and universities would be required to certify that they are not participating in what the bill defines as a “non-expressive commercial boycott of Israel” in order to remain eligible to receive federal student aid.
The bill defines such a boycott as a commercial action, including refusing to conduct business with Israel or terminating business activities, intended to limit commercial relations with Israel or people or entities doing business in Israel or Israeli-controlled institutions, unless the action is based on a valid business reason.
“No student, no professor should be shut out of research, study abroad opportunities, or academic partnerships, or feel unwelcome in the classroom because of where they’re from or what religion they practice. Yet that’s exactly what the boycott-divest-sanction movement seeks to do — targeting one country and one religion: Israel and Judaism,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). “My bipartisan bill with Congresswoman Foxx is narrow and targeted — it doesn’t touch anyone’s speech, protest, or academic debate. It simply says that if your university takes federal taxpayer dollars, it can’t discriminate against academic partnerships or investments with one country. That’s it. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this bipartisan bill.”
The legislation would also direct the U.S. Department of Education to publish a list of institutions that do not provide the required certification.
Colleges and universities receiving funding through International Education Programs under Title VI would be required to refrain from academic boycotts and instead engage in academic exchange reciprocity.
“The antisemitic rot that has corroded college campuses must be eradicated – enough is enough. The safety and security of Jewish students, faculty, and staff should never be threatened under any circumstances. Today, the House sent a clear message: if an institution of higher education chooses to capitulate to the caustic BDS movement, there will be consequences – starting with this bipartisan legislation,” said Congresswoman Virginia Foxx (NC-5).
Gottheimer is a member of the House Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Antisemitism. He has also supported the Antisemitism Awareness Act, authored the HEAL Act addressing Holocaust education and advocated for federal Nonprofit Security Grant funding for synagogues and other Jewish institutions.
