House Passes Bill That Could Cut Federal Funding From Universities That Boycott Israel
The U.S. House of Representatives has passed legislation that could make colleges and universities ineligible for certain federal funding if they participate in commercial boycotts of Israel.
The Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act, also known as H.R. 4795, passed Thursday by a vote of 237-169. The measure received support from 203 Republicans, 33 Democrats and one independent, while two Republicans and 167 Democrats voted against it. Twenty-seven members did not vote. The legislation now moves to the Senate.
The bill would amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to prohibit institutions that participate in certain nonexpressive commercial boycotts of Israel from receiving specified federal funds. It would also require schools receiving federal support for certain international education programs to certify that students are not unreasonably prevented from participating in academic programs in Israel.
Republican lawmakers backing the legislation say it is designed to address discrimination and antisemitism associated with boycott campaigns targeting Israel. North Carolina Republican Virginia Foxx and New Jersey Democrat Josh Gottheimer were among the lawmakers who introduced the measure.
Supporters also argue that students and faculty should have equal access to academic exchanges and partnerships regardless of their national or religious background.
Opponents, however, have raised concerns about the potential impact on First Amendment rights and political expression on college campuses. Democratic lawmakers argued that federal funding should not be conditioned on restrictions involving protected political activity and noted that universities generally have not adopted the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement as institutional policy.
The legislation comes as disagreements over U.S. policy toward Israel have become increasingly visible in Congress and within the Democratic Party. More than 100 House Democrats supported legislation earlier this year seeking to restrict certain military assistance to Israel, while Thursday’s vote saw 33 Democrats support the university funding measure.
The bill now faces the Senate, where lawmakers will determine whether to advance it. If it eventually passes both chambers and is signed into law, universities receiving affected federal funds could face new requirements related to boycotts of Israel and participation in international academic programs.
