US House passes bill to crack down on university boycotts of Israel
The measure passed 237-169 and would cut federal funding for colleges that join commercial boycotts of Israel, drawing First Amendment objections from critics.
- On Thursday, the House passed the Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act in a 237-169 vote, with 33 Democrats breaking from Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and James Clyburn to support the measure.
- Sponsored by North Carolina Republican Virginia Foxx, the legislation amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to withhold federal funding from universities engaging in what it defines as a 'nonexpressive commercial boycott' of Israel.
- Florida Rep. Jared Moskowitz, the ranking member of the subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa, supported the bill, a move that angered progressives who criticize the measure for targeting the BDS movement.
- Rep. Jerry Nadler called the bill a 'gross violation of the First Amendment,' while Rep. Bobby Scott noted no American university has enacted such policies, both citing the measure as a 'solution in search of a problem.'
- The bill now moves to the Senate, where Foundation for Middle East Peace President Lara Friedman suggests it could facilitate legal action against schools by penalizing constitutionally protected political expression.
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US Congress passes bill punishing universities that boycott Israel
US Congress passes bill punishing universities that boycott Israel Submitted by MEE staff on Fri, 09/04/2026 - 18:28 The legislation threatens to cut federal aid to universities that engage in any form of boycotts against Israel A pro-Palestinian rally in New York City on 4 October 2025 (Stephanie Keith/Getty Images via AFP) Off The US House of Representatives on Thursday passed a Republican-led bill that aims to penalise universities that eng…
33 House Democrats Join Republicans to Pass Bill Cutting Funds From Colleges That Boycott Israel - The Thinking Conservative News
Thirty-three House Democrats joined all but two Republicans to pass a bill that would strip federal student aid from colleges and universities that commercially boycott Israel.
️ AIPAC’s payoffs pay off: it’s soon going to be illegal for American universities to boycott Israel
The farcically-named “Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act” has passed a House vote with a comfortable 236-168 majority.33 Democrats voted in favor of the bill, which threatens to strip federal assistance to any American college or university...
33 House Democrats Join Republicans to Pass Bill Cutting Funds From Colleges That Boycott Israel
Thirty-three House Democrats joined all but two Republicans on Sept. 3 to pass a bill that would strip federal student aid from colleges and universities that commercially boycott Israel. The Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act (HR 4795) passed 237–169. The bill was written by Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.), chairwoman of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, and Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.). It will now head to the Senate. The …
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