Universities and colleges that join the BDS movement against Israel could lose access to federal student aid, according to bipartisan legislation introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday.
H.R. 10257, the Protect Economic Freedom Act, would make institutions of higher education that participate in a nonexpressive commercial boycott of Israel ineligible for federal funding under Title IV of the Higher Education Act.
Rep. Josh Gottehimer (D-N.J.), the bill’s co-sponsor, said that the BDS movement seeks “to annihilate the democratic state of Israel, America’s critical ally in the global fight against terror.”
“While students and faculty are free to speak their minds and disagree on policy issues, we cannot allow antisemitism to run rampant and risk the safety and security of Jewish students, staff, faculty and guests on college campuses,” he said.
The legislation would require schools to actively certify that they have not and will not engage in divesting from or boycotting Israel. It would also direct the U.S. Department of Education to release a list of all institutions that fail to comply.
“Enough is enough,” said Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.), lead sponsor of the bill. “Appeasing the antisemitic mobs on college campuses threatens the safety of Jewish students and faculty, and it undermines the relationship between the U.S. and one of our strongest allies.”
“If an institution is going to capitulate to the BDS movement, there will be consequences—starting with the Protect Economic Freedom Act,” she added.
