Key facts
- The US House of Representatives passed the Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act.
- The bill aims to penalize universities that boycott Israel or restrict student participation in Israeli exchange programs.
- Universities receiving federal funding for international study and foreign language programs must verify they do not discriminate.
- The legislation passed with a vote of 237 in favor and 169 against.
- Thirty-three Democrats and two Republicans voted against the bill.
The US House of Representatives has passed a Republican-led bill, the Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act, by a vote of 237 to 169. The legislation aims to penalize universities that engage in boycotts against Israel or prevent students from participating in exchange programs in Israel. The bill specifically targets institutions that receive federal funding for international study and foreign language programs, requiring them to annually verify that they do not restrict students' participation in programs in Israel or students from Israel participating in programs on their campuses.
Proponents, including Republican leaders like Tim Walberg and Virginia Foxx, argued that the bill is necessary to combat antisemitism and discrimination on university campuses, particularly in response to the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement. Foxx described anti-war protests as antisemitic and called for the eradication of such sentiments.
However, the bill faced opposition from some Democrats, including Bobby Scott and Jerrold Nadler. Scott criticized the bill as unnecessary, stating that no university has fully embraced the BDS movement, and argued that it could interfere with First Amendment protections for protest and free speech. Nadler, while opposing the BDS movement, voted against the bill to protect the right to free expression, emphasizing that speech he disagrees with should also be protected.
Thirty-three Democrats and two Republicans voted in favor of the bill, while the remaining Democrats and Republicans opposed it. The legislation's passage is seen by some as an attempt by House Republican leaders to exploit divisions within the Democratic Party ahead of the midterm elections. The bill's future now depends on a decision from the Senate.