Politics
House passes legislation barring federal funding for colleges boycotting Israel
A coalition of Republicans and 33 House Democrats approved a measure withholding federal aid from institutions participating in commercial boycotts of Israel.
The short version
- The U.S. House approved a bill to deny federal funding to colleges and universities engaging in commercial boycotts of Israel.
- The legislation requires institutions receiving federal money to confirm students are not unreasonably blocked from studying abroad in Israel.
- While most Democrats opposed the bill on First Amendment grounds, 33 joined Republicans in voting for it.
- The legislation's prospects and timeline for consideration in the Senate remain unspecified.
Key facts
- The House of Representatives passed legislation prohibiting federal funds from going to higher education institutions participating in non-expressive commercial boycotts of Israel.[Fox News]
- The bill mandates that federally funded universities confirm students are not unreasonably obstructed from study abroad programs in Israel.[Fox News]
- Thirty-three Democrats broke with senior party leadership to vote in favor of the measure alongside Republicans.[Fox News]
- Supporters, including Democratic Representative Josh Gottheimer and Republican Representative Virginia Foxx, argued the measure is essential to protect Jewish students from discrimination, hostile environments, and physical threats.[Fox News]
- Opponents, such as Democratic Representatives Jerry Nadler and Rashida Tlaib, criticized the bill as an unconstitutional restriction on free speech and academic freedom.[Fox News]
What remains uncertain
- The reporting does not indicate the exact final vote tally or whether the Senate plans to take up the bill.[Fox News]