Should Congress regulate higher education institutions’ relationships with Israel?
This bill would prohibit higher education institutions that receive federal student aid programs from participating in boycotts against Israel. This bill would also prohibit higher education institutions from limiting any commercial or business relations with Israel or Israeli entities unless there is a valid business reason. Additionally, any higher education institutions receiving federal funding for foreign language and/or international education programs must certify that students and faculty may participate in programs located in Israel. Israeli students and faculty must also be allowed to participate in programs in the United States under the same terms and conditions as other foreign countries.
Sponsor: Rep. Virginia Foxx (Republican, North Carolina District 5)
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Opponents say
• "While we oppose the Global BDS Movement and strongly support academic engagement between American and Israeli institutions, we believe this legislation takes the wrong approach to these issues. Specifically, the legislation would penalize any institution that chooses to engage in a nonexpressive commercial boycott against Israel and “an entity licensed or regulated by, or organized under the laws of,” Israel, which would include Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
This means infringing on constitutionally protected free speech and academic freedom by penalizing institutions (and thereby unrelated research) for participation in certain boycott or divestment efforts targeted at Israel or Israeli settlements. There is a fundamental distinction between the State of Israel and the territory that it occupies over the Green Line, and penalizing universities for expressing their opposition to activities that further annexation sets a dangerous precedent. Source: J Street via Statement of Opposition
• "H.R.4795, Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act of 2025, would strip schools of access to Title IV of the Higher Education Act (HEA), the largest source of federal funding for American colleges and universities, if they do not certify that they are not engaged in a boycott of Israel. While the sponsor of the bill claims this is needed to stop the Boycott, Divest, and Sanctions (BDS) Movement, there has not been a single case of a college administration adopting the policies described in the bill." Source: Rep. Robert Scott (Democrat, Virginia District 3) via Press Release
Proponents say
• "The antisemitic rot that has corroded college campuses must be eradicated – enough is enough. The safety and security of Jewish students, faculty, and staff should never be threatened under any circumstances. If an institution of higher education chooses to capitulate to the caustic BDS movement, there will be consequences – starting with this bipartisan legislation." Source: Rep. Virginia Foxx (Republican, North Carolina District 5) via Press Release
• "The goal of the BDS movement is the destruction of the democratic State of Israel, America’s critical ally in the global fight against terror. BDS has no place on college campuses or anywhere in our country. At a time when our Jewish students are facing death threats, being physically assaulted, and blocked from going to class simply for who they are, we must do everything possible to ensure they can learn safely, speak freely, and get the education they deserve. That’s why I’m proud to help introduce the bipartisan Protect Economic Freedom Act to give the Department of Education a critical new tool to combat the dangerous, hate-fueled, antisemitic BDS movement on college campuses. We cannot allow antisemitism to run rampant and endanger Jewish students, staff, and faculty. Now more than ever, we must stand up and protect our Jewish community." Source: Rep. Josh Gottheimer (Democrat, New Jersey District 5) via Press Release
