US House Passes Bill to Punish Universities That Boycott Israel

The Republican-led U.S. House of Representatives passed the Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act, a legislative measure that penalized colleges and universities that take part in boycotts of the state of Israel by a vote count of 237-169.

The bill passed with the support of 33 Democrats; however, two Republican lawmakers voted against it.

Arizona’s entire Republican congressional delegation, with the exception of one Republican lawmaker who did not vote—Reps. Andy Biggs, Eli Crane, Paul Gosar, Abe Hamadeh and David Schweikert—voted in favor of the measure.

The three Arizona Democrats who opposed the bill were Reps. Yassamin Ansari, Adelita S. Grijalva and Greg Stanton. 

Neighboring state Nevada supported the bill with three out of four representatives voting in favor of it–including 2 Democrats, Susie Lee and Dina Titus. Republican representative Mark Amodei voted in favor of the bill as well. 

Utah’s entire congressional delegation–Mike Kennedy, Celeste Maloy, Blake Moore and Burgess Owens–voted in support of the bill as well.

The bill's summary reads as follows:

This bill prohibits institutions of higher education (IHEs) that participate in federal student aid programs from engaging in boycotts against Israel. Specifically, IHEs may not engage in a commercial action intended to limit commercial relations with Israel, or with an entity licensed by, regulated by, or organized under the laws of Israel, that is not based on a valid business reason. 

Further, IHEs receiving, or applying to receive, Title VI funds (federal funding for foreign language and international education programs) must annually certify that (1) students and faculty are allowed to participate in academic programs located in Israel in the same manner and under the same terms and conditions as programs in other foreign countries, and (2) students and faculty at postsecondary institutions located in Israel may participate in such IHE’s academic programs in the same manner and under the same terms and conditions as students and faculty from other foreign countries.