Stop Antisemitism on College Campuses Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 2446
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Education
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-03-27: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- Last Updated
- 2026-03-16T18:24:16Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The "Stop Antisemitism on College Campuses Act" (H.R. 2446) aims to prevent antisemitism (hostility or prejudice against Jewish people) on U.S. college campuses by linking federal student aid programs to institutions' policies on such activities. It seeks to ensure that colleges do not support events that promote antisemitism, thereby protecting students and promoting safer educational environments.
Key Provisions
- Prohibition on Support for Antisemitic Events: Institutions of higher education must agree not to authorize, facilitate, provide funding for, or otherwise support any on-campus event that promotes antisemitism.
- Definition of Antisemitism: The bill adopts the working definition of antisemitism from the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), established on May 26, 2016. This includes examples like denying the Jewish people's right to self-determination or using antisemitic stereotypes, while clarifying that criticism of Israel similar to that of other countries is not inherently antisemitic.
- Enforcement through Federal Aid: This requirement is added as a new eligibility condition under Section 487(a)(30) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, affecting participation in Title IV programs, which include federal student loans and grants.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- The bill amends Section 487(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 by inserting a new paragraph (30), introducing a specific anti-antisemitism clause as a mandatory assurance for institutions to receive federal funding.
- Previously, institutions were required to comply with general civil rights laws (e.g., prohibiting discrimination), but this adds a targeted prohibition on supporting antisemitic events, with a standardized international definition.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The U.S. Department of Education would need to monitor and enforce compliance, potentially increasing administrative workload for reviewing institutional policies and handling violations, which could lead to funding denials.
- On Citizens (Students and Faculty): Students at non-compliant institutions may lose access to federal financial aid, affecting affordability of higher education. It could reduce antisemitic incidents on campuses but might limit certain forms of speech or protest.
- On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though adopting the IHRA definition aligns U.S. policy with international standards on combating antisemitism, potentially strengthening ties with allies focused on Holocaust remembrance and human rights.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Higher Education Institutions: Public and private colleges/universities must revise policies and event approvals to avoid losing Title IV funding, which supports a significant portion of student aid.
- Students: Particularly Jewish students who may benefit from reduced antisemitism, but all students could face indirect effects if their schools lose federal aid eligibility.
- Federal Government: Congress and the Department of Education, responsible for oversight and implementation.
- Advocacy Groups: Organizations combating antisemitism (e.g., those aligned with IHRA) may support it, while free speech advocates could oppose restrictions on campus activities.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal/Constitutional: Raises potential First Amendment concerns, as prohibiting support for certain events could be seen as restricting free speech or assembly on public campuses (government-funded spaces). Courts might review whether the IHRA definition is overly broad or chills legitimate political expression, such as criticism of foreign policies. It builds on existing anti-discrimination laws without creating new enforcement mechanisms.
- Political: Introduced amid rising concerns over campus protests related to global events (e.g., Israel-Palestine conflicts), it reflects bipartisan support (from both Republican and Democratic cosponsors) to address antisemitism. If passed, it could set a precedent for conditioning federal education funding on specific social issue compliance, influencing future legislation on topics like hate speech or diversity.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]
Cosponsors (19)
Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Rep. Hamadeh, Abraham [R-AZ-8], Rep. Bice, Stephanie I. [R-OK-5], Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2], Rep. Garbarino, Andrew R. [R-NY-2], Rep. Kean, Thomas H. [R-NJ-7], Rep. LaLota, Nick [R-NY-1], Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24], Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-NY-3], Rep. Wilson, Joe [R-SC-2], Rep. Owens, Burgess [R-UT-4], Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5], Rep. Weber, Randy K. Sr. [R-TX-14], Rep. Goldman, Craig [R-TX-12], Rep. Rutherford, John H. [R-FL-5], Rep. Gonzales, Tony [R-TX-23], Rep. Estes, Ron [R-KS-4], Rep. Kiggans, Jennifer A. [R-VA-2], Rep. Malliotakis, Nicole [R-NY-11]
Recent Actions
- 2025-03-27: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- 2025-03-27: Introduced in House
- 2025-03-27: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Stop Antisemitism on College Campuses Act — issued 2025-03-27 — PDF (2 pages)