The United States (US) House of Representatives on Thursday passed legislation that will block federal aid for universities that participate in boycotts of Israel.
The Republican-backed Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act passed by 237 votes to 169. Thirty-three Democrats voted in favour of the bill, while two Republicans voted against it. The legislation now goes to the Senate, where it must pass before it can become law.
Under the bill, colleges and universities that participate in federal student aid programmes would not be allowed to take part in boycotts of Israel. Institutions that receive federal funding for international study and foreign language programmes would also have to certify each year that they do not restrict students from taking part in programmes in Israel or prevent Israeli students from participating in programmes on their campuses.
The legislation comes after protests and calls for boycotts at US universities during Israel’s genocide in Gaza.
Student and faculty groups at some US universities increased calls for institutions to join the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel following the genocide and Israel’s illegal invasion of Gaza.
The issue has also brought universities into conflict with the administration of Republican US President Donald Trump, which has targeted colleges and universities through investigations and threats to suspend federal funding.
The Trump administration and many Republicans in Congress have accused protesters of antisemitism and supporting extremism.
Protesters have rejected the claims, arguing that support for Palestinian rights and opposition to the destruction in Gaza should not be treated as antisemitism or support for extremism.
Republicans backing the legislation said that it would not restrict academic debate or speech, but would prevent discrimination against Israel and Judaism.
New Jersey Democratic Representative Josh Gottheimer, who co-sponsored the bill with Republican Representative Virginia Foxx, described it as “narrow and tailored” and said it was needed to combat antisemitism.
New York Democratic Representative Jerrold Nadler stated that before the vote that he opposed the BDS movement but would vote against the bill because he supported Americans’ right to free expression.
“It is the only way to ensure speech I do agree with is equally protected,” Nadler said.
Bobby Scott, the top Democrat on the House education committee, also opposed the legislation, saying it was unnecessary and could conflict with First Amendment protections for protest.
“No college or university has embraced the BDS movement anyway,” Scott said. “So, we should combat antisemitism wherever it occurs, but we should not do so by punishing protected speech or conflating a student’s view with university policies.”
The vote comes as support for Israel continues to divide US House Democrats. In July, more than 100 House Democrats supported legislation seeking to cut off some military aid to Israel over accusations of carrying out a genocide in Gaza.
