33 House Dems break with Jeffries as party fractures over Israel
The 237-169 vote split Democrats over whether federal aid should be tied to campus boycott policies, with 33 Democrats joining Republicans in support.
- On Thursday, the House passed the Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act in a 237-169 vote, with 33 Democrats breaking from Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and James Clyburn to support the measure.
- Sponsored by North Carolina Republican Virginia Foxx, the legislation amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to withhold federal funding from universities engaging in what it defines as a 'nonexpressive commercial boycott' of Israel.
- Florida Rep. Jared Moskowitz, the ranking member of the subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa, supported the bill, a move that angered progressives who criticize the measure for targeting the BDS movement.
- Rep. Jerry Nadler called the bill a 'gross violation of the First Amendment,' while Rep. Bobby Scott noted no American university has enacted such policies, both citing the measure as a 'solution in search of a problem.'
- The bill now moves to the Senate, where Foundation for Middle East Peace President Lara Friedman suggests it could facilitate legal action against schools by penalizing constitutionally protected political expression.
36 Articles
36 Articles
Cleveland Jewish News
Jewish News SyndicateHouse passes bill banning federal funds to universities that boycott Israel
“American higher education institutions should not participate in discriminatory boycotts targeting Israel or any other American ally,” said Kenneth Marcus, CEO and chairman of the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law.
US House passes bill to crack down on university boycotts of Israel
The U.S. Chamber of Deputies passed legislation this Thursday to block federal aid to universities boycotting Israel, the most recent pro-Israel measure supported by Republicans in the midst of the growing criticism by Democrats of the Israeli government over the war in Gaza. Read also: Minister of Defense of Israel threatens wide retaliation if Iran attacks the country Iran warns US and threatens to retaliate if Israel attacks Hezbollah-control…
House Votes To Punish Colleges That Boycott Israel
The Guardian reports: The US House of Representatives on Thursday passed a Republican-backed bill that would penalize universities that participate in boycotts of Israel, or attempt to prevent students from taking part in exchange programs with the country. The Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act passed by a 237-169 vote, with 33 Democrats breaking with the rest of their party to vote in favor, and only two Republicans opposed. It now goes…
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