Sen. Scott, Rep. Lawler Move to Tackle Antisemitism on College Campuses and Universities

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) introduced the Stop Antisemitism on College Campuses Act, which would rescind federal funding from colleges and universities that encourage antisemitism or facilitate antisemitic events on campus. Congressman Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) led the companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.

“The intention of taxpayer dollars for universities is to educate students, not promote and foster hate. We’ve witnessed campuses across our nation turn into cesspools for anti-Jewish, anti-Israel activists,” said Senator Scott. “Let’s make one thing clear: federal funding is a privilege and not a right. Rooting out hate wherever it rears its ugly head will always be in fashion. I remain dedicated to defending the rights of Jewish students to attend class peacefully.”

“As Chair of the MENA Subcommittee and a strong supporter of Israel and the Jewish community, I’m committed to ensuring our universities take antisemitism seriously – holding offenders accountable and preventing incidents before they occur. That’s why I’m reintroducing the Stop Antisemitism on College Campuses Act, which will stop universities from allowing antisemitism events on campus in the first place. I am proud to work alongside Senator Scott on this legislation as well as the Antisemitism Awareness Act. Antisemitism has no place on our campuses or in civilized society,” said Congressman Lawler.

Recently, the Department of Justice the Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Department of Education (ED), and the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) announced the cancellation of about $400 million in federal grants and contracts to Columbia University due to the school’s continued inaction in the face of persistent harassment of Jewish students. 

Senator Scott was joined in introducing this legislation by Senators Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), and James Lankford (R-Okla.) and Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), Abraham Hamadeh (R-Ill.), Stephanie Bice (R-Okla.), Don Bacon (R-Neb.), Andrew Garbarino (R-N.Y.), Tom Kean (R-N.J.), Nick LaLota (R-N.Y.), Claudia Tenney (R-N.Y.), Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.), Joe Wilson (R-S.C.), and Burgess Owens (R-Utah).

Read the bill text in full here.  

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