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 help of 33 Democrats, but two Republican lawmakers voted against it.
Florida's entire Republican congressional delegation, minus several Republican lawmakers who did not vote—Reps. Neal Dunn, Cory Mills, and Byron Donalds— voted in favor of the measure.
The sole Democrats who opposed the bill were Reps. Frederica Wilson and Maxwell Frost.
As expected, Jewish-American lawmakers Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Randy Fine Jared Moskowitz, and Lois Frankel, all voted punish schools that boycott Israel.
Here is how the bill's summary reads:
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.Â
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.Â
