To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to prohibit an institution that participates in a nonexpressive commercial boycott of Israel from being eligible for certain funds under that Act.
Analysis under review: This bill has generated analysis that may be too generic or incomplete. Clause-level evidence remains available below.
Summary
What This Bill Does
The Protect Economic Freedom Act amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require colleges and universities that receive federal Title IV funding (including student financial aid) to annually certify that they are not participating in any nonexpressive commercial boycott of Israel. Institutions that do not submit this certification are publicly listed by the Department of Education and notified of their noncompliance.
Who Benefits and How
Israel and entities doing business in Israel or Israeli-controlled territories benefit from reduced economic pressure from U.S. higher education institutions. Proponents of the U.S.-Israel economic relationship benefit from an enforcement mechanism discouraging academic institutional boycotts. Students at compliant institutions are unaffected in their access to federal aid.
Who Bears the Burden and How
Colleges and universities bear the administrative burden of annual certification and face the risk of losing Title IV funding eligibility if they participate in boycotts of Israel. Institutions that engage in or wish to engage in commercial boycotts of Israel face a direct conflict between their boycott positions and their access to federal funding. Students at noncompliant institutions could lose access to federal financial aid.
Key Provisions
- Requires annual certification by July 31 that the institution will not engage in a nonexpressive commercial boycott of Israel
- Defines 'nonexpressive commercial boycott' as commercial actions intended to limit commercial relations with Israel, with exceptions from the Anti-Boycott Act of 2018
- Noncompliant institutions are publicly listed on the Department of Education website
- Adds boycott compliance to the Title IV program participation agreement requirements
Evidence Chain:
This summary is generated from the full bill text using AI analysis. Expand "Detailed Analysis" below for identified beneficiaries/burden bearers with clause-level evidence links.
At a Glance
What This Bill Does
Prohibits institutions of higher education that participate in nonexpressive commercial boycotts of Israel from receiving federal Title IV funding, requiring annual certification of non-participation.
Key Policy Areas
Higher Education, Foreign Policy, Anti-Boycott Regulation
Primary Purpose
Prohibits institutions of higher education that participate in nonexpressive commercial boycotts of Israel from receiving federal Title IV funding, requiring annual certification of non-participation.
Policy Domains
Whole Bill
Identified Gains
- Israel and Israeli businesses
- Proponents of U.S.-Israel economic relations
Identified Costs
- Higher education institutions
- Students at noncompliant institutions
- Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement supporters
Sponsors
Legislative Progress
IntroducedMs. Foxx (for herself and Mr. Gottheimer) introduced the following …
Stakeholder Effects
cui bono?How this legislation distributes effects. Mention counts reflect frequency, not effect magnitude.
All institutions of higher education receiving Title IV funds, Universities participating in BDS movement against Israel
Bill Structure & Actor Mappings
Who is "The Secretary" in each section?
Key Definitions
Terms defined in this bill
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