Rep. Mike Lawler Introduces Bill to Cut Federal Funding to Colleges Promoting Antisemitism
New York Republican Congressman Mike Lawler introduced legislation to combat antisemitism on college campuses following the widely condemned speech delivered at CUNY law school’s graduation event where a graduate speaker was accused of espousing radical anti-American, anti-Israel, and antisemitic rhetoric.
Bill. H.R.3773, which was first introduced last week, aims to rescind federal funding for colleges and universities promoting antisemitism on their campuses by amending the Higher Education Act of 1965 “to prohibit institutions of higher education that authorize Anti-Semitic events on campus from participating in the student loan and grant programs under title IV of such Act.”
“Many in the Jewish community in New York and across the country were outraged when a student spewed outrageous anti-semitic rhetoric at CUNY Law School’s graduation in May,” Lawler said.
“No college or university should receive a single dollar of federal education funding if they peddle in the promotion of anti-semitism at an event on their campus,” he added.
According to Lawler, who has accused public educational institutions of having become “breeding grounds” for anti-American sentiment, anti-Israel bias, and antisemitism; the Stop Anti-Semitism on College Campuses Act would do just that, as he called stopping antisemitism dead in its tracks “critical for supporting our Jewish communities in New York.”
He also asserted that CUNY “should be ashamed of itself for allowing insidious anti-semitism to permeate on its campuses.”
“My bill will ensure they face stiff penalties if they continue to let hate have a home,” he concluded.
In an exclusive statement to Breitbart News, Bryan E. Leib, the executive director of CASEPAC — a political action committee focused on combating antisemitism in American politics — expressed gratitude for the move.
“CASEPAC thanks Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) for using his platform in Congress to push back on the rise of antisemitism on college campuses by introducing H.R. 3773,” he stated, while calling on all fellow House members to support the bill “because combating antisemitism on college campuses should not be a partisan issue, it’s an American issue.”
Follow Joshua Klein on Twitter @JoshuaKlein.
