Palmetto State News

Senator Tim Scott and Congressman Mike Lawler have initiated legislation aimed at combating antisemitism on college campuses. The proposal, known as the Stop Antisemitism on College Campuses Act, seeks to withdraw federal funding from academic institutions that are seen as supporting antisemitism or facilitating antisemitic activities.

“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,” stated 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.”

Congressman Lawler, who is championing the bill in the U.S. House of Representatives, expressed his commitment to enforcing accountability in educational institutions. “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,” he said.

The move comes after the Department of Justice, along with other federal departments, canceled approximately $400 million in grants and contracts to Columbia University, citing its failure to address ongoing harassment of Jewish students.

The bill was introduced with support from several other lawmakers, including Senators Bernie Moreno, Marsha Blackburn, Katie Britt, Steve Daines, and James Lankford. In the House, it gained backing from Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick, Abraham Hamadeh, Stephanie Bice, Don Bacon, Andrew Garbarino, Tom Kean, Nick LaLota, Claudia Tenney, Tom Suozzi, Joe Wilson, and Burgess Owens.