Opposing Rep. Lawler's Amendment No. 114

Floor Speech

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Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise to address my vote against Rep. Lawler's Amendment No. 114 to the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education Appropriations bill.

This amendment would prohibit funding to any institution of higher education that authorizes, facilitates, funds, or otherwise supports events that are deemed to promote antisemitism. To be clear: I condemn antisemitism in all its forms and stand with the Jewish community as they mourn the losses sustained in the October 7 terrorist attack by Hamas and the subsequent increase in antisemitic incidents in the U.S. and around the world.

I concur with J Street that the amendment is ``designed to pave the way for ill-considered crackdowns on free speech under the guise of combating antisemitism.'' This amendment violates students' First Amendment rights to share and debate ideas and express peaceful dissent. It is too broad and could lead to colleges and universities banning student groups that aim to provide safe refuge, community, and space to discuss issues that are important to them based on the opinion or statement of one student. This amendment would foster a chilling effect for universities, who risk losing all federal funding for an apparent violation.

This amendment also completely fails to address the concurrent rise in anti-Muslim and anti-Arab hate. It is a glaring omission not to include other protected classes and misses an opportunity to condemn hate in all its forms on our college campuses and in our communities. Every student deserves a safe environment in which to learn and live, and I wish Rep. Lawler's Amendment had been inclusive of all protected classes.

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