Legislation· Sep 2026Sponsored by Virginia Foxx (R)
Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act of 2026
Bars colleges receiving federal aid from boycotting Israel or restricting academic exchanges there.
Tradeoff
Colleges must allow students and faculty to study in Israel on equal terms with other countries or lose federal funding. Enforces equal academic access to Israeli institutions for foreign students and scholars.
What's in it
Costs less than $500,000 to implement over 2026-2031; no direct spending or revenue impact.
The $500,000 figure is just the federal cost to enforce the requirements — the policy's real impact falls on colleges and universities, which must certify compliance with restrictions on boycotts of Israel and ensure equal access to academic programs involving Israel or Israeli institutions to maintain eligibility for student aid and international education funding.
The House passed this 237-169 on September 3, 2026 — now in the Senate.
House
Introduced
(Jul 29, 2025)
House
Committee on Education and Workforce(Jul 29, 2025)
House
The Committee on Education and Workforce voted to send it to the floor
Reported 24 - 9(Jun 25, 2026)
Committee report H. Rept. 119-780.
House
Passage of the bill
Passed(Roll #295 · Sep 3, 2026)
237 yeanay 169Senate
Received from the House
on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions(Sep 14, 2026)
- Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ)
Passage votes so far· Sep 3, 2026· 119th Congress · 2025–2027