Why It Matters

The House Education and Workforce Committee is advancing four bills that reshape how colleges operate, from handling civil rights complaints to managing student organizations. The markup hearing scheduled for June 25 reflects a broader Republican push to regulate higher education on issues ranging from antisemitism and Israel to religious freedom and single-sex student groups. The bills draw support from some Democrats, but the agenda signals a committee focused on institutional accountability and student protections as defined by the majority.

The Bills Under Review

Four separate measures are on the agenda. The No Antisemitism in Education Act requires schools receiving federal aid to treat antisemitic discrimination with the same rigor as other Title VI violations and mandates use of a 2019 executive order's definition of antisemitism when investigating complaints. The Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act conditions federal financial aid on colleges certifying they won't participate in commercial boycotts of Israel and won't obstruct student and faculty academic engagement there. The Student Protection and University Accountability Act establishes clearer civil rights complaint procedures, requiring institutions to designate a civil rights coordinator and notify complainants within 30 days at key stages. Finally, the Equal Campus Access Act requires public colleges to treat religious student organizations the same as secular groups, protecting their access to facilities and allowing them to maintain membership standards based on religious beliefs.

Committee Composition and Sponsors

Rep. Tim Walberg chairs the committee, with Rep. Bobby Scott as Ranking Member. The bills span multiple sponsors: Rep. Randy Fine introduced the antisemitism measure with nine Republican cosponsors including Vice Chair Mary Miller; Rep. Virginia Foxx sponsored the Israel bill with one Democratic cosponsor; Rep. Elise M. Stefanik introduced the university accountability bill with one Democratic cosponsor; and Walberg himself sponsored the religious freedom measure with ten Republican cosponsors.

Hearing Details

The markup is scheduled for June 25, 2026 at 2:15 PM in 2175 Rayburn House Office Building.

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