YourVoice.Now Summary
Civil LibertiesYour MoneyColleges taking federal student aid would promise not to boycott Israel, and title VI schools would owe a yearly study-abroad promise.
Civil Liberties
A new section 639 reaches colleges in title VI, the international studies part of the same law. Each year by July 31 they would have to tell the Education Department they let their students and teachers join conferences, teaching and cultural exchanges, study abroad, and joint research in that country on the same terms as anywhere else. Students and teachers from there would get equal access to the college’s own programs. Miss the date and the college loses every title VI dollar for the next budget year, including money left from a grant won in an earlier year.
Section 2 adds a new line to the agreement a college signs for federal student aid. The school would agree not to take commercial action — refusing to deal, or ending business ties — meant to limit business with a major strategic partner of the United States. The bill defines that term by pointing to a 2014 law, and the country that law names is Israel. Choices made for a real business reason are still fine, and the exceptions written under the Anti-Boycott Act of 2018 carry over. Speaking, protesting, or taking a public position is not covered.
Your Money
The no-boycott line would sit in section 487(a) of the Higher Education Act, the agreement a school signs to hand out Pell grants and federal student loans. Breaking a term of that agreement exposes a school to Education Department action — fines, limits on its aid, suspension, or being cut off. Nothing in the bill cuts a school off by itself; the department would decide case by case. The version introduced last year worked differently: a standalone section made a school ineligible outright, and that section is gone from this print.
More about this bill
Colleges that take federal student aid would sign one more promise. A school would agree not to run a commercial boycott of a close ally. The text uses the phrase major strategic partner and points to a 2014 law. The country that law names is Israel. Only business acts count, like refusing to deal or ending business ties. Speech, protest, and public stands are left out. So are choices made for a real business reason. The promise would live inside the agreement a college signs to hand out federal grants and loans. Pell grants and student loans run through that agreement. Breaking one of its terms can bring fines, limits, or the loss of federal aid. The Education Department would run that process and decide case by case. Nothing in the bill cuts a school off on its own. A second promise is separate and covers study abroad. It reaches only colleges that get money under title VI, the international studies part of the same law. Those colleges would have to let their students and teachers join school programs in that country. The terms must match what the school allows for other countries. Students and teachers from there would get the same access to the college’s own programs. That promise is due each year by July 31. Missing the July 31 date carries a hard price. The college would lose all of its title VI money for the next budget year. Money left from a grant won in an earlier year could be cut off too. Congress would also state its view that limits on college work with that ally do not serve the country. That line binds no one.
Congressional Summary
Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act of 2026This bill prohibits institutions of higher education (IHEs) that participate in federal student aid programs from engaging in boycotts against Israel. Specifically, IHEs may not engage in a commercial action intended to limit commercial relations with Israel, or with an entity licensed by, regulated by, or organized under the laws of Israel, that is not based on a valid business reason. Further, IHEs receiving, or applying to receive, Title VI funds (federal funding for foreign language and international education programs) must annually certify that (1) students and faculty are allowed to participate in academic programs located in Israel in the same manner and under the same terms and conditions as programs in other foreign countries, and (2) students and faculty at postsecondary institutions located in Israel may participate in such IHE’s academic programs in the same manner and under the same terms and conditions as students and faculty from other foreign countries.
Legislative Subjects
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- House
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 24 - 9.
- Action Date
- 2026-06-25
- Date Added
- 2026-08-27
- Source
- Congress.gov →
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