Press Releases
Rep. Williams and Chairwoman Foxx Introduce Bill to Protect Free Speech at Colleges and Universities
Washington,
March 18, 2024
"The First Amendment is non-negotiable. Every student, faculty member, and invited guest has the right to speak freely in a civil campus environment without fear of reprisal,” said Rep. Williams and Chairwoman Foxx.
WASHINGTON — Congressman Brandon Williams (NY-22) and Education and Workforce Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (NC-5) announced the introduction of H.R. 7683, the Respecting the First Amendment on Campus Act. This legislation safeguards students by making free speech protections on campus a condition which must be met by colleges and universities seeking to receive Title IV funds under the Higher Education Act (HEA). Additionally, it requires institutions to publicly disclose all First Amendment policies it holds on an annual basis. “The state of postsecondary education is in complete disarray. We’ve seen countless examples of institutions leveraging taxpayers’ dollars to fan the flames of illiberalism, intolerance, and radical ideology amongst students and faculty. Americans’ confidence in postsecondary education is at an all-time low, and rightly so. While there are several factors contributing to this national sentiment, one of the most important is institutions’ inconsistency in protecting the First Amendment rights of students and faculty,” said Williams and Foxx. “The Respecting the First Amendment on Campus Act addresses this problem by holding institutions accountable, enacting additional enforcement mechanisms, and requiring that campus policies are concrete and transparent. The First Amendment is non-negotiable. Every student, faculty member, and invited guest has the right to speak freely in a civil campus environment without fear of reprisal.” The full bill text is available here. ### |
