WASHINGTON, DC –
Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11) on July 9, applauded the passage of her legislation, the University Accountability Act, out of the House Committee on Ways and Means, setting it up for consideration by the entire House. Specifically, Malliotakis’ legislation would fine tax-exempt schools that violate students’ civil rights under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and comes as institutions across the U.S. have allowed antisemitic students to wreak havoc on their campuses.
“Universities have a responsibility to protect their students from violence and discrimination and instead we’re seeing a disturbing increase in antisemitic attacks and rhetoric on college campuses,” Malliotakis said. “I’m pleased to see the Ways and Means Committee advance our commonsense legislation as it is a crucial step toward holding universities that violate civil rights accountable and fostering a safer academic environment for all students, regardless of their gender, race or religion.”
Under current federal law, a violation of Title VI, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin, can result in the loss of federal funds, but often times results in a mere corrective action that would bring the college or university back into compliance. The University Accountability Act would require tax-exempt colleges and universities that meet the penalty criteria to pay a fine of either five percent of the school’s aggregate administrative compensation as reported on the school’s Form 990, or $100,000, whichever is greater. After three civil rights violations, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) would be required to review the college or university’s tax-exempt status for possible revocation.
If enacted, Columbia University, which has been at the epicenter of anti-Israel protests and horrific antisemitic attacks against those of the Jewish faith, could be fined roughly $1 million per violation.
“The horrific October 7th attacks on Israel triggered a stress test on our nation’s higher education system that unfortunately too many so-called “elite” universities, college administrators, and faculty failed,” said Rep. Jason Smith, Chairman of the House Committee on Ways & Means.”After decades of lavishing generous tax benefits on what are supposed to be prestigious universities, the American people now realize that many of these institutions have been transformed from places of higher learning into incubators for extremism, hatred, and harassment. If Congress fails to act and ensure these schools are fulfilling their educational purpose, students will continue to face more of the same antisemitic violence and threats that have destabilized college campuses and disrupted the education of students across America. The University Accountability Act will financially penalize schools that fail to protect Jewish students and have a civil judgment entered against them for violating a student’s civil rights. I want to thank Congresswoman Malliotakis for introducing this legislation that will ensure colleges face real consequences for failing to protect their students as required by law.”
Following a November Ways and Means Committee hearing regarding antisemitism on college campuses, Malliotakis introduced several pieces of legislation to hold universities accountable, including the Combatting Antisemitism Messaging & Promoting Unity in School (CAMPUS) Act, that would prohibit federal funding from going to schools that provide funding, tuition assistance, support, or a platform to an organization that engages in antisemitic behavior or fails to hold a faculty member who promotes antisemitism accountable, and the No Visas for Antisemitic Students Act, that would revoke students visas of foreign students in the United States who engage in antisemitic behavior.
