H.R. 4795 · Passed House · Education

Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act of 2026

Sponsor: Virginia Foxx (R-NC)

What it does

• Prohibits institutions of higher education participating in federal student aid programs from engaging in commercial boycotts against Israel or Israeli entities unless based on a valid business reason.
• Requires institutions receiving Title VI funds to annually certify that students and faculty can participate in academic programs in Israel under the same terms as programs in other foreign countries.
• Requires Title VI-funded institutions to certify that Israeli students and faculty can participate in their academic programs under the same terms as participants from other foreign countries.

Official summary

Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act of 2026 This 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.

Latest action

Sep 14, 2026: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Committee: Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions