Sponsors (2)
The bill protects federal support and clearer rules for international collaboration and contracting—preserving programs and exchanges for many students—by banning certain politically motivated boycotts and requiring certifications, but it imposes administrative, financial, reputational, free‑speech, and security risks for colleges and universities.
Colleges and universities (and their students) are more likely to retain Title VI funding that supports language, area-studies, and international programs, preserving exchanges, classes, and research opportunities.
Students and faculty gain expanded opportunities for exchanges and collaborative research because the bill requires reciprocity with designated major strategic partners, facilitating more cross-border programs.
Colleges and universities get clearer federal rules forbidding certain politically motivated commercial boycotts in Title IV contracting, reducing uncertainty for institutional contracting and partnership decisions.
Colleges and universities (especially smaller or resource-constrained schools) must complete annual certifications and compliance work, creating ongoing administrative burden and diverting staff time and resources.
Schools and students risk losing all Title VI funds for a fiscal year if institutions miss the July 31 certification deadline, which could disrupt language, area-studies, and international programs and student opportunities.
Linking certification to funds awarded in prior fiscal years can create financial uncertainty and cash-flow problems for institutions that rely on previously awarded grants.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Conditions Title IV and Title VI funding on annual certifications that institutions will not engage in certain commercial boycotts of "major strategic partners" and will allow reciprocal academic exchanges with them.
Official title: To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to prohibit an institution that participates in a nonexpressive commercial boycott of Israel from being eligible for certain funds under that Act, to require an institution that participates in certain programs under that Act to certify that students are not unreasonably obstructed from participating in academic programs in Israel, and for other purposes.
Introduced July 29, 2025 by Virginia Ann Foxx · Last progress July 29, 2025
Requires colleges and universities that receive Title IV student aid or Title VI international education funds to submit annual certifications by July 31 that they will not engage in defined commercial boycotts of certain "major strategic partners," and that they will permit reciprocal academic participation with institutions from those partners. Failure to certify makes an institution ineligible for related federal funds for the following fiscal year. The bill also directs the Department of Education to publish institutions that fail to certify and adds the new certification requirement to institutional program participation agreements.