This week, U.S. Rep. Aaron Bean, R-Fla., introduced the House version of U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio’s, R-Fla., “Ending Subsidies for Pro-Terrorist Activities on Campus Act.”
Rubio’s office offered the reasons for the proposal when he introduced it two weeks ago.
“Since the October 7, 2023 massacre by Hamas, Jewish students across the country have faced vandalism, arson, and other forms of harassment. Taxpayer-funded colleges have allowed staff and students who back the Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) Hamas to engage in pro-terrorism harassment,” Rubio’s office insisted. “ Taxpayer dollars shouldn’t fund nor facilitate pro-terrorist activities, and Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) should take action in preventing harassment by terrorism supporters.”
Rubio’s office noted the bill will “ensure federal dollars are not being used to support pro-terrorist activities on college campuses and require that IHEs have policies to address them.”
The senator weighed in on why he introduced the proposal.
“The last thing that students should be worried about is a threat to their safety. Shamefully, some students and faculty members are supporting an organization that has pledged to commit violence until Israel no longer exists. Our tax dollars should not be funding antisemitic, pro-terrorist activities on college campuses. It is absolutely ridiculous that the government is subsidizing this,” said Rubio.
The bill was sent to the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee.
Bean brought out his version this week and offered his reasons for why he was championing it.
“Today, we are seeing the full force of Jewish hatred on our college and university campuses. It’s unthinkable that students are unable to walk between classes to their dorms or the dining hall. But it’s the reality for Jewish students on campus today. Under no circumstance should taxpayers be funding toxic, hatred dogma anywhere on college campuses,” said Bean.
U.S. Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Texas, is co-sponsoring the bill.
“It’s disgusting that Jewish students across the country are living in fear of pro-Hamas protesters,” said Nehls. “Thank you, Congressman Bean, for introducing this important legislation to combat antisemitism on college campuses. I will always stand with our nation’s greatest ally in the Middle East, Israel, and Jewish people across the world.”
Bean’s bill was sent to the U.S. House Education and the Workforce and the Judiciary Committees.
