I 
113TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 4009 
To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to prohibit an institution 
that participates in a boycott of Israeli academic institutions or scholars 
from being eligible for certain funds under that Act. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 6, 2014 
Mr. ROSKAM (for himself and Mr. LIPINSKI) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce 
A BILL 
To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to prohibit 
an institution that participates in a boycott of Israeli 
academic institutions or scholars from being eligible for 
certain funds under that Act. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Protect Academic 
Freedom Act’’. 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
02:33 Feb 07, 2014
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4009.IH
H4009
jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
SEC. 2. INELIGIBILITY OF INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDU-
CATION PARTICIPATING IN A BOYCOTT OF 
ISRAELI 
ACADEMIC 
INSTITUTIONS 
OR 
SCHOLARS. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 
(1) Israel is a vital American ally and a fellow 
democracy that fosters free speech. 
(2) Attempts to single out Israel for discrimina-
tory boycotts violates the principle of academic free-
dom guaranteed by the United States. 
(b) INELIGIBILITY.—Subtitle B of title I of the High-
er Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1011 et seq.) is 
amended by adding at the end the following new section: 
‘‘SEC. 
124. 
INELIGIBILITY 
OF 
INSTITUTIONS 
PARTICI-
PATING IN A BOYCOTT OF ISRAELI ACA-
DEMIC INSTITUTIONS OR SCHOLARS. 
‘‘(a) INELIGIBILITY.—Notwithstanding any other 
provision of law, an institution of higher education shall 
not be eligible to receive funds or any other form of finan-
cial assistance under this Act if the Secretary determines 
that such institution is participating in a boycott of Israeli 
academic institutions or scholars. 
‘‘(b) DETERMINATION
OF
INELIGIBLE
INSTITU-
TIONS.— 
‘‘(1) CRITERIA.—For purposes of this section, 
the Secretary shall consider an institution of higher 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
02:33 Feb 07, 2014
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4009.IH
H4009
jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
education to be participating in a boycott of Israeli 
academic institutions or scholars if the institution, 
any significant part of the institution, or any organi-
zation significantly funded by the institution adopts 
a policy or resolution, issues a statement, or other-
wise formally establishes the restriction of discourse, 
cooperation, exchange, or any other involvement with 
academic institutions or scholars on the basis of the 
connection of such institutions or such scholars to 
the State of Israel. 
‘‘(2) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY OF LIST; NOTIFICA-
TION.—Not later than May 1 of each year, the Sec-
retary shall— 
‘‘(A) identify and make publicly available a 
list of all institutions of higher education par-
ticipating in a boycott of Israeli academic insti-
tutions or scholars, as described in paragraph 
(1); and 
‘‘(B) notify each institution of higher edu-
cation identified in accordance with subpara-
graph (A) of the identification of such institu-
tion as an institution participating in a boycott 
of Israeli academic institutions or scholars. 
‘‘(c) WAIVER.—Not later than 30 days after receiving 
a notification under subsection (b)(2) that an institution 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
02:33 Feb 07, 2014
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4009.IH
H4009
jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
of higher education has been identified as an institution 
participating in a boycott of Israeli academic institutions 
or scholars, such institution may request the Secretary to 
waive the restriction applicable to such institution under 
subsection (a). The Secretary may waive the restriction 
for such institution if the Secretary considers a waiver ap-
propriate. 
‘‘(d) INAPPLICABILITY TO STUDENT FINANCIAL AID 
FUNDS.—The prohibition under subsection (a) shall not 
apply to any funds available under this Act for student 
financial aid, as determined by the Secretary. 
‘‘(e) RESTORATION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR CEASING OF 
BOYCOTT.—The prohibition under subsection (a) shall 
cease to apply to any institution of higher education that 
the Secretary determines has ceased participating in a 
boycott of Israeli academic institutions or scholars.’’. 
Æ 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
02:33 Feb 07, 2014
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H4009.IH
H4009
jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with BILLS