I 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 8708 
To prohibit Federal funding for institutions of higher education that carry 
out diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 12, 2024 
Mr. BILIRAKIS (for himself, Ms. LEE of Florida, and Mr. BAIRD) introduced 
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and 
the Workforce 
A BILL 
To prohibit Federal funding for institutions of higher edu-
cation that carry out diversity, equity, and inclusion ini-
tiatives, and for other purposes. 
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 ‘‘Eliminate DEI in Col-
leges Act’’. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:42 Jul 30, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8708.IH
H8708
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON FEDERAL FUNDING FOR INSTITU-
TIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION THAT CARRY 
OUT DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION INI-
TIATIVES. 
Part B of title I of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
(20 U.S.C. 1011 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘SEC. 124. PROHIBITION ON DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND IN-
CLUSION INITIATIVES. 
‘‘(a) 
RESTRICTION
ON
ELIGIBILITY.—Notwith-
standing any other provision of law, no institution of high-
er education shall be eligible to receive funds or any other 
form of financial assistance under any Federal program, 
including participation in any federally funded or guaran-
teed student loan program, unless the institution certifies 
to the Secretary that the institution— 
‘‘(1) does not and will not carry out any pro-
gram, project, initiative, or other activity the pri-
mary purpose of which is to advocate, promote, or 
otherwise support diversity, equity, and inclusion; 
and 
‘‘(2) does not and will not maintain any office 
or other entity within the institution to advocate, 
promote, or otherwise support diversity, equity, and 
inclusion. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:42 Jul 30, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8708.IH
H8708
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
‘‘(b) INFORMATION AVAILABILITY.—Each institution 
of higher education that provides the certification required 
by subsection (a) shall, upon request, make available to 
the Secretary any information needed by the Secretary to 
verify the truth and accuracy of the certification. 
‘‘(c) REGULATIONS.—The Secretary shall publish 
regulations to implement and enforce the provisions of this 
section. 
‘‘(d) APPEALS.—Upon determination by the Sec-
retary to terminate financial assistance to any institution 
of higher education under this section, the institution may 
file an appeal with an administrative law judge before the 
expiration of the 30-day period beginning on the date such 
institution is notified of the decision to terminate financial 
assistance under this section. Such judge shall hold a 
hearing with respect to such termination of assistance be-
fore the expiration of the 45-day period beginning on the 
date that such appeal is filed. Such judge may extend such 
45-day period upon a motion by the institution concerned. 
The decision of the judge with respect to such termination 
shall be considered to be a final agency action. 
‘‘(e) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘diver-
sity, equity, and inclusion’ means the concept according 
to which individuals are— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:42 Jul 30, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8708.IH
H8708
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
‘‘(1) classified on basis of race, color, sex, na-
tional origin, gender identity, or sexual orientation; 
and 
‘‘(2) afforded differential or preferential treat-
ment basis of such classification.’’. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:42 Jul 30, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H8708.IH
H8708
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS