To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to prohibit institutions of higher education from requiring ideological oaths or similar statements, and for other purposes.

Bill: 118-hr-6848
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Crenshaw, Dan [R-TX-2]
Introduced: 2023-12-19
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Higher education

Racial and ethnic relations

School administration

Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination

Teaching, teachers, curricula
Latest action: action_date: 2023-12-19
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

Summaries:
action_date: 2023-12-19
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p>This bill prohibits an institution of higher education (IHE) that participates in federal student aid programs from requiring a student enrolled at the IHE, an employee or contractor of the IHE, or an applicant for admission to or employment or contracting at the IHE to make certain&nbsp;ideological oaths or similar statements.</p><p>Specifically, the bill prohibits an IHE from compelling, requiring, inducing, or soliciting such an individual to (1) endorse an ideology that promotes the differential treatment of an individual or group of individuals based on race, color, or ethnicity; or (2) provide a statement indicating certain information about the individual, including the individual's views on efforts involving diversity, equity, and inclusion&nbsp;or other specified concepts.</p><p>Additionally, the bill prohibits an IHE from providing preferential consideration to a student, employee, or contractor based on&nbsp;the individual's unsolicited support for an ideology that promotes the differential treatment of an individual or group of individuals based on race, color, or ethnicity.</p>

tv_txt: I 118th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 6848 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES December 19, 2023 Mr. Crenshaw 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 institutions of higher education from requiring ideological oaths or similar statements, and for other purposes.

1. Prohibition relating to ideological oaths and similar statements Section 487(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1094(a) ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (30) (A) The institution will not— (i) compel, require, induce, or solicit a student enrolled at the institution, an employee or contractor of the institution, or an applicant for admission to or employment or contracting at the institution to— (I) endorse an ideology that promotes the differential treatment of an individual or group of individuals based on race, color, or ethnicity; or (II) provide a statement indicating the person’s— (aa) race, color, ethnicity, or national origin, except to the minimum extent needed record any necessary demographic information; (bb) views on, experience with, or past or planned contributions to efforts involving diversity, equity, and inclusion, marginalized groups, antiracism, social justice, intersectionality, or related concepts; or (cc) views on or experience with race, color, ethnicity, national origin, or other immutable characteristics; or (ii) provide preferential consideration to a student enrolled at the institution, an employee or contractor of the institution, or an applicant for admission to or employment or contracting at the institution on the basis of the person’s unsolicited statement in support of an ideology described in clause (i)(I). (B) Nothing in this paragraph may be construed— (i) to restrict academic research or coursework; (ii) to prevent a person from providing to an institution of higher education the information described in subparagraph (A) on the person’s own initiative separate from any specific requirement or request from the institution; or (iii) to prevent an institution from requiring an applicant for admission to or employment or contracting at the institution to— (I) disclose or discuss the content of the applicant’s research or artistic creations; (II) certify compliance with State and Federal antidiscrimination law; or (III) discuss pedagogical approaches or experience with students with learning disabilities. .