[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 191 (Friday, November 17, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1112]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                OPPOSING REP. LAWLER'S AMENDMENT NO. 114

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                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, November 17, 2023

  Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise to address my vote against Rep. 
Lawler's Amendment No. 114 to the Labor, Health and Human Services, 
Education Appropriations bill.
  This amendment would prohibit funding to any institution of higher 
education that authorizes, facilitates, funds, or otherwise supports 
events that are deemed to promote antisemitism. To be clear: I condemn 
antisemitism in all its forms and stand with the Jewish community as 
they mourn the losses sustained in the October 7 terrorist attack by 
Hamas and the subsequent increase in antisemitic incidents in the U.S. 
and around the world.
  I concur with J Street that the amendment is ``designed to pave the 
way for ill-considered crackdowns on free speech under the guise of 
combating antisemitism.'' This amendment violates students' First 
Amendment rights to share and debate ideas and express peaceful 
dissent. It is too broad and could lead to colleges and universities 
banning student groups that aim to provide safe refuge, community, and 
space to discuss issues that are important to them based on the opinion 
or statement of one student. This amendment would foster a chilling 
effect for universities, who risk losing all federal funding for an 
apparent violation.
  This amendment also completely fails to address the concurrent rise 
in anti-Muslim and anti-Arab hate. It is a glaring omission not to 
include other protected classes and misses an opportunity to condemn 
hate in all its forms on our college campuses and in our communities. 
Every student deserves a safe environment in which to learn and live, 
and I wish Rep. Lawler's Amendment had been inclusive of all protected 
classes.

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