NY congressional reps introduce law forcing colleges to address antisemitism or face losing federal funds

Two legislature lawmakers from different sides of nan aisle, some of whom represent New York, are introducing authorities successful consequence to antisemitic protests that person created a dispute situation for Jewish students astatine Columbia University, putting their information and well-being astatine risk.

Reps. Mike Lawler, a Republican, and Ritchie Torres, a Democrat, announced nan College Oversight and Legal Updates Mandating Bias Investigations and Accountability (COLUMBIA) Act connected Friday, which, if passed, would springiness nan U.S. Department of Education nan powerfulness to enforce a third-party antisemitism show to colleges receiving national funding.

"Rising antisemitism connected our assemblage campuses is simply a awesome concern, and we must enactment to guarantee nan information of students," Lawler said. "If colleges will not measurement up to protect their students, Congress must act."

Under nan projected law, nan Secretary of Education would name nan show and group nan position and conditions of their work, while nan assemblage aliases assemblage selected to beryllium monitored would beryllium responsible for paying nan monitorship expenses.

COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY MOVES TO HYBRID LEARNING ON MAIN CAMPUS AMID ANTISEMITIC PROTESTS

Reps. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., left, and Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y., introduced authorities connected April 26, 2024, which would require universities to combat antisemitism aliases look losing national funding. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images / Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

If passed, colleges and universities that neglect to comply pinch nan monitorship would look losing national funding.

The appointed show will beryllium responsible for creating and publishing an online quarterly study that evaluates advancement connected combating antisemitism astatine nan assemblage aliases university.

The study will besides see recommendations for Congress, nan Secretary of Education and others arsenic needed.

COLUMBIA SETS DEADLINE FOR AGREEMENT WITH PROTESTERS, THREATENS ‘ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS’ FOR CLEARING PROTESTERS

Anti-Israel supporters rally extracurricular Columbia University connected Tuesday successful New York City. (Jeenah Moon/Getty Images)

"My agency and I person spoken pinch countless Jewish students from campuses crossed America who consciousness profoundly unsafe, purely arsenic a consequence of their belief and taste identity. This is simply a blatant usurpation of Title VI, and nan national authorities cannot let this to proceed unchecked," Torres said. "This past week’s situation astatine Columbia is not an isolated incident — it is nan straw that has surgery nan camel’s backmost — and I americium prepared to do thing astir it. That’s why I americium introducing nan COLUMBIA Act today, and I impulse each of my colleagues successful nan House, from some parties, to subordinate maine successful this important action."

Students astatine Columbia and its sister school, Barnard College, person been camped retired connected field while holding demonstrations successful protestation of Columbia's investments successful companies pinch ties to Israel.

COLUMBIA SETS DEADLINE FOR AGREEMENT WITH PROTESTERS, THREATENS ‘ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS’ FOR CLEARING PROTESTERS

An anti-Israel agitator encampment astatine Columbia University successful New York City. (Peter Gerber)

The protests are portion of a wider progressive backlash against Israel's consequence to Hamas' Oct. 7 panic attacks against nan Jewish state.

The protestation astatine Columbia, and akin ones cropping up astatine colleges astir nan country, are now facing bipartisan backlash and accusations of having waded into antisemitic territory. 

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Videos popping up connected societal media show activists cheering connected nan deaths of Israeli soldiers and showing support for Hamas astatine Columbia University. Jewish students person also reported emotion unsafe connected field and shared stories of being verbally and physically assaulted.

Fox News Digital's Elizabeth Elkind contributed to this report.