East Greenbush, N.Y. - Congresswoman Elise Stefanik joined Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) in introducing the University Accountability Act to impose penalties on education institutions who fail to protect the civil rights of their students after antisemitic incidents on college campuses increased by 700% following the Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel on October 7th, 2023.
“I will continue to lead the efforts ridding our higher education institutions of antisemitism. With this new legislation, the University Accountability Act, we will impose penalties on universities who violate the civil rights of their own students including by failing to protect Jewish students from antisemitic hate. Hardworking taxpayers have no interest in funding institutions that fail to protect their students from antisemitic rhetoric and behavior and this bill puts their tax-exempt status on the chopping block,” said Congresswoman Elise Stefanik.
"Universities have a responsibility to protect their students from violence and
discrimination and instead we're seeing a disturbing increase in antisemitic attacks and rhetoric on college campuses," said Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis. "If these schools are receiving generous tax benefits from the federal government at the expense of American taxpayers, they should be doing more than simply giving a slap on the wrist to perpetrators of hate. Our legislation seeks to hold these institutions accountable with lofty financial punishments that would encourage them to investigate and crack down on instances of antisemitism and help foster a safer a safer academic environment for all students, regardless of their gender, race or religion."
Under current federal law, a violation of Title VI, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin, can result in the loss of federal funds, but often times results in a mere corrective action that would bring the college or university back into compliance. The University Accountability Act would require colleges and universities that meet the penalty criteria to pay a fine of either five percent of the school's aggregate administrative compensation as reported on the school's Form 990, or $100,000, whichever is greater. After three civil rights violations, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) would be required to review the college or university's tax-exempt status for possible revocation.
