HR 4795 United States House · 119th Congress

Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act of 2026

This bill requires U.S. colleges and universities receiving federal student aid (Title IV) or specific grants (Title VI) to annually certify by July 31 that they will not engage in "nonexpressive commercial boycotts" of countries designated as strategic partners of the U.S. (such as Israel under existing law). The certification must confirm these institutions will permit equal academic exchanges - like study abroad programs, conferences, and research - with strategic partner countries as they do with other nations. Failure to submit the certification results in loss of federal funding eligibility for the following fiscal year. It directly affects all higher education institutions relying on federal financial aid programs.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jul 2025

Committee Review

Aug 2026

House Passage

Sep 2026

Senate Passage

President

Introduced Jul 29, 2025 Last action Sep 3, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced in House → Engrossed in House · 3 edits · Sep 3, 2026

MINOR

The engrossed version consolidates the boycott prohibition from a new standalone section (section 124) into the existing Higher Education Act program participation agreement at section 487(a)(30), and removes the requirement for the Secretary to publish a public list of non-compliant institutions and notify them. The short title year is updated from 2025 to 2026.

Scope change

The substantive policy (prohibiting nonexpressive commercial boycotts of major strategic partners as a condition of federal funding) is unchanged, but the enforcement mechanism was weakened by removing the public list and notification requirement. The legal structure shifted from a standalone section to an amendment of the existing program participation agreement.

SCOPE

The boycott prohibition is no longer in a new standalone section 124 but is folded into the existing program participation agreement as paragraph (30) of section 487(a). This makes it part of the standard conditions for receiving Title IV funds rather than a separate statutory requirement.

ENFORCEMENT

The requirement for the Secretary to publish a public list of institutions that failed to submit the certification and to notify those institutions has been eliminated entirely. There is no longer a transparency mechanism identifying non-compliant schools.

TECHNICAL

The short title year changed from 2025 to 2026, and all cross-references to the old section 124 were updated to point to section 487(a)(30).

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Full legislative history

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Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Sep 3, 2026

Lower · Passed

On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 237 - 169 (Roll no. 295). (text: CR H5483)

lower

Sep 3, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 237 - 169 (Roll no. 295).

lower

Sep 1, 2026

Lower · Passed

Rule H. Res. 1499 passed House.

lower

Aug 31, 2026

Lower · Passed

Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 1499 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 1501, H.R. 9436, H. Res. 1490 and H.R. 4795. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 1501, H.R. 9436, H.Res. 1490, and H.R. 4795 under a closed rule with one hour of general debate on each measure. The resolution provides for a motion to recommit on H.R. 1501, H.R. 9436, and H.R. 4795.

lower

Aug 27, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and Workforce. H. Rept. 119-780.

lower

Jun 25, 2026

Introduced

Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 24 - 9.

lower

Jun 25, 2026

Lower · Passed

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

lower

Jul 29, 2025

Committee

Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

lower

Jul 29, 2025

Introduced

Introduced in House

lower

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor