🚨🚨30 House Dems Flip Against Hakeem Jeffries

Thirty-three House Democrats broke with leader Hakeem Jeffries to pass a bill penalizing colleges supporting anti-Israel boycotts.

• Thirty-three House Democrats joined Republicans on Thursday to pass legislation restricting federal funding for colleges participating in anti-Israel commercial boycotts. The House approved H.R. 4795 by a decisive 237-169 vote, exposing a deepening party divide over Middle East policy.
• House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries voted against the measure, placing him directly opposite the dozens of Democratic lawmakers who crossed party lines. Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi and senior Democrat James Clyburn also opposed the bill.
• The legislation amends higher education law to penalize covered colleges that engage in nonexpressive commercial boycotts targeting Israel. Institutions could lose specified federal funding if they participate in these targeted economic restrictions.
• Additionally, federally supported institutions must certify that students are not unreasonably obstructed from participating in academic programs located in Israel. Supporters argued the measure combats rising campus hostility and protects Jewish students.
• Proponent Representative Josh Gottheimer argued that the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement seeks Israel's destruction. Representative Virginia Foxx added that university boycott policies create hostile environments by marginalizing Jewish students on campus.
• Critics strongly condemned the vote as a dangerous violation of constitutional rights. Opponents argued that punishing boycott participation chills protected political expression and interferes with institutional academic independence.
• New York Democrat Jerry Nadler stated that supporters of BDS retain constitutional protections for political advocacy. Michigan Democrat Rashida Tlaib accused lawmakers of suppressing pro-Palestinian activism and attacking core American freedoms.