Washington Free Beacon reporter Adam Kredo appeared on The Hugh Hewitt Show Thursday night to discuss his story on a new bipartisan bill that would strip all federal funds from any U.S. academic institution that decided to boycott Israel.
Kredo wrote that the introduction of the bill marks the first time that Congress has sought to level harsh economic penalties on federally funded universities that seek to boycott Israel:
The bill comes just months after the American Studies Association (ASA) agreed to boycott Israeli academics and universities, prompting a fierce backlash from pro-Israel groups and others.
The "Protect Academic Freedom Act," jointly filed by House Chief Deputy Whip Peter Roskam (R., Ill.) and Rep. Dan Lipinski (D., Ill.) could serve as a deterrent to other groups considering Israeli boycotts.
It would amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 "to prohibit an institution that participates in a boycott of Israeli academic institutions or scholars from being eligible" to receive federal funds, according to text of the legislation.
