House members are taking steps to ensure that universities receiving federal funds are complying with civil rights laws amid a House-wide effort to crack down on antisemitism on college campuses. The Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Committee on Education and the Workforce sent a joint letter to the Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra on Wednesday asking whether there have been any complaints of 'unacceptable antisemitic behavior' from educational institutions receiving federal grants.
HHS awards federal funding to universities through National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants, which require that institutions receiving funding are free of discriminatory harassment, according to the NIH Grants Policy Statement. The concerns arise from the antisemitic behavior witnessed across college campuses, prompting the lawmakers to demand further action to ensure compliance with federal civil rights laws.
The letter notes that the HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) provides guidance on campus behavior and protection under federal civil rights laws but emphasizes the need for active steps to enforce compliance, especially regarding antisemitism. Lawmakers are requesting HHS to provide a list of misconduct allegations and communications related to alleged antisemitic incidents at NIH-funded institutions from fiscal year 2023 to present by October 2, 2024.
Rep. Virginia expressed concern over HHS-funded medical institutions allowing antisemitism to persist, highlighting the goal of the committees to prevent discrimination in taxpayer-funded institutions. HHS confirmed receipt of the letter and reiterated its commitment to ensuring HHS-funded institutions are free from harassment and discrimination, including antisemitism.
The committees also sent a similar letter to Columbia University, a recipient of HHS grants, questioning the university's efforts to maintain a safe environment for all members. Columbia University reportedly received significant NIH grants in fiscal year 2024, prompting the ongoing investigation into the university following anti-Israel protests on campus.
Evan Bernstein, VP of community relations for Jewish Federations of North America, expressed concerns about organizations excluding Jews and ostracizing Jewish community members, leading to increased alarm and advocacy efforts in Washington.
