House votes to condition university funding on Israel-boycott restrictions

Date: 2026-09-03
Entry type: policy record
Current status: Passed House September 3, 2026; not recorded here as enacted law

Thirty-three Democrats joined 203 Republicans and one independent in passing restrictions that critics warn threaten political expression on American campuses.

Entities and roles

Donald J. TrumpPresident whose enforcement powers critics said the bill would expand

Claims and evidence

factdocumented
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries opposed H.R. 4795 on September 3, warning that it would give Trump power to punish colleges and universities through political enforcement.
- House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries: Leader Jeffries statement on H.R. 4795Statement on the bill's proposed power over colleges
factdocumented
H.R. 4795 would add an institutional ban on specified commercial boycotts of Israel to federal student-aid participation conditions and require annual certifications concerning academic exchanges for Title VI funding. Its text defines the targeted conduct using commercial relations and valid-business-reason criteria.
- House Committee on Rules: Rules Committee Print 119-39: H.R. 4795Sections 2 and 3
factdocumented
On September 3, 2026, the House passed H.R. 4795 by 237 to 169. The yes votes comprised 203 Republicans, 33 Democrats and one independent; Republicans Thomas Massie and Warren Davidson voted no.
- Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives: Roll Call 295: H.R. 4795, On PassageVotes by party; Massie and Davidson rows
analysisreported
The Foundation for Middle East Peace warned that H.R. 4795 would weaken Americans' ability to engage in political boycotts by treating boycott conduct as nonexpressive. This is the organization's legal critique of a House-passed bill, not a court ruling on its constitutionality.
- Foundation for Middle East Peace: FMEP Legislative Round-Up September 3, 2026Cementing in law the dismantlement of any US right to boycott

Measurements

Democratic representatives voting yes on H.R. 479533 count
Basis
Observed
Population
Democratic members recorded voting yea on House Roll Call 295
Period
2026-09-03 to 2026-09-03
As of
2026-09-03
Method
Use the Clerk's Democratic yea total for this single passage vote.
Uncertainty
Vote count only; does not measure campaign funding, motive, enactment or affected institutions.