House Democrats fractured Thursday again as 33 members joined Republicans to restrict federal funding for colleges participating in anti-Israel boycotts.
The House passed H.R. 4795, the Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act of 2026, by a decisive 237-169 vote.
Thirty-three Democrats supported the measure, while 167 Democrats joined two Republicans in opposition to the legislation.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries voted against it, putting him opposite dozens of Democrats willing to confront anti-Israel campus boycotts.
Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi and senior Democrat James Clyburn also opposed the bill, underscoring the party’s increasingly visible Israel divide.
Republicans Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Warren Davidson of Ohio were the only GOP lawmakers voting against the measure.
North Carolina Republican Virginia Foxx sponsored the legislation, while New Jersey Democrat Josh Gottheimer joined as its Democratic co-sponsor.
The bill would amend higher-education law by attaching major federal-funding consequences to certain institutional commercial boycotts targeting Israel.
Covered colleges participating in a “nonexpressive commercial boycott” of Israel could become ineligible for specified federal higher-education funding.
Federally supported institutions would also certify that students are not “unreasonably obstructed” from participating in academic programs located in Israel.
Critics counter that punishing boycott participation could chill political expression protected by the First Amendment and interfere with academic independence.
Foxx argued university boycott policies have created hostile environments by “marginalizing Jewish students” and discriminating against people of Jewish faith.
Progressive Democrats responded furiously, arguing the bill improperly converts political disagreement with Israel into grounds for losing federal educational support.
New York Democrat Jerry Nadler said he opposes BDS but believes its supporters retain constitutional protections for political advocacy.
Michigan Democrat Rashida Tlaib delivered an even harsher denunciation, accusing lawmakers of suppressing pro-Palestinian activism and defending Israeli policies.
“This is an attack on free speech and academic freedom,” Tlaib declared during debate before the final vote.
She described Israel as a “genocidal apartheid state,” reflecting the increasingly hostile rhetoric surrounding Israel within progressive Democratic politics.
Supporters rejected that framing, saying the legislation targets institutional commercial discrimination rather than students protesting or expressing political opinions.
Thursday’s vote follows another major headache for House Speaker Mike Johnson.
Johnson has canceled votes in the chamber that were planned for Friday, shortening the work week and sending members home until after the November midterm elections.
Lawmakers will be away from Washington for more than six weeks, avoiding potentially controversial votes and intraparty fighting before voters head to the polls.
Johnson previously canceled votes for the last two weeks in September.
“The House has done its work,” Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, told reporters at the Capitol.
“It’s time for our members to go home to their districts and make their case to the American people,” Johnson added.
Rep. Ralph Norman, a Republican from South Carolina, said canceling votes is “unacceptable.”
“The House has now canceled at least 63 scheduled voting days this Congress, including nine days this month alone, and now we’re leaving Washington until after the election,” he wrote on X.
“The Founders did not envision taking this much time off and still getting paid. If Members of Congress want to go home and campaign instead of doing the job taxpayers sent us here to do, then their campaigns ought to be paying them, NOT the American taxpayer. We still have work to do,” Norman added.
Johnson also rebuffed calls by Democrats who wanted to cancel the recess to address rapid advancements in artificial intelligence.
After AI industry leaders and researchers raised alarm about potentially catastrophic threats posed by the technology in recent weeks, Democratic lawmakers called on Johnson to keep the House in session until they can pass legislation to rein in AI.
“Congress should not leave town until something is done decisively to protect the safety and the well-being of the American people, in the face of growing concerns being raised by experts within the artificial intelligence industry itself,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Monday.
“Republicans have completely abandoned their responsibility to legislate and engage in public policy efforts in a responsible fashion in the area of artificial intelligence,” Jeffries continued.
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