Press Releases

WASHINGTON – As part of House Republicans’ effort to ensure the next generation is able to engage meaningfully in the marketplace of ideas, today Education and the Workforce Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) spoke on the House Floor in support of H.R. 3724, the End Woke Higher Education Act. The bill protects First Amendment freedoms on campuses and ensures that colleges and universities are not penalized for rejecting woke policies.

Chairwoman Foxx’s remarks (as prepared for delivery):

“I rise today in support of H.R. 3724, the End Woke Higher Education Act. No woke week could possibly be complete without a robust debate regarding the state of free speech on college campuses.

“But first, I can’t help but acknowledge the juxtaposition of this Floor debate and debates in the university setting. The Constitution’s Speech or Debate Clause grants Members of Congress the absolute freedom of speech on the House Floor. It is a privilege that has survived 248 years of nationhood. Sadly, the privilege of the First Amendment and campus free speech has not.

“Therefore, I’d like to use this time and this pulpit to make three conservative statements—to express three truths—that would otherwise be punishable offenses on today’s college campuses:

“Men and women are biologically different. This position held by swimmer Riley Gaines endangered her very life on a trip to San Francisco State University. Student activists assaulted Ms. Gaines during a speaking engagement, forcing police to lead her into a safe room.

“DEI policies overlook qualified candidates. This sentiment, expressed in a tweet by conservative-libertarian Georgetown lecturer Ilya Shapiro, led to a 122-day investigation and his eventual coerced resignation.

“And finally, wear what you want on Halloween. This opinion, shared in an email by Professor Erika Christakis, sparked outrage at Yale. The unchecked student overreaction drove Professor Christakis to stop teaching classes.

“Men and women are biologically different. DEI policies overlook qualified candidates. And wear what you want on Halloween.

“These three statements, as unobjectionable and inoffensive as they may seem, are widely censored on college campuses. That’s because for every example of retaliatory censorship, there are hundreds—if not thousands—of examples of self-censorship and social pressure to conform.

“This is why I support H.R. 3724. Not only does H.R. 3724 aim to protect politically disfavored speech, but all speech. To achieve this goal, it would, among other things, mandate viewpoint neutrality in the college accreditation process, require robust free speech policies before public colleges access Title IV funds, and prohibit universities from giving political litmus tests to students and faculty.

“Thank you, Reps. Owens (R-UT), Williams (R-NY), Houchin (R-IN), Walberg (R-MI), Stefanik (R-NY), Crenshaw (R-TX), Kiley (R-CA), and Murphy (R-NC) for your significant contributions to this bill. With enough like-minded Members committed to the First Amendment, we can once again renew free expression as a pillar of postsecondary education.”

###