Staten Island’s Representative: Universal Accountability Act Reintroduced To Fine Tax-Exempt Schools That Violate Students’ Civil Rights Under Title VI

Malliotakis Reintroduces the University Accountability Act

Editor’s note: Campus protests, as well as protests shutting down Grand Central Terminal in NYC have been organized regularly since the October 7th attacks in 2023.  Several of these protests were organized by the group known as Jewish Voice For Peace.  Passaic Torah Institute held an Anti-Semitism Awareness seminar to help students prepare for possible on-campus anti-semitism.  According to research by the CATO Institute, liberal students are more likely to be in favor of de-platforming (or silencing) viewpoints they disagree with, while conservative students were more tolerant (18-30% of liberals would disallow viewpoints they disagree with versus 50-70% of conservatives), although both groups were often in favor of disallowing viewpoints by shouting people down who disagree with them.  

(WASHINGTON, DC) –  Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11) was joined by Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (NY-21) and Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) in reintroducing the University Accountability Act, legislation that would fine tax-exempt schools that violate students’ civil rights under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. The legislation comes as colleges and universities across the United States still remain under fire for allowing and enabling antisemitic students to wreak havoc on their campuses.

Under current federal law, a violation of Title VI, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin, can result in the loss of federal funds, but often times results in a mere corrective action that would bring the college or university back into compliance. The University Accountability Act would require colleges and universities that meet the penalty criteria to pay a fine of either five percent of the school’s aggregate administrative compensation as reported on the school’s Form 990, or $100,000, whichever is greater. After three civil rights violations, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) would be required to review the college or university’s tax-exempt status for possible revocation.

“Universities have a responsibility to protect their students from violence and discrimination but, instead, we’re seeing a disturbing increase in antisemitic attacks and rhetoric on college campuses,” said Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis. “Our legislation seeks to hold these institutions accountable and encourage them to investigate and crack down on instances of antisemitism to help foster a safer academic environment for all students, regardless of their gender, race or religion.”

“I will continue to lead efforts to rid our colleges and universities of antisemitism alongside President Trump who is delivering on his promise to hold these failed institutions accountable for their neglect and abandonment of our Jewish students. The University Accountability Act will impose penalties on universities who violate the civil rights of their own students and put their undeserved tax-exempt status on the chopping block,” said Congresswoman Elise Stefanik.

“Since the horrific October 7, 2023, attacks, there has been a sharp rise in anti-Semitic rhetoric and violence on campuses, threatening Jewish students. The University Accountability Act ensures that any institution condoning this behavior is penalized by revoking its tax-exempt status and imposing harsh financial penalties. Not a dime of our tax dollars should be used to support colleges and universities that foster such heinous anti-Semitism,” said Congresswoman Claudia Tenney.

Last Congress, Malliotakis introduced several pieces of legislation to hold universities accountable, including the Combating Antisemitic Messaging and Promoting Unity in School Act (CAMPUS) Act, that would prohibit federal funding from going to schools that provide funding, tuition assistance, support, or a platform to an organization that engages in antisemitic behavior or fails to hold a faculty member who promotes antisemitism accountable, and the No Visas for Antisemitic Students Act, that would revoke students visas of foreign students in the United States who engage in antisemitic behavior.

View the Bill Text HERE.

Malliotakis is a member of the bipartisan House-Knesset Parliamentary Friendship Group, and has voted for, introduced and cosponsored several pieces of legislation to provide critical military assistance to Israel, restore maximum pressure on Iran, crackdown on rising antisemitism on college campuses and secure federal security grants for the local Jewish community.

Banner Image: Campus protest. Image Credit – Hassan Anayi

Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis

Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis was sworn in on January 3, 2021 to represent Staten Island and Southern Brooklyn. Prior to serving in the U.S. House of Representatives, Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis was elected to the New York State Assembly on November 2, 2010, defeating a two-term incumbent. In the Assembly, she served as Minority Whip and the ranking minority member of the Assembly Committee on Governmental Employees. For five terms, Congresswoman Malliotakis fought to restore ethics in Albany, expand transit service in her district, improve programs for senior citizens, reform education and improve New York’s economic climate by reducing the tax burden on small businesses and residents. A cornerstone of her tenure was helping her community recover and rebuild following the devastation of Hurricane Sandy in 2012. In addition to advocating for these same issues in Washington, Congresswoman Malliotakis is acutely focused on securing New York’s fair share of federal mass transit funding, which would go towards expanding transportation services and easing traffic congestion, while also championing public safety by supporting our nation’s law enforcement officers. Congresswoman Malliotakis is the daughter of immigrants, her father from Greece and her mother a Cuban exile of the Castro dictatorship. She is currently the only Republican member representing New York City in Congress, representing a district spanning the boroughs of Brooklyn and Staten Island. She is a passionate advocate for animal rights and the strengthening of animal cruelty laws, and in her spare time, enjoys spending time with her chihuahua, Peanut.