COLUMBIA Act of 2025
COLUMBIA Act of 2025
Plain Language Summary
# COLUMBIA Act of 2025 Summary **What the bill would do:** The COLUMBIA Act would require the U.S. Department of Education to assign independent monitors to college and university campuses that have reported high levels of anti-Semitic incidents. These monitors would oversee efforts to combat anti-Semitism and report publicly on campus progress through quarterly reports. Schools receiving federal funding that meet certain criteria for anti-Semitic activity would be required to participate in the program and cover the monitor's reasonable expenses. **Who it affects:** The bill directly affects colleges and universities that receive federal education funding and have documented instances of anti-Semitic activity.
It also impacts Jewish students and campus communities seeking oversight of anti-Semitism incidents. The Department of Education would be responsible for establishing and managing the monitoring program. **Current status:** The bill was introduced in the 119th Congress by Representative Ritchie Torres (D-NY) and is currently in committee, meaning it hasn't yet been debated or voted on by the full House of Representatives. No further action has occurred at this time.
CRS Official Summary
College Oversight and Legal Updates Mandating Bias Investigations and Accountability Act of 2025 or the COLUMBIA Act of 2025This bill requires the Department of Education (ED) to establish a program to appoint third-party anti-Semitism monitors at certain institutions of higher education (IHEs). Specifically, ED must establish this program to appoint a monitor at an IHE that (1) has a high incidence of anti-Semitic activity (based on data received from ED's Office for Civil Rights), and (2) receives federal funds for higher education. ED must develop an anti-Semitism monitorship agreement that (1) designates the terms and conditions of the monitorship, and (2) requires the IHE to provide for the monitor's reasonable expenses. The bill requires the monitor tooperate under the monitorship agreement developed by ED and entered into with the IHE; provide publicly available quarterly reports that evaluate the IHE's progress in combating anti-Semitism on campus; andprovide annual reports to Congress, ED, state and local governments (as needed), and the IHE that include recommendations for actions, policies, and sanctions to prevent and reduce anti-Semitism at the IHE.
Latest Action
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.