To prohibit Federal grants to or contracts with Columbia University -- (DUNCAN HUNTER)

GovTrack.US ^ | Sep 26, 2007 | Duncan Hunter




H.R. 3675: To prohibit Federal grants to or contracts with Columbia University



HR 3675 IH


110th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 3675
To prohibit Federal grants to or contracts with Columbia University.


IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES


September 26, 2007
Mr. HUNTER introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor


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A BILL
To prohibit Federal grants to or contracts with Columbia University.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Restore Patriotism to University Campuses Act'.


SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress finds the following:

(1) Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has called for the destruction of the State of Israel, a critical ally of the United States.

(2) In January 2007, commander of Multinational Corps-Iraq, Lt. Gen. Ray Odierno stated that the United States had traced back to Iran serial numbers of weapons captured in Iraq, including rocket-propelled grenades, roadside bombs and Katyusha rockets.

(3) These types of weapons have been used in Iraq to kill and injure members of American, Iraqi, and coalition forces and undermine the nascent Iraqi government.

(4) Despite Iran's support for terrorism, Columbia University extended an invitation to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to address students and faculty from the University campus.

(5) Columbia University dissolved its long-standing Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program on campus because of disagreement with United States military policy, and for nearly four decades has not invited the return of any ROTC program to the University campus.

(6) Despite this fact, Columbia University has continued to accept funds made available through ROTC scholarships, while University faculty continue to oppose United States military policies and law.

(7) Through their invitation, Columbia University provided a public, prestigious platform on United States soil from which on September 24, 2007, President Ahmadinejad spoke and defended his wide-ranging support for terrorist activities.


SEC. 3. DENIAL OF FUNDS.

(a) Denial of Funds for Permitting State Terrorist Access to Campus- No funds described in subsection (b)(1) may be provided by contract or by grant to Columbia University of New York, New York, or any subelement of Columbia University.

(b) Covered Funds-

(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the limitations established in subsection (a) apply to the following:

(A) Any funds made available for the Department of Defense.

(B) Any funds made available for any department or agency for which regular appropriations are made in a Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act.

(C) Any funds made available for the Department of Homeland Security.

(D) Any funds made available for the National Nuclear Security Administration of the Department of Energy.

(E) Any funds made available for the Department of Transportation.

(F) Any funds made available for the Central Intelligence Agency.

(2) Any Federal funding specified in paragraph (1) that is provided to an institution of higher education, or to an individual, to be available solely for student financial assistance, related administrative costs, or costs associated with attendance, may be used for the purpose for which the funding is provided.

(c) Notice of Determinations- Whenever the head of a Federal department or agency makes a determination under subsection (a) or (b), the head of such department or agency--

(1) shall transmit a notice of the determination to the Secretary of Education, to the head of each other department and agency the funds of which are subject to the determination, and to Congress; and

(2) shall publish in the Federal Register a notice of the determination and the effect of the determination on the eligibility of Columbia University for contracts and grants.


For Immediate Release
September 26, 2007

HUNTER INTRODUCES RESTORING PATRIOTISM TO AMERICA??S CAMPUSES ACT

Washington, D.C. ?? U.S. Congressman Duncan Hunter (R-CA), ranking Republican on the House Armed Services Committee, today announced the introduction of the Restoring Patriotism to America??s Campuses Act. The legislation disqualifies Columbia University from receiving any form of federal assistance following its hosting of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

??This week, Columbia University President Lee Bollinger ignored public outrage and decided not to withdraw his invitation to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad,? said Congressman Hunter. ??As President Ahmadinejad appeared on the stage provided to him by one of our nation??s most prestigious academic institutions, arrogantly questioning America??s domestic and foreign policies while attempting to justify his own behavior, his agents continued moving roadside bombs and other munitions into Iraq to be used against U.S. troops.

??By hosting President Ahmadinejad, Columbia University openly insulted the thousands of servicemen and women serving in Iraq, most of whom are direct targets of the munitions that he is sending across the Iraq-Iran border. This insult is compounded by the fact that Columbia University dissolved its Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program and continues to protest the presence of military recruiters on campus. It is troubling to see that a university such as Columbia, with a reputation as one of America??s leading universities, is more receptive to America??s adversaries than it is to the military that protects its right to free speech and assembly.

??Before President Ahmadinejad appeared at Columbia, I expressed these concerns to Mr. Bollinger and indicated my intention, if the event proceeded as scheduled, to introduce legislation to disqualify the University from any form of federal assistance. I believe this legislation is an appropriate and reasonable response to an institution that welcomes a sponsor of terrorism while saying no to our nation??s collegiate military training and recruitment program.

??While I am a strong proponent of free speech, providing this platform to President Ahmadinejad as he continues sending munitions into Iraq to be used against U.S. troops while also racing to acquire a nuclear weapon, only lends credibility to his actions and continued antics. If Columbia University wants to continue hosting our adversaries while turning its back on our military, then U.S. taxpayers should not be required to support the University??s programs.?

NOTE: Columbia dissolved its ROTC program in 1969 and has maintained its prohibitive policy ever since.
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