U.S. Senators Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), both members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, along with several of their Republican colleagues, have introduced a bill named the No Higher education Assistance for Mobs of Antisemitic and terrorist sympathizing Students (No HAMAS) Act. This legislation is a direct response to the unlawful anti-Semitic, pro-Hamas encampments and riots that have been occurring on college campuses across the nation.
The No HAMAS Act proposes to revoke federal student financial assistance for students who are convicted of trespassing, rioting, or damaging property while protesting at a higher education institution. If convicted, these students would lose their eligibility for any federal grant, loan, or work assistance.
Upon introducing the bill, Sen. Cruz stated, “Students who have been convicted of a crime for engaging in violent protest or other criminal behavior on college campuses must be held accountable for their actions. Under no circumstances should the federal government enable this lawlessness by providing federal student aid to students who are threatening Jewish students, vandalizing the campus, and taking over buildings. I am proud to support this common sense legislation to stop federal aid from flowing into the pockets of students who willfully break the law in support of Hamas terrorists.”
Senators Cruz and Tillis were joined by Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), and Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.) in introducing this legislation.