DeGette statement on her no vote to the Lawler Amendment

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO) released the following statement after voting no on the Lawler Amendment:

“Free speech is a bedrock American value. It is critical that it be protected – even when what’s being said is abhorrent,” said Rep. DeGette. ““Freedom of speech does not, however, extend to the very real threats and intimidation against Jewish students that we have seen in colleges and universities across the United States.”

“Institutions of higher education have a fine line to walk between protecting speech and students’ safety, and they need more support not less to fulfill this duty.  Stripping critical federal funding from the universities would actually undermine these efforts and for that reason, I opposed the Lawler Amendment proposed today on the floor.”

The Lawler Amendment would have stifled free speech and legitimate political demonstrations on college campuses across the country by prohibiting funding to institutions of higher education that would not suppress events accused of promoting antisemitism.

After this amendment was adopted, House Republican leadership pulled the underlying bill from the Floor before passage as it lacked the support needed to pass the House.