ACTA Supports House Bills Protecting Freedom of Association and Equal Campus Access

Earlier today the House Education and Workforce Committee met to debate and amend a number of bills, including two measures that ACTA wrote in of support of.

H.R. 2555, the Freedom of Association in Higher Education Act, aims to prevent administrative overreach targeting students in single-sex organizations like fraternities and sororities. Increasingly, universities are penalizing students simply for participating in these lawful groups by barring their members from campus leadership positions, fellowships, and other vital opportunities. H.R. 2555 protects students’ rights by prohibiting institutions that receive federal funding from discriminating against or punishing students solely based on their participation in single-sex groups.

We also wrote in support of H.R. 5505, the Equal Campus Access Act, which addresses the widespread marginalization of faith-based student groups. Under the guise of broad “all-comers” policies, many institutions force religious student organizations to accept leaders who do not share their core beliefs. This bill guarantees that religious organizations maintain equal access to campus facilities and resources while preserving their constitutional right to act in accordance with their deeply held tenets, thus securing a campus culture conducive to the free exchange of ideas.

Defending these basic constitutional liberties is essential if our universities are to remain true centers of academic excellence and intellectual freedom. By establishing clear statutory safeguards against administrative overreach, these bills ensure that America’s colleges and universities remain vibrant, open marketplaces of ideas for all students.

View ACTA’s letter of support for H.R. 5505 HERE.
View ACTA’s letter of support for H.R. 2555 HERE.