Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) introduced a bill that would prevent any campus Hamas-sympathizers arrested and convicted of a crime stemming from anti-Israel protests from receiving any student loan bailout from taxpayers.
The bill named ‘No Bailouts for Campus Criminals Act” has 17 republican senator co-sponsors. Rep. Brandon Williams (R-NY22) is leading the effort in the House. The bill comes after widespread, anti-Semitic protests continue to spread on college campuses nationwide. No Democrat sponsors have signed on.
Sen. Cotton said, “Americans who never went to college or responsibly paid off their debts shouldn’t have to pay off other people’s student loans”. Cotton further said, “Americans who never went to college or responsibly paid off their debts shouldn’t have to pay off other people’s student loans. They especially shouldn’t have to pay off the loans of Hamas sympathizers shutting down and defacing campuses.”
“Violent campus protestors laughably demand respect, amnesty, and even takeout food. Our bicameral bill ensures that not one student protestor convicted of criminal offenses is bailed out by student loan forgiveness. Not one dime of taxpayer money will fund these criminals,” said Rep. Williams.
The bill states that any “individual who is convicted of any offense under any Federal or State law related to the individual’s conduct at and during the course of a protest that occurs at an institution of higher education shall be ineligible for forgiveness, cancellation, waiver, or modification of certain Federal student loans.”
In addition to Senator Cotton, this legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Katie Britt (R-AL), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Steve Daines (R-MT), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Josh Hawley (R-MO), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Roger Marshall (R-KS), James Risch (R-ID), Romney (R-UT)Marco Rubio (R-FL), Tim Scott (R-SC), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), J.D. Vance (R-OH), and Roger Wicker (R-MS).