Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) introduced the No Bailouts for Campus Criminals Act, which would prevent anti-Israel protesters convicted of crimes from receiving federal student loan forgiveness. The legislation was co-sponsored by 18 other GOP senators and aims to ensure that taxpayers are not responsible for paying off the loans of individuals engaged in criminal behavior on college campuses, particularly those sympathetic to Hamas. The bill was introduced in response to a surge in anti-Israel, antisemitic, and pro-terror protests on college campuses across the nation.
One notable incident that prompted the introduction of the legislation was the arrest of 200 anti-Israel protesters at Columbia University in Manhattan. The activists occupied a tent encampment on campus before storming and occupying a historic building, resulting in the postponement of final exams and a shift to online classes for students. The bill’s co-sponsors, including Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), emphasized the importance of holding these criminals accountable and ensuring that taxpayer dollars do not go towards paying off their debt.
Rep. Brandon Williams (R-NY) is leading companion legislation in the House of Representatives to support the No Bailouts for Campus Criminals Act. Williams pointed out the absurd demands and behavior of violent campus protestors, highlighting the need to prevent individuals convicted of criminal offenses from benefiting from student loan forgiveness. The bill seeks to ensure that not a single student protestor involved in criminal behavior is bailed out by student loan forgiveness, thereby preventing taxpayer money from funding criminals.
The issue of student debt forgiveness has been a point of contention during President Biden’s first term, with approximately $160 billion in student debt relief approved for nearly 4.6 million borrowers through executive actions. However, the University of Pennsylvania’s Penn Wharton Budget Model estimates that the president’s proposed student loan cancellations plans could cost taxpayers a substantial $559 billion over 10 years. As such, the No Bailouts for Campus Criminals Act aims to prevent individuals engaged in criminal behavior on college campuses from benefiting from student loan forgiveness programs, ensuring that responsible taxpayers are not burdened with paying off the debts of criminal protestors.
Overall, the No Bailouts for Campus Criminals Act seeks to address the issue of anti-Israel, antisemitic, and pro-terror protests that have impacted college campuses across the US. By preventing individuals convicted of criminal offenses in connection with campus demonstrations from receiving federal student loan relief, the legislation aims to hold criminals accountable and prevent taxpayers from funding individuals engaged in criminal behavior. The introduction of companion legislation in the House of Representatives demonstrates bipartisan support for ensuring that individuals involved in violent protests on college campuses do not benefit from student loan forgiveness programs, ultimately protecting taxpayers and promoting accountability among protestors.
