Rep. Scholten’s unconditional support for Israel continues

On Thursday the House voted on H.R.4795, also known as the Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act of 2026. A Summary of the bill states:

This bill prohibits institutions of higher education (IHEs) that participate in federal student aid programs from engaging in boycotts against Israel. Specifically, IHEs may not engage in a commercial action intended to limit commercial relations with Israel, or with an entity licensed by, regulated by, or organized under the laws of Israel, that is not based on a valid business reason. 

Further, IHEs receiving, or applying to receive, Title VI funds (federal funding for foreign language and international education programs) must annually certify that (1) students and faculty are allowed to participate in academic programs located in Israel in the same manner and under the same terms and conditions as programs in other foreign countries, and (2) students and faculty at postsecondary institutions located in Israel may participate in such IHE’s academic programs in the same manner and under the same terms and conditions as students and faculty from other foreign countries. 

According to the online IndyMedia site Truthout:

“The bill passed 237 to 169, with almost all Republicans and 33 Democrats voting in favor. Democrats who voted “yes” included some of the most vocally pro-Israel and conservative lawmakers in the caucus.” One of those 33 Democrats was Rep. Hillary Scholten.

Since Hillary Scholten was elected to Congress in 2022, she has consistently voted to unconditionally support Israel. In the summer of 2023, Rep. Scholten voted for a resolution stating:

(1) the State of Israel is not a racist or apartheid state;

(2) Congress rejects all forms of antisemitism and xenophobia; and

(3) the United States will always be a staunch partner and supporter of Israel.

Rep. Scholten has voted in favor of US military aid to Israel since 2023 and has defended the Israeli genocide of the Palestinians since it began in the fall of 2023. In 2024 Rep. Scholten voted for the Antisemitism Awareness Act, which essentially equated criticism of Israel with antisemitism.

In 2024, at the height of the pro-Palestine student movement in the US, Rep. Scholten chose not to speak out against the suppression of free speech on campuses across the country. Instead, Rep. Scholten chose to vote for  H.R. 7478, also known as the ‘‘Promote Restoring Order To End Campus Targeting of Jewish Students and Faculty Act.’’ In fact,  Scholten is only one of two Democrats who cosponsored this shitty piece of legislation that includes the likes of Rep. Elise Stefanik from New York. Stefanik has been the person leading the charge to discredit universities who allow Palestine Solidarity actions or Middle East Studies that question Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestinian land.

Lastly, it is important to note that Rep. Scholten has been the recipient of AIPAC funding, along with agreeing to go on a tour of Israel that was sponsored by AIPAC in the summer of 2023.

I write all of this to show that Scholten’s vote on Thursday to punish US universities that are involved in the Palestinian movement known as BDS – Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions – is consistent with her unconditional support for Israel.