HRES 798 United States House · 118th Congress

Condemning the support of Hamas, Hezbollah, and other terrorist organizations at institutions of higher education, which may lead to the creation of a hostile environment for Jewish students, faculty, and staff.

HRES 798 is a House resolution condemning support for Hamas, Hezbollah, and other terrorist organizations at colleges and universities. It states such support may create a hostile environment for Jewish students, faculty, and staff, citing incidents like blaming Israel for the October 7 Hamas attack. The resolution urges the Secretary of Education to direct the Office for Civil Rights to investigate and take action where appropriate. This non-binding resolution expresses the House's position but does not create new law or policy changes.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Oct 2023
Committee Review
Oct 2023
House Passage
Nov 2023
Senate Passage
President
Introduced Oct 19, 2023 Last action Nov 2, 2023
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced in House → Engrossed in House · 4 edits · Nov 2, 2023
MODERATE
The engrossed version of HRES 798 significantly expanded the resolution by adding five new 'Whereas' clauses citing specific incidents at named universities (Stanford, Cornell, Brandeis, George Washington University, and Students for Justice in Palestine), and replaced the original operative clause urging the Secretary of Education to direct OCR investigations with a softer call on campus administrators to condemn antisemitism and protect free speech rights, plus a general urging to enforce existing federal civil rights laws.
ENFORCEMENT

The original operative clause (2) urged the Secretary of Education to direct the Office for Civil Rights to investigate and take action immediately. This was removed and replaced with a call on campus administrators to condemn antisemitism and ensure Jewish students can exercise free speech rights without intimidation, plus a new clause urging enforcement of existing federal civil rights laws. This shifts the mechanism from a specific federal agency directive to a broader exhortation.

The specific directive to the Secretary of Education to direct OCR to investigate and take action immediately was removed entirely.

SCOPE

The title and subject now explicitly include condemning antisemitism on college campuses and supporting the right of Jewish students to exercise First Amendment rights, broadening the resolution beyond just condemning support for terrorist organizations.

REQUIREMENT

Five new 'Whereas' clauses cite specific incidents: Students for Justice in Palestine calling for armed confrontation (Oct 9), a Stanford lecturer targeting Jewish students in class (Oct 10), a Cornell professor calling Hamas' attack exhilarating (Oct 15), Brandeis student government voting down a condemnation of Hamas (Oct 22), and George Washington University students projecting Glory to our Martyrs signs (Oct 24).

Floor votes · House Nov 2, 2023

How they voted

396–23
Passed · 14 other
Total votes 433
Nov 2, 2023
D Democratic212
183 Yea 22 Nay 7
86% Yea
I Independent1
1 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican220
212 Yea 1 Nay 7
96% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
11
Key actions
1
Committee
1
Amendments
3
Nov 2, 2023
Introduced
The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
lower
Nov 2, 2023
Introduced
On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 396 - 23 (Roll no. 578). (text: 11/1/2023 CR H5201-5202)
lower
Nov 2, 2023
Lower · Passed
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 396 - 23 (Roll no. 578). (text: 11/1/2023 CR H5201-5202)
lower
Nov 1, 2023
Introduced
Mr. Owens moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended.
lower
Oct 25, 2023
Committee
Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
lower
Oct 19, 2023
Introduced
Introduced in House
lower
1 primary · 100 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Burgess Owens
Burgess Owens
RRepublican
UT
4
Co
Photo of Aaron Bean
Aaron Bean
RRepublican
FL
4
Co
Photo of Ashley Hinson
Ashley Hinson
RRepublican
IA
2
Co
Photo of August Pfluger
August Pfluger
RRepublican
TX
11
Co
Photo of Barry Moore
Barry Moore
RRepublican
AL
1
Co
Photo of Beth Van Duyne
Beth Van Duyne
RRepublican
TX
24
Co
Photo of Bill Johnson
Bill Johnson
RRepublican
OH
6
Co
Photo of Bill Posey
Bill Posey
RRepublican
FL
8
Co
Photo of Blake D. Moore
Blake D. Moore
RRepublican
UT
1
Co
Photo of Bob Good
Bob Good
RRepublican
VA
5
Co
Photo of Brandon Williams
Brandon Williams
RRepublican
NY
22