H.R. 2117: Protecting Academic Freedom in Higher Education Act

112th Congress · introduced 2011-06-03 · Education · Latest: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2011-06-03 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Foxx, Virginia [R-NC-5] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: 5 recorded votes in our records. Latest: House roll call 75 (2012): On Agreeing to the Amendment, HR2117 (2012-02-28), Failed. See all
Where it stands now: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Protecting Academic Freedom in Higher Education Act

Plain summary

Protecting Academic Freedom in Higher Education Act - Repeals certain Department of Education regulations that for purposes of determining whether a school is eligible to participate in programs under the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA): (1) require institutions of higher education and postsecondary vocational institutions (except religious schools) to be legally authorized by the state in which they are situated, (2) delineate what such legal authorization requires of states and schools, and (3) define "credit hour." Prohibits the Secretary of Education from promulgating or enforcing any regulation or rule that defines "credit hour" for any purpose under the HEA.

Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House amended), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Protecting Academic Freedom in Higher Education Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House amended)

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The strongest published arguments

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Foxx, Virginia [R-NC-5] · 69 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

John R. Carter (R-TX), Scott DesJarlais (R-TN), Glenn Thompson (R-PA), Tim Walberg (R-MI), Brett Guthrie (R-KY), Christopher H. Smith (R-NJ), Adrian Smith (R-NE), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Pete Sessions (R-TX), Charles J. "Chuck" Fleischmann (R-TN) and 9 more.

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Foxx, Virginia [R-NC-5] reported raising $2.2 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

Recorded votes

House roll call 75 (2012): On Agreeing to the Amendment, HR2117 (2012-02-28): Failed
House roll call 76 (2012): On Agreeing to the Amendment, HR2117 (2012-02-28): Failed
House roll call 77 (2012): On Agreeing to the Amendment, HR2117 (2012-02-28): Failed
House roll call 78 (2012): On Motion to Recommit with Instructions, HR2117 (2012-02-28): Failed
House roll call 79 (2012): On Passage, HR2117 (2012-02-28): Passed

Words on this page, explained (2)

Authorization: A law that creates or continues a government program and says what it may do, often with a suggested spending ceiling. An authorization alone does not provide money; a separate appropriation does.
Rulemaking: The process agencies use to write regulations that carry out laws passed by Congress or a legislature. Usually an agency publishes a proposed rule, takes public comments, then publishes a final rule.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House amended)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-112hr2117.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/112/hr>

Record fed-us-cong112-hr2117 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong112 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong112