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State leaders cosponsor bill stripping some arrested protesters of federal student loan relief
The act would make any individual who is convicted of a state or federal offense in connection with a campus protest ineligible for any federal student loan relief.
By WLOX Staff
JACKSON, Miss. (WLOX) - Sen. Roger Wicker (R) and Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R) have announced their support for a bill condemning protestors at university campuses.
On Friday, both Mississippi leaders showed their support of S. Res. 670, a resolution introduced by Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) which does the following:
- condemns “the rise of antisemitism on campuses of institutions of high education across the United States” and “administrators who have enabled ongoing antisemitism”
- urges the Department of Education to “take actions to ensure that institutions of higher education are complying with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and that students, including Jewish students, are not experiencing discrimination in violation of such Title VI.”
“Everyone has a right to express their opinion in this country, but not when it turns to speech that foments hate and violence,” said Sen. Hyde-Smith. “It’s shameful that the permissive policies at colleges and universities have fueled antisemitism, violence, and intimidation. It’s simply unacceptable.”
The pair also joined in cosponsoring a bill deemed the “No Bailouts for Campus Criminals Act” (S. 4240), introduced by Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) on Thursday. The act would make any individual who is convicted of a state or federal offense in connection with a campus protest ineligible for any federal student loan relief.
“The Biden student loan forgiveness scheme is already audacious, but allowing pro-Hamas and other student lawbreakers to benefit would be an outrage for taxpayers, who are already left holding the bag to pay off these loans,” Sen. Hyde-Smith added.
The announcements come just one day after a protest on the campus of Ole Miss, which was acknowledged by Gov. Tate Reeves on the social media platform X.
Hyde-Smith and Wicker are joined by 16 other Republicans in sponsoring the legislation.