Accreditation for College Excellence Act of 2025
House Committee Advances Bill Banning Political Litmus Tests in College Accreditation
Legislative Progress
Key Points
- This bill, introduced by Representative Owens, would stop the organizations that oversee colleges from forcing schools to support specific political or social beliefs. These organizations, known as accreditors, provide the seal of approval colleges need so their students can receive federal financial aid.
- The plan prevents these oversight groups from requiring or even encouraging colleges to take sides on partisan issues or social debates. It also stops them from judging a school's quality based on whether the school follows a specific ideology or set of beliefs.
- Religious colleges would receive specific protections under this law. They would still be allowed to require students and staff to follow their religious rules or sign statements of faith without being punished by the groups that set college standards.
- The bill also says that these oversight groups cannot push schools to treat people differently based on race or other protected groups, unless a court or federal law specifically requires it. This is meant to ensure schools follow standard civil rights rules.
- If passed, the Secretary of Education would be prohibited from creating any extra rules for these oversight groups that are not already written in this law.
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
How this policy affects specific groups of people
Milestones
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 380.
The bill is now on the schedule for the full chamber to consider. It's in line for debate and a vote.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and Workforce. H. Rept. 119-444.
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 21 - 15.
The committee approved this bill and is sending it to the full chamber for a vote. This is a significant step — most bills never get this far.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
Related News
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Rep. Burgess Owens (R-UT) introduced the Accreditation for College Excellence Act of 2025 to ensure that a school's accreditation is not contingent upon adopting 'political litmus tests' such as DEI mandates. The bill prohibits accreditors from pushing partisan or ideological viewpoints.
Public University Accreditation Is Latest Front in Right-Wing War on Education
The Accreditation for College Excellence Act, introduced by Rep. Burgess Owens, is intended to prohibit accrediting agencies from 'requiring, encouraging, or coercing' colleges to meet 'political litmus tests' that support the recruitment and retention of diverse students and faculty.
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House Republicans passed the End Woke Higher Education Act, which incorporates the Accreditation for College Excellence Act. The bill aims to ensure colleges are not required to adhere to DEI principles for accreditation and protects the religious mission of faith-based institutions.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Accreditation for College Excellence Act of 2025
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
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