As an undergraduate student during the Vietnam War era, the topic was on our minds and in our conversations. I vividly remember the discussions. It was the mid-1960s, and students were debating professors and one another. Ideas were exchanged, opinions formed and unique perspectives shared. I saw first-hand how college campuses across the nation were hotbeds of free speech – some with which I vehemently disagreed, in all honesty. As a veteran myself, however, I fought to protect and defend this right to free speech; and as a country, we were better served by allowing all sides to passionately argue their views.

In the decades since, the commitment of colleges to protect free speech has eroded. Examples have piled up of students silencing and attacking speakers with whom they disagree, or students being arrested for violating their college’s policies about “free speech zones.” Time and again university leaders stand by and just allow this to happen.

The designation of a “free speech zone” is a particularly egregious example of how colleges limit free speech. These small parcels of land – often just a tiny fraction of the campus – are the only places students may freely engage in expressive activity, such as distributing fliers or holding a rally or protest. Students caught engaging in these activities outside the free speech zone can be subject to arrest, harassment or discipline. One in ten colleges across the nation limits constitutionally guaranteed speech to a particular corner of campus.

At a time where it is critical for colleges and universities to protect all First Amendment rights, a 2019 report identified 30 percent of colleges have restrictive speech codes. These university regulations prohibit student expression typically protected by the First Amendment. Disturbingly, a national study released just last year found that about one-third of students supported restricting free speech on their own college campus.

President Trump, who has been committed to protecting the free speech rights of college students, recently announced his plan requiring colleges to honor free speech on their campuses to be eligible for up to $26 billion of federal research funding. President Trump’s proposal has shed light on this important issue, and we should continue to send a strong message to institutions of higher education that free speech restriction are at odds with our constitutional rights. 

Congress likewise cannot sit idly by while free speech is restricted on our nation’s college campuses. For this reason, I have introduced a resolution in the House of Representatives supporting the right to free speech and admonishing institutions that aim to limit this right, because it’s time to reinforce our support for the First Amendment right to free speech. This resolution calls on universities to abolish their free speech zones and recommit themselves to protecting the free and open exchange of ideas. 

My resolution affirms the House of Representatives’ commitment to being a guardian of free speech in America, including on college and university campuses. This isn’t about protecting conservative or liberal viewpoints; it’s about encouraging conservative and liberal viewpoints, and all viewpoints in between. Twenty-one colleagues of mine in the House have cosponsored this resolution, and I will continue to work on growing that number.

Fostering intellectual curiosity, robust debate and passionate discussion on college campuses is vital for our nation’s strength and future. Passing this resolution will send a message to colleges and students throughout the country that the freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment are alive and well in the twenty-first century.”