Murphy Leads on Campus Free Speech Initiatives

Washington, D.C. – This week, Rep. Greg Murphy, M.D. (NC-03) introduced two campus free speech initiatives: A resolution condemning compelled speech on college campuses and the Campus Free Speech Restoration Act.

Denouncing Compelled Speech Resolution

The first initiative is a resolution condemning universities that compel students during the admissions process or faculty during the hiring and promotion process to submit to certain political or social ideologies.

“Our universities should be focused on attracting the best and the brightest - not by ideology – when it comes to both students and staff," said Rep. Murphy. "The sad reality of this is that students and professors are oftentimes compelled to sideline their personal beliefs and conform to the woke mob. That is why I am introducing this resolution to condemn a malpractice that so drastically distorts the education of America's future generations, especially at taxpayer-funded universities."

“FIRE thanks Representative Murphy for introducing this resolution condemning the use of political litmus tests to penalize dissenters in higher education,” said Tyler Coward, FIRE’s Senior Legislative Counsel. “As the Supreme Court recognized over a half-century ago, political litmus tests ‘cast a pall of orthodoxy’ over the academy. Our colleges and universities must be places that invite great debate and where diverse viewpoints are protected.”

This resolution condemns the practice of requiring support of an ideology or political movement during the admissions or hiring process. Specifically, this resolution confronts public universities that compel possible students or hires to make a pledge or statement on topics such as diversity, equity, or inclusion. Actions such as these are antithetical to the freedom of speech protected by the First Amendment and should be condemned.  

Representative Dan Bishop joined Congressman Murphy on this resolution.

Click here to read the full text.

Campus Free Speech Restoration Act

The second initiative is the reintroduction of the Campus Free Speech Restoration Act. This bill is a response to the silencing of conservative voices across the nation.

Rep. Murphy's legislation, previously introduced in the 117th Congress, would require public and private universities to report First Amendment violations to the Department of Education and publicly share campus policies on free speech. Failure to do so would restrict Title IV funding.

"Students learn best when they're in an environment where they can express their opinions and ask questions,” said Rep. Murphy. "Unfortunately, many institutions teach diversity in all things except opinion. That's why I'm introducing this bill to put a long-overdue check on woke universities and ensure students' First Amendment rights are duly protected."

The Campus Free Speech Restoration Act is supported by the American Council of Trustees and Alumni (ACTA):

“The future of our free society is imperiled,” said Dr. Michael Poliakoff, President of ACTA, “when our colleges and universities are failing to foster an environment that welcomes open and honest discussion of controversial subjects. Intellectual diversity and the free exchange of ideas are the lifeblood of higher education and of a vibrant democracy, but too many institutions of higher education are actively discouraging this birthright of our nation," Dr. Poliakoff continued. "Public institutions must observe the protections offered by the First Amendment, and they need to be more proactive in building a culture of free expression. Private institutions, too, bear an ethical responsibility to be sanctuaries for the free exchange of ideas. These are the sacred tenets of academic communities. Since Rep. Murphy introduced this bill in 2021, the culture of freedom of expression on American campuses has deteriorated even more. The need to address this issue is even more urgent.”

Representatives Glenn Grothman, Brian Babin, Scott Fitzgerald, Tom Tiffany cosponsored the Campus Free Speech Restoration Act.

Click here to read the full text.

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