June 6, 2019
Washington, DC
Conservatives urge congressional Republicans to oppose progressive extremism on structural reform and free speech as they prepare to reauthorize the Higher Education Act (HEA). Federal statutes on higher education must treat all schools and students equally.
In addition to egregiously expensive and unworkable policies like the Green New Deal and Medicare for All, progressives within Congress like Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) are also proposing free public-school tuition at the community college and university level.
However, “free” is never really free, and this cost would merely be transferred to taxpayers. Moreover, their proposals, while sounding laudable, are costly administrative burdens that target for-profit colleges, while making them less competitive with public institutions.
The HEA reauthorization should also prioritize freedom of speech on campus. In the last two years, there have been nearly 50 attempts to disinvite speakers from college campuses. More than 120 colleges and universities have speech codes that clearly and substantially restrict freedom of speech. Intellectual freedom and the search for truth are paramount on college campuses, and the HEA should contain measures aimed at making sure all speech is treated equally.
This is especially true as an aggressive socialism is finding root in college campuses who receive millions in taxpayer subsidies every year. According to Gallup, close to 51 percent of Americans aged 18-29 have a positive view of socialism, an ideology that has resulted in death and destruction around the globe. They are egged on by ideologues posing as professors, who, in many cases, have been the source of many of the supposedly student-led protests against campus speakers.
With college campuses becoming increasingly intolerant to ideas and debate, it is more important than ever that federal policy allow diversity of views to flourish. As the HEA moves forward, we urge congressional Republicans to stand firm on principles of equal treatment and fairness for all students, and all schools.
| The Honorable Edwin Meese III Attorney General President Ronald Reagan (1985-1988) |
Alfred S. Regnery Chairman, Conservative Action Project Chairman, Law Enforcement Legal Defense Fund |
| The Honorable Colin A. Hanna President Let Freedom Ring, Inc. |
The Honorable Bob McEwen U.S. House of Representatives Former Member, Ohio |
| The Honorable David McIntosh President Club for Growth |
The Honorable T. Kenneth Cribb, Jr. Chief Domestic Advisor President Ronald Reagan (1987-1988) |
| The Honorable Becky Norton Dunlop White House Advisor President Ronald Reagan (1981-1985) |
The Honorable Jim DeMint Member, South Carolina United States Senate (2005-2013) |
| Ed Corrigan Vice Chairman, Conservative Action Project Executive Director, Senate Steering Committee (2003-2012) |
Myron Ebell Director, Center for Energy and Environment Competitive Enterprise Institute |
| Thomas Fitton President Judicial Watch, Inc. |
The Honorable Tony Perkins President, Family Research Council President, Council for National Policy |
| William L. Walton Chairman CNP Action, Inc. |
Jenny Beth Martin Chairman Tea Party Patriots Citizen Fund |
| Lt. Gen. William G. Boykin (Ret.) Executive Vice President Family Research Council |
David Bozell President ForAmerica |
| Mr. Lou Cordia Executive Director President Reagan’s Alumni Association |
Penny Y. Nance President & CEO Concerned Women for America |
| The Honorable J. Kenneth Blackwell Chairman Constitutional Congress, Inc. |
Matt Schlapp Chairman American Conservative Union (ACU) |
| Ginni Thomas President Liberty Consulting, Inc. |
The Honorable William J. Bennett Former U.S. Secretary of Education Department of Education |
| Kevin Freeman Founder NSIC Institute |
Nicholas Logan CEO Cornerstone Payment Systems |
| Allen J. Hebert Chairman American-Chinese Fellowship of Houston |
Peter Thomas Chairman The Conservative Caucus |
| C. Preston Noell III President Tradition, Family, Property, Inc. |
Amapola Hansberger President Legal Immigrants for America |
| Kay R. Daly President Coalition for a Fair Judiciary |
Donna Hearne CEO The Constitutional Coalition |
| Lee Beaman CEO Beaman Automotive Group |
Eli Lehrer President The R Street Institute |
| Craig Dance President / CEO Champion Coach Inc. |
Joan Holt Lindsey President Lindsey Communications |
| Anne Schlafly Cori Chairman Eagle Forum |
Kelly Shackelford President/CEO First Liberty Institute |
| Ron Robinson President Young America’s Foundation |
Floyd Brown Chairman America Fighting Back PAC |
| Roxanne Phillips Member, Executive Committee Council for National Policy |
Sean Noble President American Encore |
| Susan A. Carleson Chairman/CEO American Civil Rights Union |
William H. Shaker CEO and President Washington Marketing Group |
| Robert Hilarides Owner Hilarides Dairy/Sierra Cattle/Hilarides Transportation |
Elaine Donnelly President Center for Military Readiness |
| The Honorable Belden Bell Co-Chair Legacy Society The Heritage Foundation |
Robert K. Fischer Meeting Coordinator Conservatives of Faith |
| Melvin Adams Past President Renewanation |
The Honorable James C. Miller III Budget Director President Ronald Reagan |
| Paavo Ensio Chairman Universal Minerals Group |
The Honorable Mike Hill Representative Florida State House |
| Don Woodsmall President PerfectManTruth.com |
E.W. Jackson Sr. President STAND Foundation, Inc. |
| Sandy Rios Director of Governmental Affairs AFA |
Ralph A. Rebandt, II Lead Pastor Oakland Hills Community Church |
| Sal Russo Co-Founder and Chief Strategist Tea Party Express |
Dr. Jerome R. Corsi, Ph.D. Founder and CEO CorsiNation.com |
| Charlie Copeland President Intercollegiate Studies Institute |
Dr. Richard Rounsavelle Trustee Media Research Center |
| The Honorable Gary L. Bauer President American Values |
Ron Pearson Executive Director Conservative Victory Fund |
| Barry Meguiar President Revival Outside the Walls |
Erin Mitchell Executive Assistant American Target Advertising |
| Kathleen Patten President and CEO American Target Advertising |
Jack Park Conservative Activist and Donor |
| Andresen Blom President Hawaiian Values |
Rod D. Martin Founder and CEO The Martin Organization, Inc. |
| Sherri R. Martin Executive Vice President The Martin Organization, Inc. |
Haley E. Martin President The Martin Foundation |
| Nicholas Stehle Campaign for the American Future |
Shawn A. Mitchell Former National Chaplain National Federation of Republican Assemblies (NFRA) |
| Jerry Melvin Former Dean Florida House of Representatives |
Ralph Benko Political Columnist |
| Ambassador Henry F. Cooper President Reagan’s Chief Defense and Space Negotiator Former SDI Director |
Martha Boneta Chairman Vote America First |
| The Honorable Gerard Kassar State Chairman NYS Conservative Party |
The Honorable James J. Carey National Chairman The Flag & General Officers’ Network |
| Nancy Schulze Women Impacting America |
Dr. Peter Wood President National Association of Scholars |
| The Honorable Morton Blackwell President The Leadership Institute |
Bailey Amaral Program Director The Windrose Project, Inc. |
| Melissa Ortiz Conservative Activist Former Public School Teacher |
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All organizations listed for IDENTIFICATION purposes only.
