H.R. 2117Protecting Academic Freedom in Higher Education Act

5 recorded actions79 of these members are on the 2026 ballotWhat the measure does Read on Congress.gov

Sponsor: Virginia Foxx [R-NC-05]
Cosponsors: 69 · 66 Republicans · 3 Democrats
Policy area: Education
Committees: Education and Workforce Committee, Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee
Latest action: Feb 29, 2012 · Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

IntroducedJun 3, 2011
Passed the HouseFeb 28, 2012
Passed the SenateNot yet reached
Sent to the PresidentNot yet reached
Became lawNot yet reached

What the measure doesCRS summary

Protecting Academic Freedom in Higher Education Act - Repeals certain Department of Education regulations that for purposes of determining whether a school is eligible to participate in programs under the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA): (1) require institutions of higher education and postsecondary vocational institutions (except religious schools) to be legally authorized by the state in which they are situated, (2) delineate what such legal authorization requires of states and schools, and (3) define "credit hour."

Prohibits the Secretary of Education from promulgating or enforcing any regulation or rule that defines "credit hour" for any purpose under the HEA.

Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service, describing H.R. 2117 as passed House amended on Feb 28, 2012. It is not the text of the measure; a later amendment may have changed what it does.

Roll calls on H.R. 21175 roll calls on this measure

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Feb 28, 2012Each bar: ✓ Yea from the bottom, ✕ Nay aboveFeb 28, 2012

How every member votedHouse roll call 79

House Feb 28, 2012 · the primary vote

On Passage

Protecting Academic Freedom in Higher Education Act

Passed

303 Yea 114 Nay 16 not voting

Crossed both parties 69 of 417 voting members broke with their own party: 69 Democrats.

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How the chamber split

One dot per member. Select a seat or a bar to filter the list.

DemocratsRepublicansFilled: YeaRing: NayGrey: not voting or present

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All members433 members

Democratic192 members

Republican241 members

marks half of the votes cast. A party’s majority is the side most of its voting members took.

Cosponsors69 · 66 Republicans · 3 Democrats

Signing on is not a vote: a member can cosponsor H.R. 2117 and vote against it. 1 signed when it was filed.

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Who lobbied on H.R. 211790 organizations

Organizations that named H.R. 2117 in a lobbying disclosure. Only those that cited the bill by number appear, so this is a floor, not a full list.

NATIONAL ASSN OF INDEPENDENT COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES

Education8 filings · 2nd Quarter (Apr 1 - June 30) 2012Filing

AMERICAN PHYSICAL THERAPY ASSOCIATIONIts PAC: American Physical Therapy Association Physical Therapy PAC

Accounting · Medicare/Medicaid · Budget/Appropriations · Health Issues +5 more7 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2012Filing

CORINTHIAN COLLEGES, INC.filed by AKERMAN LLP

Education7 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2012Filing

EXCELSIOR COLLEGEfiled by DUTKO WORLDWIDE, LLC

Veterans · Education7 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2012Filing

MARICOPA COMMUNITY COLLEGEfiled by PARRY, ROMANI, DECONCINI & SYMMS

Budget/Appropriations · Education · Government Issues7 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2012Filing

PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITYfiled by THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY

Defense · Agriculture · Transportation · Health Issues +7 more7 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2012Filing

THOMAS EDISON STATE UNIVERSITYfiled by MWW GROUP

Education · Veterans · Budget/Appropriations7 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2012Filing

UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER

Energy/Nuclear · Homeland Security · Science/Technology · Taxation/Internal Revenue Code +9 more7 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2012Filing

UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON

Taxation/Internal Revenue Code · Health Issues · Immigration · Veterans +7 more7 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2012Filing

WESTERN GOVERNORS UNIVERSITYfiled by DUTKO WORLDWIDE, LLC

Veterans · Education7 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2012Filing

273 disclosures name this measure. Retrieved from LDA.gov on 2026-10-05. Senate Office of Public Records cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from LDA.gov.