Congressman McDowell Joins Chairwoman Stefanik in Introducing the Fairness in Higher Education Accreditation Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Yesterday, Congressman Addison McDowell joined House Republican Leadership Chairwoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY) in introducing the Fairness in Higher Education Accreditation Act to bar accreditors from compelling institutions to adopt racial or sex-based quotas and require accreditors to consider a school’s commitment to academic freedom foremost.

The legislation aligns with President Trump’s executive order, Reforming Accreditation to Strengthen Higher Education, and codifies it into law. Sen. Jim Banks (R-IN) has introduced the companion bill in the Senate. Representatives Addison McDowell (R-NC) and Ralph Norman (R-SC) are original cosponsors of the legislation.

"In the golden age of common sense, the Fairness in Higher Education Accreditation Act presents a prime opportunity to correct the path of our higher education institutions, which have lost their way in recent years,” said Congressman McDowell. "When we commit our universities to excellence over DEI, our country is better for it. I’m proud to stand with Congresswoman Elise Stefanik and Senator Jim Banks in our country's efforts to rid our universities of wokeness.”

"Accreditors should not have the tools to coerce colleges into using racial or sex-based quotas as a condition of accreditation. Academic quality should be based on merit and not woke accreditation elites who have a Far Left ideology at odds with freedom of thought," said Chairwoman Stefanik. 

Key provisions of the bill include:

• Upholds Academic Freedom: Mandates accreditors respect institutions’ commitment to free speech, academic freedom, and First Amendment protections.
• Bans Identity-Based Quotas: Prevents accreditors from enforcing standards tied to the racial, gender, or national origin composition of students, faculty, or staff.
• Strengthens Institutional Autonomy: Guarantees colleges can establish their lawful policies without fear of losing accreditation.
• Respects Religious Institutions: Shields faith-based institutions from mandates that conflict with their religious beliefs.
• Provides Legal Recourse: Grants colleges the right to take legal action against accreditors that violate these fundamental protections.

Read the full bill HERE.