Bossier (La.) Press-Tribune
Kennedy, Lankford introduce bill protecting student religious organizations from campus discrimination
Written by BPT Staff
Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today joined Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) and 24 colleagues in introducing the Equal Campus Access Act of 2025.
“Our nation’s colleges and universities have a duty and constitutional responsibility to protect every student’s right to faith. Sadly, we’ve seen too many abandon that important duty—whether through rising antisemitism or rampant discrimination against student faith groups. The Equal Campus Access Act is simple: If a college or university accepts federal funds, it must treat all religious students fairly. Protecting religious liberty is paramount and should never depend on who occupies the Oval Office,” said Kennedy.
“Freedom of religion, speech, and association are Constitutionally protected rights in every place in America, including America’s campuses. This bill makes clear that public colleges must grant religious student organizations the same rights as every other student group. At a time when our nation needs hope and unity, the ability to exercise your faith must be protected, not cast aside,” said Lankford.
In Feb. 2023, the Biden administration attempted to roll back parts of a Department of Education rule from the first Trump administration requiring officials to withdraw federal backing from colleges that restrict the activities of campus religious organizations.
Though the rule remains in effect under the second Trump administration, the Equal Campus Access Act would codify the policy and prevent future administrations from intruding on the rights of student religious organizations.
Rep. Tim Walberg (R-Mich.) introduced the companion bill in the U.S. House of Representatives.
“All too frequently, we hear about instances of students’ free speech and free association being restricted on college campuses, especially due to their religious beliefs. While the Trump administration and Secretary of Education Linda McMahon have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to protecting student liberties on campuses, we’ve seen other administrations try to undermine the foundational principle of academic freedom and the right to religious expression. Our legislation will ensure that future administrations cannot erode religious freedom and ideological diversity on college campuses,” said Walberg.
Sens. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Jim Banks (R-Ind.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) also cosponsored the bill.
51 faith-based and religious liberty groups have endorsed the Equal Campus Access Act. 47 such organizations authored a letter in support of the bill, noting, “The undersigned represent diverse beliefs regarding theology, but we agree on affirming the freedom of all students to meet on their public college campuses based upon their shared religious beliefs.”