S.Amdt. 6216

Mr. Kennedy submitted an amendment to be added to bill S. 4784, known as the Embracing anti-Discrimination, Unbiased Curricula, and Advancing Truth in Education Act (or the EDUCATE Act).

The purpose of this amendment is to limit federal funding and financial assistance for graduate medical schools that do not certify they will avoid certain practices.

Key Changes and Requirements

The amendment aims to add the following restrictions for graduate medical schools to remain eligible for federal funds, including student loan programs:

• Prohibited Tenets: Schools cannot compel or incentivize students, faculty, or staff to adopt beliefs that individuals are in "oppressed or oppressor categories," that people should be treated adversely based on race, sex, ethnicity, religion, or national origin, or that the United States is an "oppressive nation" or "systemically, structurally, or institutionally racist."

• Student Treatment: Schools cannot deprive students of educational opportunities or affect their status based on race, color, or ethnicity. This includes creating benefits or courses of instruction based solely on these characteristics.

• Administrative Restrictions: Schools are prohibited from maintaining or contracting with a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) office or requiring diversity statements for admission or employment.

• Accreditation: Accrediting agencies must show they do not require medical schools to adopt policies that contradict these rules as a condition for accreditation.

Exceptions

The amendment specifies that these rules do not stop schools from:

• Providing medical instruction on health needs related to sex or race.
• Collecting demographic data for information.
• Requiring religious institutions to do things contrary to their religion.
• Restricting First Amendment rights, research, student organizations, guest speakers, or compliance with anti-discrimination laws.