Lankford Moves to Safeguard Students’ Freedom of Faith and Association on College Campuses

WASHINGTON, DC - US Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Tim Scott (R-SC), along with Congressman Tim Walberg (R-MI) and their colleagues, today introduced the Equal Campus Access Act of 2025 to ensure that religious student organizations will not face discrimination on college campuses.

"Freedom of religion, speech, and association are Constitutionally protected rights in every place in America, including America's campuses," said Lankford. "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."

"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," said Walberg. "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."

Lankford, Scott, and Walberg are joined on this legislation by Senators Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Rick Scott (R-FL), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Josh Hawley (R-MO), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Ted Budd (R-NC), Todd Young (R-IN), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Jim Banks (R-IN), Katie Britt (R-AL), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Steve Daines (R-MT), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Jim Risch (R-ID), John Kennedy (R-LA), and John Cornyn (R-TX).

Lankford's legislation is supported by the following organizations: Christian Legal Society, Cru, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA, Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), US Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee for Religious Liberty, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Seventh-day Adventist Church - North American Division, Coalition for Jewish Values, Religious Freedom Institute, Coalition of Virtue, Jewish Coalition for Religious Liberty, Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention (ERLC), National Association of Evangelicals (NAE), 1st Amendment Partnership, Faith & Liberty in the Nation's Capital, Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee, Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty (CALL), Japanese Evangelical Missionary Society / Asian American Christian Fellowship, The Impact Movement, ReJOYce in Jesus Campus Fellowship, Reformed University Fellowship National (RUF), The Navigators, Young Life, Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students), Ratio Christi, Chi Alpha Campus Ministries, Sigma Alpha Omega Christian Sorority, Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities, Catholic Medical Association, Christian Medical & Dental Associations, Coptic Medical Association of North America (CMANA), Anglican Chaplains / Anglican Office for Government and International Affairs (AOGIA), Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE), Association of Christian Schools International, American Association of Christian Schools, Fellowship of Christian University Students (Dallas, TX), Georgia Baptist Mission Board, Michigan Catholic Conference, Queens Federation of Churches, Kansas Family Voice, Frontline Policy Council (Georgia), New Jersey Family Policy Center, and the Maryland Family Institute.

Background:

Lankford introduced the legislation in 2023 following the Biden Administration's proposal to roll back protections for religious student organizations. Lankford and Scott led a public comment letter urging the Department of Education to maintain the Trump-era Religious Liberty and Free Inquiry Rule. Lankford and Scott also sent a letter to Secretary Cardona when the rule was first rumored to be rescinded, urging him to retain the rule. The Equal Campus Access Act would permanently codify these protections into law.

You can view the full text of the bill HERE, and can read the Exclusive in The Daily Signal HERE.

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