Standards for accreditation of accrediting agencies and associations

Section 496(c) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1099b(c)) is amended— (1) in paragraph (8), by striking and at the end; (2) in paragraph (9), by striking the period at the end and inserting; and; and (3) by adding at the end the following: (10) confirms that the standards for accreditation of the agency or association do not— (A) require, encourage, or coerce any institution of higher education to engage in prohibited diversity, equity, and inclusion practices (as defined in section 1201 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964); (B) assess the commitment of an institution of higher education to any ideology, belief, or viewpoint; (C) prohibit or discourage an institution of higher education from engaging in activity protected by the Constitution, including having a religious mission, operating as a religious institution, or being controlled by or associated with a religious organization; or (D) discriminate against an institution of higher education for engaging in religious speech, religious practice, or religious exercise..