Washington — Mark A. Luker, a vice president of Educause, said last night that his group was pushing lawmakers to block a measure designed to stem online swapping of music files on college campuses. The measure is part of legislation to reauthorize the Higher Education Act (HR 4137), which is scheduled for a vote today by the U.S. House of Representatives.

The controversial provision would require colleges to offer subscription-based music services or other “alternatives” to the “illegal downloading of music.” It would also require colleges to “explore technology-based deterrents to prevent such illegal activity.”

Mr. Luker said colleges had found that their students do not want to use or pay for the subscription-based music services. And he said technology tools to deter copyright infringement are expensive and do not work.

Another measure in the bill, which Educause does not oppose, would demand that colleges inform students annually of their policies on copyright infringement.

Rep. Steve Cohen, a Democrat of Tennessee, had planned to introduce an amendment that would assure colleges that their students would not be denied financial aid if the institutions did not comply with requirements concerning digital theft. But Mr. Cohen withdrew the amendment on Wednesday because he was busy dealing with the effects of tornadoes in his district. Mr. Luker said Educause was not concerned about the issue raised in the amendment. —Andrea L. Foster