House Passes Bill to Boost Transparency on Foreign Funding in Higher Education

The Epoch Times Header

The bipartisan measure, known as the DETERRENT Act, would expand disclosure rules and bar contracts with adversarial governments without federal approval.

The House of Representatives passed legislation on March 27 that would require American colleges and universities to disclose all foreign gifts and contracts from countries of concern, as part of an effort to increase transparency and curb foreign influence in U.S. higher education.

The bill, H.R. 1048โ€”formally titled the Defending Education Transparency and Ending Rogue Regimes Engaging in Nefarious Transactions (DETERRENT) Actโ€”passed on a bipartisan 241โ€“169 vote.

It was supported by 210 Republicans and 31 Democrats. Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) was the only Republican to oppose it. Among Democrats, 168 voted against the bill.

The measure would lower the reporting threshold for foreign gifts and contracts from $250,000 to $50,000 and require disclosure of any amount from countries or entities deemed of concern, such as China and Russia.

It would also prohibit institutions from entering contracts with such countries or entities without obtaining a waiver from the Department of Education.

In addition, the bill would require schools to disclose financial ties between covered individualsโ€”such as faculty researchersโ€”and foreign sources. Private universities with large endowments would be required to report foreign investments annually.

Rep. Michael Baumgartner (R-Wash.), who introduced the legislation, said the bill targets malign foreign influence that undermines national security and academic freedom.

โ€œThe DETERRENT Act brings much-needed transparency, accountability, and clarity to foreign gift reporting requirements for colleges and universities,โ€ a summary of the bill from Baumgartner and the Committee on Education and Workforce stated.

The bill outlines penalties for institutions that fail to comply, including potential loss of eligibility for federal student financial aid.

Supporters say the reforms are necessary because current disclosure rules under Section 117 of the Higher Education Act are too weak and poorly enforced.

According to a congressional investigation, two major research universities failed to report nearly $40 million in contracts tied to the Chinese Communist Party.

The committee said in its statement that foreign adversaries use financial ties with universities to steal research, suppress speech, and push propaganda.

Byย Chase Smith

Read Full Article on TheEpochTimes.com

The Epoch Times
The Epoch Timeshttps://www.theepochtimes.com/
Tired of biased news? The Epoch Times is truthful, factual news that other media outlets don't report. No spin. No agenda. Just honest journalism like it used to be.

The Looming Threat To Our Homeland

After success of โ€œOperation Midnight Hammer,โ€ where U.S. military bombed Iranian nuclear facilities, the threat to America has never been greater.

Groundhog Day came late this year to the Land of Smiles.

itโ€™s the same rigmarole, on whatever pretext, the army commandeers the Thai state with vague promises to restore democracy at some unspecified future date.

Resource number one

Russia has an unsustainable birthrate worsened by mortality rate of Russian males through war and alcoholism. One solution, steal young children from other countries.ย 

Expansionist CCP Runs Amok in Pacific After U.S. Relocates Naval Assets to Mid-East

Caveat established, Chinaโ€™s been going bananas on the high seas as the eyes of the world, and U.S. military assets, hone in on Iran.

The Anti-Trump Protests โ€“ Why Are They So Important?

The anti-Trump stance is not a political position, but a desperate gesture, a mental diagnosis of those who refuse to accept the reality of the World today.

Mawson study using Florida Medicaid data again confirms childhood vaccines are likely responsible for nearly 80% of the autism cases in US

Mawson study using Florida Medicaid data again confirms childhood vaccines are likely responsible for nearly 80% of the autism cases in US.

Abbott Signs Bill Into Law Requiring Ten Commandments in Public School Classrooms

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced he signed a bill into law, that would require all public school classrooms in his state to display the Ten Commandments.

Supreme Court Limits Factors Courts May Consider When Revoking Supervised Release

On June 20, the Supreme Court voted 7โ€“2 to limit the factors that judges are allowed to consider when revoking supervised release.

Reports: B-2 Stealth Bombers Depart United States, Heading West

Reports indicate multiple U.S. Air Force B-2 Spirit stealth bombers departed Whiteman Air Force Base, MS, overnight on June 20 and June 21, heading west.

No Changes Planned for FDAโ€™s Vaccine Advisory Committee โ€˜At This Timeโ€™: Spokesperson

There are no plans to remove any members of the panel that advises the FDA on vaccines, a spokesperson said on June 20.

Trump Says Trade Deals Expected With India and Pakistan

President Trump expects US will sign trade deals with India and Pakistan, signaling growing momentum in push to reshape global trade through tariff diplomacy.

Trump Says US Intelligence Communityโ€™s Assessment of Iranโ€™s Nuclear Program โ€˜Was Wrongโ€™

President Trump said his director of national intelligenceโ€™s assessment in March that Iran had yet to decide on building a nuclear weapon was wrong.

NIH Ends Gain-of-Function Research, Implementing Trumpโ€™s Executive Order

The NIH announced the end of gain-of-function research. The instituteโ€™s update said the move is in compliance with President Trumpโ€™s EO on the topic.ย 
spot_img

Related Articles