House passes bill tightening rules on foreign gifts to universities

A bill to tighten reporting requirements for universities that receive donations from foreign entities is one step closer to becoming law after it passed the House of Representatives on a bipartisan vote Wednesday.

The Republican-controlled House voted 246-170 to pass the Defending Education Transparency and Ending Rogue Regimes Engaging in Nefarious Transactions Act. Thirty-one Democrats joined all Republicans in supporting the bill, which is sponsored by Rep. Michelle Steel (R-CA).

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“As our college campuses are subjected to the rampant spread of antisemitism and the continued presence of CCP influence campaigns, it is critical that we expose the forces attempting to influence our children,” Steel said after the bill passed. “When foreign governments give money to our universities, they don’t do it out of the goodness of their hearts; they want something in return. Whether it’s terror-friendly states like Qatar and Iran, or brutal human rights abusers like the CCP, our campuses must not become puppets of countries who hate America.”

The bill, if signed into law, would amend Section 117 of the Higher Education Act to require colleges to disclose any foreign donations of at least $50,000, and donations of any amount from “countries and entities of concern.” Current law requires schools to disclose foreign donations and gifts that exceed $250,000.

The legislation is part of a Republican effort to tighten oversight of foreign influence in U.S. higher education, especially by the Chinese Communist Party.

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In 2020, the Trump administration’s Department of Education and then-Secretary Betsy DeVos released a report detailing billions in previously undeclared foreign donations.

Wednesday’s vote was opposed by the majority of the House Democratic Conference. Nevertheless, a number of Democrats, mostly from competitive districts, crossed the political aisle to support the bill, including Reps. Jared Golden (D-ME), Henry Cuellar (D-TX), Greg Landsman (D-OH), Kathy Manning (D-NC), Chris Pappas (D-NH), and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA). Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), who is running for Senate, also voted for the bill.