H.R. 881

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 881 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 881

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

May 8, 2025

Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security 
and Governmental Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

AN ACT

To establish Department of Homeland Security funding restrictions on 
institutions of higher education that have a relationship with 
Confucius Institutes, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``DHS Restrictions on Confucius 
Institutes and Chinese Entities of Concern Act''.

SEC. 2. LIMITATIONS ON CONFUCIUS INSTITUTES' HOST SCHOOLS.

(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Chinese entity of concern.--The term ``Chinese entity 
of concern'' means any university or college in the People's 
Republic of China that--
(A) is involved in the implementation of military-
civil fusion;
(B) participates in the Chinese defense industrial 
base;
(C) is affiliated with the Chinese State 
Administration for Science, Technology and Industry for 
the National Defense;
(D) receives funding from any organization 
subordinate to the Central Military Commission of the 
Chinese Communist Party;
(E) provides support to any security, defense, 
police, or intelligence organization of the Government 
of the People's Republic of China or the Chinese 
Communist Party;
(F) purposefully undermines the United States' 
relationship with Taiwan;
(G) aids, abets, or enables the detention, 
imprisonment, persecution, or forced labor of Uyghur 
Muslims in the People's Republic of China;
(H) willfully and knowingly engages in malicious 
activities, including online disinformation campaigns 
and propaganda, for the purpose of interfering with 
United States Federal, State, or local elections; or
(I) is affiliated with the Chinese Academy of 
Sciences.
(2) Confucius institute.--The term ``Confucius Institute'' 
means a cultural institute funded by the Government of the 
People's Republic of China.
(3) Institution of higher education.--The term 
``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given such 
term in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 1002).
(4) Relationship.--The term ``relationship'' means, with 
respect to an institution of higher education, any contract 
awarded, or agreement entered into, as well as any in-kind 
donation or gift, received from a Confucius Institute or 
Chinese entity of concern.
(5) Thousand talents program.--The term ``Thousand Talents 
Program'' means any technological or educational program funded 
or administered by the Chinese Communist Party's Ministry of 
Industry and Information Technology.
(b) Restrictions on Institutions of Higher Education.--Beginning 
with the first fiscal year that begins after the date that is 12 months 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland 
Security shall ensure that an institution of higher education (referred 
to in this subsection as an ``institution'') which has a relationship 
with a Confucius Institute, Thousand Talents Program, or Chinese entity 
of concern is ineligible to receive any funds from the Department of 
Homeland Security, unless the institution terminates the relationship 
between the institution and such Confucius Institute, Thousand Talents 
Program, or Chinese entity of concern, as the case may be. Upon 
termination of such a relationship, the institution at issue shall be 
eligible to receive funds from the Department of Homeland Security.
(c) Waiver.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Homeland Security may, 
after consultation with the Director of National Intelligence, 
on a case-by-case basis and for a period not to exceed one 
year, waive the application of subsection (b) with respect to 
an institution of higher education if the Secretary determines 
the institution at issue maintains robust safeguards and 
enforcement protocols to monitor the relationship at issue, 
including active measures to detect and deter attempts by 
Chinese nationals affiliated with a Confucius Institute, 
Thousand Talents Program, or Chinese entity of concern that is 
the subject of such relationship to gain unauthorized access to 
sensitive research, data, or federally funded development 
activities conducted at or on the premises of, or by, such 
institution, and either of the following conditions is 
satisfied:
(A) The relationship at issue is in the national 
security interests of the United States.
(B) The relationship at issue does not present a 
direct or indirect national security risk to the United 
States or its allies.
(2) Renewal.--The Secretary of Homeland Security may, after 
consultation with the Director of National Intelligence, 
annually renew a waiver issued pursuant to paragraph (1) if the 
Secretary determines all of the conditions described in such 
paragraph continue to be satisfied.
(3) Effective dates.--A waiver issued or renewed pursuant 
to paragraph (1) or (2), respectively, takes effect and applies 
beginning on the date that is 30 days after such issuance or 
renewal, as the case may be.
(4) Notification.--If the Secretary of Homeland Security, 
after consultation with the Director of National Intelligence, 
issues or renews a waiver pursuant to paragraph (1) or (2), 
respectively, not later than 30 days before such issuance or 
renewal, as the case may be, takes effect, the Secretary shall 
submit to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and 
Governmental Affairs of the Senate written notification 
regarding such issuance or renewal, including a justification 
relating thereto.
(d) Assistance.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall provide 
outreach and, upon request, technical assistance to institutions of 
higher education relating to compliance with this Act.
(e) Reports.--Not later than 18 months after the date of the 
enactment of this Act and annually thereafter, the Secretary of 
Homeland Security shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security of 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and 
Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report regarding implementation of 
this section during the immediately preceding 12 month period. Each 
such report shall include information relating to the following:
(1) Any institution of higher education that has a 
relationship with a Confucius Institute, Thousand Talents 
Program, or Chinese entity of concern and receives funds from 
the Department of Homeland Security.
(2) The implementation of subsections (b), (c), and (d).

Passed the House of Representatives May 7, 2025.

Attest:

KEVIN F. MCCUMBER,

Clerk.