Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
This bill amends the Higher Education Act to prohibit institutions of higher education from entering into contracts with designated foreign countries or foreign entities of concern, except by a limited waiver process. Waivers last one year, require submission of full contract text and a compliance officer certification, and are issued only after consultation with multiple national security agencies and notification to congressional committees.
Progressives emphasize academic freedom and research chill risks.
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill is a clear substantive policy change that is accompanied by well-specified prohibitions, a detailed waiver process, defined enforcement tools, and integrated amendments to the Higher Education Act.
This bill amends the Higher Education Act to prohibit institutions of higher education from entering into contracts with designated foreign countries or foreign entities of concern, except by a limited waiver process.
Waivers last one year, require submission of full contract text and a compliance officer certification, and are issued only after consultation with multiple national security agencies and notification to congressional committees.
Institutions must terminate contracts if a party is later designated, face administrative investigations, civil enforcement, fines tied to federal funds, and potential temporary loss of Title IV program eligibility for repeated violations.
Moderate national‑security appeal offset by academic backlash, enforcement complexity, and significant penalties for institutions.
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill is a clear substantive policy change that is accompanied by well-specified prohibitions, a detailed waiver process, defined enforcement tools, and integrated amendments to the Higher Education Act. It provides concrete timelines, responsible officials, and penalty structures, but omits funding or resourcing provisions and some procedural safeguards and oversight details.
Progressives emphasize academic freedom and research chill risks.
These are examples from the analysis, not a ranked list of the most-affected groups.
Progressives emphasize academic freedom and research chill risks.
Likely supportive of limiting influence from hostile foreign states, but concerned about academic freedom, research collaboration, and impacts on students.
Worried the definitions and heavy penalties could chill open scientific exchange and harm public institutions with limited resources.
Would favor safeguards, narrower definitions, and protections for basic research and international students.
Views the bill as a reasonable national-security measure but notes practical implementation challenges.
Sees merit in review and interagency consultation, while flagging administrative burden, timing issues, and severity of financial penalties.
Would seek clearer standards, an appeals path, and resources for compliance.
Likely strongly supportive because it restricts contracts with foreign adversaries and imposes enforceable penalties.
Approves of interagency national-security consultations and strong fines to deter risky relationships.
May prefer even stricter rules, though some may press for faster designation authority.
Reached or meaningfully advanced
Reached or meaningfully advanced
Still ahead
Still ahead
Still ahead
Moderate national‑security appeal offset by academic backlash, enforcement complexity, and significant penalties for institutions.
The bill has not accumulated any surfaced votes yet.
Progressives emphasize academic freedom and research chill risks.
Moderate national‑security appeal offset by academic backlash, enforcement complexity, and significant penalties for institutions.
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill is a clear substantive policy change that is accompanied by well-specified prohibitions, a detailed waiver process, defined enforcement tools, and integrated amendmen…
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