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Foreign Influence Transparency Act

USA117th CongressHR-1535| House 
| Updated: 5/18/2021
Joe Wilson

Joe Wilson

Republican Representative

South Carolina

Cosponsors (34)
Michael C. Burgess (Republican)Bob Gibbs (Republican)Mo Brooks (Republican)Elise M. Stefanik (Republican)John R. Carter (Republican)Tim Burchett (Republican)Andy Harris (Republican)Rick W. Allen (Republican)Neal P. Dunn (Republican)Lance Gooden (Republican)William R. Timmons (Republican)David Rouzer (Republican)Ken Calvert (Republican)Barry Loudermilk (Republican)Gus M. Bilirakis (Republican)Mario Diaz-Balart (Republican)Darrell Issa (Republican)Doug Lamborn (Republican)Tom Rice (Republican)Brian J. Mast (Republican)W. Gregory Steube (Republican)Dan Bishop (Republican)Scott Fitzgerald (Republican)Anthony Gonzalez (Republican)Scott DesJarlais (Republican)Michael R. Turner (Republican)Vicky Hartzler (Republican)Bill Huizenga (Republican)Matt Gaetz (Republican)Bill Posey (Republican)Randy K. Sr. Weber (Republican)Ralph Norman (Republican)Brian Babin (Republican)Michael Guest (Republican)

Judiciary Committee, Constitution and Limited Government Subcommittee, Education and Workforce Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Foreign Influence Transparency Act This bill addresses foreign influence in higher education and in certain other academic, religious, and artistic pursuits. Current law exempts from foreign agent registration requirements a person engaging in activities in furtherance of religious, scholastic, academic, or scientific pursuits or of the fine arts. The bill specifies that this exemption applies only to those activities that do not promote the political agenda of a foreign government. Under current law, an institution of higher education (IHE) must disclose to the Department of Education (ED) a gift or contract that is from a foreign source and is valued at $250,000 or more, considered alone or in combination with all other gifts from or contracts with the foreign source. The bill instead requires an IHE to disclose such a gift or contract that is valued at $50,000 or more, considered alone or in combination with all other gifts or contracts. An IHE must include in its disclosure report the contents of any such contract and make the contents available for public disclosure. Additionally, an IHE that enters into an agreement with a Confucius Institute (i.e., a cultural institute directly or indirectly funded by the Chinese government) must immediately make available the full text of the agreement to the public, ED, and Congress. Finally, the bill prohibits an IHE that does not comply with these disclosure requirements from enrolling foreign students under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 116-7063
Foreign Influence Transparency Act
Mar 3, 2021

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 117-577
Introduced in Senate
Mar 3, 2021
Introduced in House
Mar 3, 2021
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Labor, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
May 18, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 116-7063
    Foreign Influence Transparency Act


  • March 3, 2021

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 117-577
    Introduced in Senate


  • March 3, 2021
    Introduced in House


  • March 3, 2021
    Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Labor, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.


  • May 18, 2021
    Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.

International Affairs

Related Bills

  • S 117-577: Foreign Influence Transparency Act
Art, artists, authorshipAsiaChinaCongressional oversightCultural exchanges and relationsGeneral science and technology mattersGovernment information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsHigher educationInternational exchange and broadcastingInternational organizations and cooperationPerforming artsPublic participation and lobbyingReligionTeaching, teachers, curricula

Foreign Influence Transparency Act

USA117th CongressHR-1535| House 
| Updated: 5/18/2021
Foreign Influence Transparency Act This bill addresses foreign influence in higher education and in certain other academic, religious, and artistic pursuits. Current law exempts from foreign agent registration requirements a person engaging in activities in furtherance of religious, scholastic, academic, or scientific pursuits or of the fine arts. The bill specifies that this exemption applies only to those activities that do not promote the political agenda of a foreign government. Under current law, an institution of higher education (IHE) must disclose to the Department of Education (ED) a gift or contract that is from a foreign source and is valued at $250,000 or more, considered alone or in combination with all other gifts from or contracts with the foreign source. The bill instead requires an IHE to disclose such a gift or contract that is valued at $50,000 or more, considered alone or in combination with all other gifts or contracts. An IHE must include in its disclosure report the contents of any such contract and make the contents available for public disclosure. Additionally, an IHE that enters into an agreement with a Confucius Institute (i.e., a cultural institute directly or indirectly funded by the Chinese government) must immediately make available the full text of the agreement to the public, ED, and Congress. Finally, the bill prohibits an IHE that does not comply with these disclosure requirements from enrolling foreign students under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 116-7063
Foreign Influence Transparency Act
Mar 3, 2021

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 117-577
Introduced in Senate
Mar 3, 2021
Introduced in House
Mar 3, 2021
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Labor, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
May 18, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 116-7063
    Foreign Influence Transparency Act


  • March 3, 2021

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 117-577
    Introduced in Senate


  • March 3, 2021
    Introduced in House


  • March 3, 2021
    Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Labor, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.


  • May 18, 2021
    Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.
Joe Wilson

Joe Wilson

Republican Representative

South Carolina

Cosponsors (34)
Michael C. Burgess (Republican)Bob Gibbs (Republican)Mo Brooks (Republican)Elise M. Stefanik (Republican)John R. Carter (Republican)Tim Burchett (Republican)Andy Harris (Republican)Rick W. Allen (Republican)Neal P. Dunn (Republican)Lance Gooden (Republican)William R. Timmons (Republican)David Rouzer (Republican)Ken Calvert (Republican)Barry Loudermilk (Republican)Gus M. Bilirakis (Republican)Mario Diaz-Balart (Republican)Darrell Issa (Republican)Doug Lamborn (Republican)Tom Rice (Republican)Brian J. Mast (Republican)W. Gregory Steube (Republican)Dan Bishop (Republican)Scott Fitzgerald (Republican)Anthony Gonzalez (Republican)Scott DesJarlais (Republican)Michael R. Turner (Republican)Vicky Hartzler (Republican)Bill Huizenga (Republican)Matt Gaetz (Republican)Bill Posey (Republican)Randy K. Sr. Weber (Republican)Ralph Norman (Republican)Brian Babin (Republican)Michael Guest (Republican)

Judiciary Committee, Constitution and Limited Government Subcommittee, Education and Workforce Committee

International Affairs

Related Bills

  • S 117-577: Foreign Influence Transparency Act
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Art, artists, authorshipAsiaChinaCongressional oversightCultural exchanges and relationsGeneral science and technology mattersGovernment information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsHigher educationInternational exchange and broadcastingInternational organizations and cooperationPerforming artsPublic participation and lobbyingReligionTeaching, teachers, curricula