WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) joined U.S. Senator Jim Banks (R-IN) in cosponsoring the Safeguarding American Education From Foreign Control Act. This bill requires universities to disclose gifts they receive from foreign adversaries, regardless of the amount of the gift or contract. This bill aligns with President Trump’s America First agenda by preventing foreign money and influence from infiltrating our higher education institutions.
Sen. Tuberville cosponsored this legislation in the 118th Congress.
“The Chinese Communist Party wants to brainwash our kids and destroy our country — not on my watch,” said Sen. Tuberville. “The CCP has made it clear their plan of action is to infiltrate our education system and indoctrinate our kids. It is astounding that we have allowed universities to get away with taking money from a country that hates us. I was glad to see Troy University in Alabama close its CCP-backed Confucius Institute, and hope other universities will follow their lead. Transparency about how China is funding our schools is not only vital to our national security — our kids’ futures depend on it.”
“Americans deserve to know if universities are accepting money from our enemies like China, Iran, Russia, and North Korea. This bill delivers that transparency and stops hostile nations from hiding their influence on our campuses,” said Sen. Banks.
Sens. Tuberville and Banks were joined by Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) in cosponsoring the legislation.
Representative Erin Houchin (R-IN-09) is leading the effort in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Read full text of the legislation here.
BACKGROUND:
Key Provisions of the Safeguarding American Education from Foreign Control Act are:
- Requiring Disclosures – Universities Must Report:
- All gift disclosures from foreign sources associated with a covered nation (Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea)
- Reports from Section 117 of the Higher Education Act of 1965
- Investigations enacted by the Department of Education
- Guaranteeing transparency by ensuring the Department of Education transmits disclosure reports to the FBI, ODNI, and Department of State
- Enforcing accountability by allowing the FBI and the ODNI to request the DOJ bring forward action for inability to comply with disclosure requirements
According to the Americans for Public Trust, China donated more than $175 million to American universities last year.
In August 2023, Sen. Tuberville joined 19 of his Senate colleagues in sending a letter to the Biden Administration’s Department of Education (ED) expressing outrage for allowing the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to infiltrate U.S. classrooms through Confucius programming. Confucius programming establishes a partnership between schools, universities, or nonprofits and a Chinese government entity. Expansion of Confucius Classrooms in the United States is a top priority for the Chinese government. A report released in July 2023 shows over 143 United States schools across 34 states and the District of Columbia have received CCP-related funding. Additionally, the report shows the CCP has ties to 20 school districts near United States military bases. Read the letter here.
In February 2023, Sen. Tuberville let Troy University know that future funding opportunities would be in jeopardy if they did not end their Confucius Institute program. He was pleased when Troy announced they were closing the program.
Since assuming office in the U.S. Senate in 2021, Sen. Tuberville has led and supported numerous efforts to protect American resources, farmland, investments, intellectual property, and national security from the growing threat of Communist China.
Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP and Aging Committees.
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