Us Congress 2025-2026 Regular Session

Us Congress House Bill HB1018

Introduced
2/5/25  

Caption

INSTRUCT Act of 2025 Instructing Noteworthy Steps toward Transparency to Rout and Undo Calamitous Transactions Act of 2025

Impact

This legislation aims to strengthen federal oversight in the realm of higher education by requiring timely sharing of foreign transaction disclosures with various federal agencies, including the FBI and different intelligence and defense departments. By doing this, it prepares the ground for improved interagency communication regarding potential threats posed by foreign funding. The legislation is expected to improve compliance among institutions, as failure to adhere to these regulations may result in increased scrutiny and ramifications.

Summary

House Bill 1018, known as the INSTRUCT Act of 2025, seeks to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to enhance the disclosure requirements regarding foreign gifts and contracts received by educational institutions. The bill mandates that all reports related to these foreign transactions must be accessible as public records, thereby promoting accountability and transparency in how educational institutions handle foreign funding. The initiative is part of a larger effort to safeguard national interests by ensuring that such dealings are scrutinized and monitored more effectively.

Contention

While proponents argue that HB1018 is necessary to safeguard American educational institutions from undue foreign influence and to foster transparency, critics may express concerns regarding the implications of excessive federal oversight on academic freedom and institutional autonomy. There is a potential debate on the balance between national security interests and the independence of educational institutions, as some academic leaders may argue that punitive measures could discourage valuable international partnerships.

Congress_id

119-HR-1018

Policy_area

Education

Introduced_date

2025-02-05

Companion Bills

US HB1048

Related bill Defending Education Transparency and Ending Rogue Regimes Engaging in Nefarious Transactions Act or the DETERRENT ActThis bill expands oversight and disclosure requirements related to foreign sources and institutions of higher education (IHEs).Specifically, the bill requires an IHE to annually disclose to the Department of Education (ED) any year in which the IHEreceives a gift from a foreign country of concern (e.g., China or Russia) or foreign entity of concern of any dollar amount;receives a gift or contract from a foreign source (other than a foreign country of concern or foreign entity of concern) that is valued at $50,000 or more, considered alone or in combination with all other gifts or contracts within a calendar year (current disclosure threshold is $250,000 or more), or which has an undetermined monetary value;enters into a contract with a foreign country of concern or foreign entity of concern after receiving a waiver for such contract; oris substantially controlled by a foreign source.Additionally, the billprohibits IHEs from entering into contracts with a foreign country of concern or with a foreign entity of concern without obtaining a waiver,requires certain IHEs to disclose gifts or contracts between covered individuals (e.g., researchers) and foreign sources, andrequires private IHEs with specified assets or investments to file annual investment disclosure reports.The bill requires ED to investigate possible violations of this bill and outlines the various penalties for each violation. Penalties may include losing eligibility for federal student financial aid.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.