Us Congress 2025-2026 Regular Session

Us Congress House Bill HB455

Introduced
1/15/25  

Caption

Protecting Higher Education from Foreign Threats Act This bill prohibits an institution of higher education (IHE) from receiving federal funds for an award year in which the IHE employs an instructor who, while employed at the IHE and providing direct instruction to students, received funds from the Chinese Community Party. An IHE may regain eligibility for federal funds by demonstrating to the Department of Education that it no longer employs such instructor.

Impact

If passed, the bill would impose strict restrictions on higher education institutions, disallowing any federal financial assistance for those that employ instructors receiving funds from the CCP. Institutions that lose eligibility would have the opportunity to regain it by ceasing the employment of such instructors, thereby introducing a mechanism for compliance and accountability. This change could significantly impact various universities, particularly those with existing partnerships or programs associated with funding from China, compelling them to re-evaluate staffing and funding structures.

Summary

House Bill 455, titled the Protecting Higher Education from Foreign Threats Act, proposes significant amendments to the Higher Education Act of 1965 aimed at preventing institutions of higher education from receiving federal funds if they employ instructors funded by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). This legislation arises from increasing concerns about foreign influence within academic institutions in the United States, emphasizing national security and the integrity of educational environments.

Contention

The proposed bill has ignited a contentious debate among lawmakers and education advocates. Proponents argue that it is necessary to protect American academic institutions from foreign ideological influences, particularly those that may not align with democratic values. On the contrary, critics express concern that the bill could unfairly penalize institutions that may engage in legitimate cooperation with foreign entities, potentially stifling academic freedom and collaboration on an international scale. Such divisions highlight the broader implications of national security versus educational independence in contemporary discourse.

Congress_id

119-HR-455

Policy_area

Education

Introduced_date

2025-01-15

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

US HB684

Protecting Higher Education from Foreign Threats Act

US SB5147

Protecting Higher Education from the Chinese Communist Party Act of 2024

US HB435

Protecting Life on College Campus Act of 2023 This bill prohibits the award of federal funds to an institution of higher education (IHE) that hosts or is affiliated with a school-based service site that provides abortion drugs or abortions to its students or to employees of the IHE or the site. An IHE that hosts or is affiliated with a site must, in order to remain eligible for federal funds, annually certify that the site does not provide abortion drugs or abortions to students or employees.

US SB16

Protecting Life on College Campus Act of 2023 This bill prohibits the award of federal funds to an institution of higher education (IHE) that hosts or is affiliated with a school-based service site that provides abortion drugs or abortions to its students or to employees of the IHE or the site. An IHE that hosts or is affiliated with a site must, in order to remain eligible for federal funds, annually certify that the site does not provide abortion drugs or abortions to students or employees.

US HR207

Amending the Rules of the House of Representatives to prohibit Members, officers, and employees of the House from serving on the board of directors of any entity which receives funding from, or is affiliated with or owned or controlled by, the United Front Work Department of the Chinese Communist Party, any other element of the Chinese Communist Party, or any foreign adversary, and for other purposes.

US HB174

No Federal Funding for Teacher's Unions Act This bill prohibits labor organizations of education professionals from receiving federal funds.

US HB10404

To amend title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide program eligibility for distance education programs offered by foreign institutions of higher education.

US HB463

Children Have Opportunities in Classrooms Everywhere Act This bill allows tax-exempt distributions from qualified tuition programs (known as 529 plans) to be used for additional educational expenses in connection with elementary or secondary school. The bill also allows certain federal funds for elementary and secondary education to follow a student from a low-income household to the public school that the student attends or for tax-exempt educational expenses. Under current law, tax-exempt distributions in connection with elementary or secondary school are limited to tuition for a public, private, or religious school. The bill allows these distributions to be used additionally for curriculum and curricular materials, books or other instructional materials, online educational materials, tutoring or educational classes outside the home, testing fees, fees for dual enrollment in an institution of higher education, and educational therapies for students with disabilities. Distributions may also be used for tuition and the purposes above in connection with a home school (whether treated as a home school or a private school under state law). In addition, the bill directs state educational agencies to allocate grant funds to ensure the funding follows students to their public school or for other tax-exempt educational expenses outlined by the bill. Each state that carries out these allocations must establish a plan that allows the parent of an eligible child to apply for grant funds.

US HB315

No Taxpayer Funded Platform for Chinese Communists Act This bill prohibits using federal funds made available to the U.S. Agency for Global Media to provide an open platform for representatives of the Chinese government, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), or any entity owned or controlled by the Chinese government or by the CCP.

US SB3443

Protecting Education from Malign Foreign Influence Act of 2023

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.