HR881-119

What This Bill Does

The DHS Restrictions on Confucius Institutes and Chinese Entities of Concern Act restricts DHS funding for colleges and universities with certain China-linked relationships. It defines Chinese entities of concern to include Chinese universities or colleges involved in military-civil fusion, the Chinese defense industrial base, the Chinese defense science administration, Central Military Commission funding, support for Chinese security or intelligence organizations, undermining the U.S.-Taiwan relationship, Uyghur detention or forced labor, election disinformation or propaganda, or affiliation with the Chinese Academy of Sciences. A relationship includes contracts, agreements, in-kind donations, or gifts from a Confucius Institute or Chinese entity of concern. Beginning with the first fiscal year after 12 months from enactment, DHS must make institutions with relationships to a Confucius Institute, Thousand Talents Program, or Chinese entity of concern ineligible for DHS funds unless the relationship is terminated. DHS may grant one-year waivers after consulting the Director of National Intelligence if safeguards exist and the relationship is in U.S. national security interests or presents no direct or indirect national security risk. DHS must notify Congress before waivers take effect and provide outreach and technical assistance to institutions.

Who Benefits and How

Universities without covered China-linked relationships benefit because they face less competition for DHS funds from institutions with Confucius Institute or Chinese entity ties. U.S. research-security officials benefit from a funding lever to pressure institutions to sever or safeguard risky relationships. DHS grant managers benefit from statutory criteria for evaluating Confucius Institute, Thousand Talents, and Chinese entity relationships. Congress benefits from waiver notifications and justifications. Institutions that terminate covered relationships benefit by regaining eligibility for DHS funding.

Who Bears the Burden and How

Universities with Confucius Institute relationships risk losing DHS funds unless they terminate the relationship or obtain a waiver. Confucius Institutes in the United States face higher barriers to maintaining campus relationships. Chinese universities with defense, security, surveillance, election interference, Uyghur forced-labor, or Chinese Academy of Sciences ties become funding-risk triggers for U.S. institutions. The Secretary of Homeland Security must administer eligibility restrictions, waivers, outreach, technical assistance, and congressional notifications. The Director of National Intelligence must be consulted on waiver decisions.

Key Provisions

• Defines Chinese entities of concern using military-civil fusion, defense, security, Taiwan, Uyghur, election-interference, and Chinese Academy of Sciences criteria.
• Defines relationships to include contracts, agreements, in-kind donations, and gifts from Confucius Institutes or Chinese entities of concern.
• Requires DHS funding ineligibility for institutions with covered relationships beginning after a 12-month transition.
• Restores DHS funding eligibility when an institution terminates the covered relationship.
• Authorizes one-year waivers after DHS consults the Director of National Intelligence and finds safeguards plus national-security grounds.
• Requires congressional notification and justification before waivers or renewals take effect.
• Requires DHS outreach and technical assistance for higher education institutions.