August 5, 2025
Mr. Steube introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce
To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to prohibit institutions of higher education from receiving gifts from or entering into contracts with foreign countries of concern.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Securing Academia from Foreign Entanglements Act
.
Sec. 2. Funds from foreign countries of concern
(a) Disclosures of foreign gifts
Section 117(h)(2)(A) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1011f(h)(2)(A)) is amended by inserting , except that such term does not include a foreign country of concern as defined in section 117A
after agency of a foreign government
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(b) Prohibition on funds from foreign countries of concern
Title I of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 117 the following:
117A. Prohibition on gifts from foreign countries of concern
(a) Definitions
In this section:
(1) Contract
The term contract has the meaning given that term in section 117.
(2) Foreign country of concern
The term foreign country of concern includes the following:
(A)
A country that is a covered nation (as defined in section 4872(d) of title 10, United States Code).
(B)
Any country that the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of State, and the Director of National Intelligence, determines to be engaged in conduct that is detrimental to the national security or foreign policy of the United States.
(3) Gift
The term gift has the meaning given that term in section 117.
(4) Institution
The term institution has the meaning given that term in section 117.
(b) In General
An institution shall not receive a gift from or enter into a contract with a foreign country of concern.
(c) Rule of construction
This section shall not be construed to affect the payment of tuition, room and board, fees, or other aspects of cost of attendance.