[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 80 (Monday, May 10, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S2406]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                 China

  On another subject, Madam President, dealing with my oversight work, 
on March 10 of this year, I came to the floor about my February 11, 
2021, oversight letter to the Biden administration's Department of 
Homeland Security. That letter discussed the administration's 
withdrawal of what has been called the Confucius rule associated with 
the country of China and probably more closely related to the Communist 
Party of China. The rule that was withdrawn was proposed in the Trump 
administration, and it would have required educational institutions to 
just simply disclose their financial connection to the Communist 
Chinese Government, including its Confucius Institutes.
  The substance of the rule is common sense, especially in light of the 
clear propaganda threat that the regime of China presents to us. It is 
common sense, so why wouldn't the Biden administration continue with 
it?
  In my letter, I ask Secretary Mayorkas two very simple questions:
  One, does the Biden Department of Homeland Security consider 
Confucius Institutes to be an extension of the Chinese Government? If 
not, why not?
  Second question: Does the Biden Department of Homeland Security 
consider Confucius Institutes to be purveyors of Communist Chinese 
propaganda? If not, why not?
  When I took to the floor on March 10, the Biden administration had 
failed to respond. As of today, still no response. These are very easy 
questions for the administration. The failure to answer in light of the 
ongoing threat is very troubling.
  Just the other week, the Justice Department indicted an American 
professor on two counts of wire fraud and one count of making a false 
statement for concealing support he received from the Chinese 
Government. The indictment tells me this administration has concerns 
about China and our universities, or this action would not have been 
taken.
  During the course of my oversight activities, I have looked at both 
threats to taxpayer-funded research and threats that Confucius 
Institutes pose to our educational institutions. Simply put, these are 
real concerns.
  With respect to threats to taxpayer-funded research, we must protect 
our intellectual property and research. The Chinese are stealing our 
intellectual property every day. We all know that.
  We spend billions of dollars and expend a great amount of effort to 
bring innovations to this country and, in turn, the world. We must 
protect our American investments from Chinese espionage and theft.
  Likewise, we must guard against the propaganda spread by Confucius 
Institutes, which are extensions of the Communist regime.
  One member of the Communist regime said this:

       The Confucius Institute is an appealing brand for expanding 
     our culture abroad. It has made an important contribution 
     toward improving our soft power. The ``Confucius'' brand has 
     a natural attractiveness. Using the excuse of teaching 
     Chinese language, everything looks reasonable and logical.

  Now, I want to quote the Chinese Minister of Propaganda, who said to 
his fellow ministry workers:

       [C]oordinate the efforts of overseas and domestic 
     propaganda, [and] further create a favorable international 
     environment for us.
       With regard to key issues that influence our sovereignty 
     and safety, we should actively carry out international 
     propaganda battles against issues such as Tibet . . . Taiwan, 
     human rights.
       Our strategy is to proactively take our culture abroad. We 
     should do well in establishing operating overseas cultural 
     centers and Confucius Institutes.

  Why would any American doubt China's purpose for Confucius Institutes 
based upon the quote of that Minister? Yet, even with this very clear 
threat, the Biden administration is silent on the proposed rule other 
than their getting caught retracting that Trump rule. What more does 
this administration need before they get the picture?
  Given the administration's failure to act, I have introduced a bill, 
S. 1369, that would make the rule that they have withdrawn now a law. 
My bill, which is cosponsored by Senators Blackburn, Tillis, and 
Hawley, would require U.S. educational institutions to disclose their 
financial connections with the Communist Chinese regime. My bill would 
accomplish these measures by requiring schools to disclose those 
connections as part of their certification and recertification in the 
Student and Exchange Visitor Program. That program provides approvals 
to schools to enroll nonimmigrant students. If the schools want visas 
for these foreign students, they will first have to disclose their ties 
to the Chinese Government.
  The centerpiece of the bill I just described is disclosure and 
transparency, and we all know that transparency brings accountability. 
We the people absolutely have a right to know if our educational 
institutions are tied to the hip with China, especially in light of 
that regime's using money to gain leverage over many of them, which 
brings me, then, to a greater point. American educational institutions 
ought to stand up to the Communist regime instead of doing their 
bidding for the millions of dollars they receive.
  China is a national security threat. They are a propaganda machine, 
and we know they will stop at nothing in their attempt to dominate the 
world.
  It is time for the Biden administration to step up to the plate and 
protect our American interests and American institutions. If they don't 
let that rule of the previous administration stay in place or put it 
back in place, I would urge my colleagues to join my transparency bill.