[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 140 (Tuesday, September 10, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H5119-H5128]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   DHS RESTRICTIONS ON CONFUCIUS INSTITUTES AND CHINESE ENTITIES OF 
                              CONCERN ACT


                             General Leave

  Mr. GUEST. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on H.R. 1516.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Chavez-DeRemer). Is there objection

[[Page H5120]]

to the request of the gentleman from Mississippi?
  There was no objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 1430 and rule 
XVIII, the Chair declares the House in the Committee of the Whole House 
on the state of the Union for the consideration of the bill, H.R. 1516.
  The Chair appoints the gentlewoman from Oklahoma (Mrs. Bice) to 
preside over the Committee of the Whole.

                              {time}  1414


                     In the Committee of the Whole

  Accordingly, the House resolved itself into the Committee of the 
Whole House on the state of the Union for the consideration of the bill 
(H.R. 1516) to establish Department of Homeland Security funding 
restrictions on institutions of higher education that have a 
relationship with Confucius Institutes, and for other purposes, with 
Mrs. Bice in the chair.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The CHAIR. Pursuant to the rule, the bill is considered read the 
first time.
  General debate shall be confined to the bill and shall not exceed 1 
hour equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority 
member of the Committee on Homeland Security or their respective 
designees. The gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Guest) and the gentleman 
from Mississippi (Mr. Thompson) each will control 30 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Guest).

                              {time}  1415

  Mr. GUEST. Madam Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Today, I rise in support of Congressman Pfluger's bill, H.R. 1516, 
the DHS Restrictions on Confucius Institutes and Chinese Entities of 
Concern Act.
  We all know that the Chinese Communist Party will stop at nothing to 
undermine the United States and our allies as they attempt to reshape 
the world order. Proving this point is the extent the CCP is willing to 
go to expand its intelligence and influence apparatus.
  In the past 2 years, we have seen the CCP fly a spy balloon across 
the continental United States. We have seen troves of data collected 
from CCP-aligned mobile applications. Also, recently, we have learned 
of an aide to the Governor of New York who acted covertly with her 
husband to advance the agenda of the CCP within the New York State 
capital.
  One of our Nation's most glaring vulnerabilities is the CCP's attempt 
to influence our Nation's educational system. It should concern every 
American that billions of dollars from the CCP are flowing into our K-
12 classrooms and institutions of higher education.
  Originally established to promote Chinese language and culture, 
Confucius Institutes have increasingly come under scrutiny for their 
ability to influence and control the narrative around critical issues 
affecting our Nation's interests. These organizations have helped the 
CCP advance their strategic goals and gain valuable intelligence on the 
United States.
  Congress has taken steps to address this issue, but more remains to 
be done. The legislation that we are here to debate today is a critical 
step in stopping the CCP's reach into the American educational system 
by prohibiting DHS dollars from going to institutes of higher education 
if these institutes maintain a relationship with a Confucius Institute 
or a Chinese entity of concern.
  H.R. 1516 is delivering on our promise to the American people that 
House Republicans will do everything in our power to counter the 
growing threat posed by the Chinese Communist Party. This bill protects 
American values by safeguarding our institutions, promoting 
transparency, and ensuring our academic environment remains a space for 
free and independent thought.
  I also thank Congressman Pfluger for his work on this legislation, 
and I look forward to today's debate and encourage all my colleagues to 
vote in favor of this bill.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Madam Chair, I yield myself such time as 
I may consume.
  Madam Chair, I rise in opposition to H.R. 1516. While I support the 
spirit of Mr. Pfluger's bill, which seeks to help address the threat 
posed by the People's Republic of China and the Chinese Communist 
Party, I cannot support this bill as it is presently written.
  H.R. 1516 is fatally flawed. This bill denies critical homeland 
security funding to U.S. universities, puts American students at risk, 
and harms our national security.
  H.R. 1516 would prohibit any DHS funding from going to any U.S. 
university that has any relationship with virtually any Chinese 
university. That means no FEMA funding, no disaster preparedness 
funding, and no terrorism prevention funding. In fact, this bill is 
totally divorced from the very real concerns we all have when it comes 
to Chinese espionage and national security.
  In all likelihood, universities across this country will have to shut 
down student exchange programs, deny students study-abroad 
opportunities, and stop hosting guest lectures, panel events, or 
sporting events with Chinese universities if this poorly written, 
overbroad bill becomes law.
  For example, under this bill, Colgate University, located in the 
district of the gentleman from New York (Mr. Williams), would be 
prohibited from receiving FEMA grants simply because Colgate has a 
program that gives students an opportunity to get firsthand experience 
abroad while being hosted by a university in Shanghai.
  The same goes for Cal State Fullerton, located in the district of the 
gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Steel). Cal State Fullerton pioneered 
international partnerships with Chinese universities back in 1984 so 
that students could collaborate on educational and cultural exchanges.
  Because of these bilateral agreements with partner institutions in 
China, this bill would prohibit DHS from helping students or CSU 
Fullerton if an earthquake strikes Orange County.
  What about Niagara University, where Mr. Langworthy went to college? 
Niagara signed an exchange agreement for MBA students from a university 
in China, which is the world's second largest economy. Would Niagara 
University be prohibited from receiving FEMA grants if a major blizzard 
or flood sweeps through Niagara County? Under H.R. 1516, the answer is 
yes.
  SUNY Binghamton, located in the district of the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Molinaro), has an exchange program with a Chinese university 
so that SUNY Binghamton students can learn the Chinese language, a 
critical foreign language for the military and for business leaders.
  Because of that exchange program, SUNY Binghamton would be denied 
funding and contracts for something as basic as DHS renting a room to 
host a hiring event or as serious as DHS providing help responding to a 
flood.
  The same goes for Valdosta State University, located in the district 
of the gentleman of Georgia (Mr. Austin Scott). Since Valdosta State 
has a Chinese exchange program in urban planning and land resource 
management, it would lose any shot at DHS funding for research, 
hurricane preparedness, or terrorism prevention.
  Supporting this bill also means that the University of Iowa, located 
in the district of the gentlewoman from Iowa (Mrs. Miller-Meeks), would 
be cut off from DHS funding to help it prepare for a tornado or acts of 
violence just because Iowa has an informal requirement that its Chinese 
majors study abroad in China and because Iowa has programs housed at 
universities in China.
  It also means that Hofstra University, located in the district of the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. D'Esposito), would not be able to apply 
for FEMA grants because Hofstra has a dual-degree program with Dongbei 
University of Finance and Economics in China.
  I could go on listing how this bill, as it is written, could hurt 
universities and students in each of our districts. The bottom line is 
that this bill is not just absurd; it is cruel.
  H.R. 1516 is so poorly written that neither its author, Mr. Pfluger, 
nor Committee on Homeland Security's chairman, Mark Green, were able to 
answer even the most basic questions about the bill during our 
committee markup.

[[Page H5121]]

  Democratic Members pointed out at markup that the definition of 
``relationship,'' which triggers the funding prohibition in this bill, 
would incorporate all sorts of agreements, including student exchange 
programs and other cultural programs that help American students.
  Mr. Pfluger, the bill's author, told members of our committee that 
the type of relationship is very important. You have rightly pointed 
that out. It is a monetary relationship.
  Well, that is not what the bill says. It says that any institution of 
higher education that ``has a relationship with a Confucius Institute 
or Chinese entity of concern is ineligible to receive any funds from 
the Department of Homeland Security.''
  If the bill's sponsor meant monetary relationship, the word 
``monetary'' would be in the definition.
  Then there is this overbroad term, ``Chinese entity of concern.'' 
During the markup, the bill's sponsor said something about DHS works 
with the university to deem an entity of concern.
  Well, DHS does not deem entities of concern, so I don't know where 
that idea came from. Chairman Green tried to clean up the definition by 
saying, as I understand it, by the definition, it would only be those 
with ties to the military. Once again, that is not what the bill says.
  Madam Chair, I cannot support a bill drafted so poorly that even its 
author and committee chairman do not know what it bans and do not know 
what it allows. I especially cannot support a bill that does all the 
damage I just described.
  It is not just that this bill was poorly drafted. This bill has been 
mismanaged from the start. The bill's sponsor rejected bipartisan 
language agreed to by the Homeland Security Committee last Congress and 
reverted to the same bad language the committee had to fix in 2022.
  Then the committee chairman reported the wrong text out of the 
committee, and not a single Republican noticed for 9 months. That is 
why the bill on the Union Calendar is not the same one in the Rules 
Committee print now under consideration.
  Madam Chair, if we were voting on the language the Republicans 
actually reported out of committee, the language all of our committee 
staff probably read when the committee went to congress.gov, we would 
be having a different conversation.
  I oppose H.R. 1516 because it is a poorly written and mismanaged bill 
that demonstrates a lack of seriousness among Republicans when it comes 
to the bipartisan desire to address the threat posed by the People's 
Republic of China and the Chinese Communist Party.
  Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GUEST. Madam Chair, I yield as much time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Pfluger), my good friend.
  Mr. PFLUGER. Madam Chair, I thank the chair for bringing this bill to 
the floor, H.R. 1516, the DHS Restrictions on Confucius Institutes and 
Chinese Entities of Concern Act.
  Members have to ask ourselves: Why are we here? I will point back to 
last Congress, in the 117th Congress, where we had H.R. 7779, which was 
a bill that we actually worked together on in the Committee on Homeland 
Security, under the chairman, my friend from Mississippi.
  It was never actually brought to the floor. I am not sure why it 
wasn't brought to the floor. That is why we are here today, because we 
are serious about protecting our country.
  In the NDAA, it went to the Rules Committee, and they voted it down. 
That is why we are here. We are here because we didn't get a chance to 
actually get serious about our Nation's most serious threat, the 
Chinese Communist Party, which is using every tool at their disposal to 
undermine our interests by using malign activity.
  For years, they have done this in conjunction with the People's 
Liberation Army. They have exploited the open and collaborative nature 
of our society of academia to conduct widespread industrial and 
military espionage inside the United States.
  Starting in 2004, various academic institutions across the country 
organized Confucius Institutes as a way to promote Chinese language and 
culture, to support Chinese teaching internationally, and facilitate 
cultural exchanges on campus. However, it quickly became apparent that 
these institutes were nothing more than a Trojan horse acting as an 
extension of CCP's global influence apparatus.
  These institutions and operations have allowed the CCP to develop and 
have an immense impact on the decisions made by academic institutions 
and enable individuals to spy for the CCP on activities across the 
country and promote the CCP's aggressive national strategy, most 
commonly known as the Military-Civil Fusion, to help the People's 
Republic of China develop the most technologically advanced military in 
the world by 2049.
  Thankfully, our society has woken up to these dangers, and now we, as 
Congress, are taking steps to correct that course.

                              {time}  1430

  In fiscal year '21, the National Defense Authorization Act prohibited 
DOD funding from going to institutions of higher education that host 
Confucius Institutes, and it is time for DHS to do the same. If DOD has 
done that, why are we treating DHS any different for their funding?
  We must make every effort to protect Americans' tax dollars from 
being used to fund the CCP's nefarious activities.
  The legislation we are discussing today, H.R. 1516, ensures that 
schools prioritize the security of their scientific research and 
technological development efforts above a paycheck from the CCP or 
entities affiliated with the PLA.
  Specifically, this legislation restricts DHS funding from going to 
universities who maintain relationships with entities connected to the 
CCP or support the People's Republic of China Military-Civil Fusion 
program.
  This bill safeguards our American taxpayer dollars. It safeguards our 
society. More importantly, this is a bill that guarantees that U.S. 
institutions are free from the CCP's malign influence, protects 
students and faculty who speak out against the CCP's nefarious 
activities.
  Let's think about the research papers that are written that actually 
tell the truth about what is going on inside mainland China. This 
protects those students to be able to have the ability to write those 
things.
  Many of my colleagues today might argue that this bill is not the 
same bill passed out of committee last Congress. They are correct. It 
is far stronger than the last bill.
  Since the beginning of Congress, we have seen multiple instances of 
the dangers the CCP poses to the United States. In fact, we have a 
China select committee to just investigate those differences. The 
threat landscape has changed. Instead of a strategy of appeasement that 
has been offered by this administration, let's have a strategy of 
strength that deters action that would undermine our national security.
  I really don't understand the pushback on this for technical reasons. 
Get with the program and let's get behind the security of this United 
States.
  We need to think about the surveillance balloon that was flown across 
the continental United States. We worked in good faith last Congress 
and that bill was never brought to the floor. This Congress, when the 
people have given us the responsibility for the security of this 
country, we are going to take action.
  There will be individuals who bring up the fact that there are only 
five known Confucius Institutes left in the United States and that they 
are no longer a threat. That is simply untrue.
  The CCP has worked to rebrand their educational efforts and are 
operating in full force on college campuses across the United States. 
There is little to no transparency from universities in what type of 
assistance they receive from the PRC. Data collected by the Department 
of Education shows that universities in the United States have 
collected over $3.8 billion from entities connected to the PRC and the 
CCP.
  Some will argue that this bill is too restrictive. According to GAO, 
the Secretary of Defense has never issued a waiver. It has never been 
necessary to issue a waiver. That is why we are taking a strong stance 
at this time with regards to DHS funding. We cannot

[[Page H5122]]

allow any of these malign activities or actions to continue to 
undermine the United States. You are either going to take a step in 
support of the strength of the United States and pushback on the CCP 
and rightfully identify that they want to undermine us in every single 
area: militarily, informationwise, diplomatically, and economically, or 
you are going to be on the side of somebody else's security.
  I know where I stand.
  Madam Chair, I thank Chairman Green for bringing this bill up for 
markup. I especially thank staff member, Chase Sauvage, in particular, 
who has done an amazing job of not letting this issue go and maintains 
a strong stance.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Madam Chair, this bill does not provide 
the Secretary of Homeland Security authority to issue a waiver from 
funding restrictions if it is in the interest of America's national 
security.
  Without this waiver, we just cannot get behind this bill. We need to 
allow the experts, those at DHS, to determine what is in the best 
interest of our national security. This waiver was part of this bill 
when it was reported out of committee last Congress and supported by 
Democrats. Its absence in this bill today is a fatal flaw.
  Madam Chair, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Rhode Island 
(Mr. Magaziner) to discuss better versions of this bill.
  Mr. MAGAZINER. Madam Chair, I thank the ranking member for yielding.
  Madam Chair, while the bill before us attempts to address a real and 
serious issue, I must oppose it in its current form because it is 
drafted in a way that is unnecessarily broad and would have a chilling 
effect on research and scholarship at American universities.
  Let's be clear: Intellectual property theft by the Chinese Communist 
Party is a serious problem that costs United States companies billions 
of dollars and threatens our national security. We should be working 
together on a bipartisan basis to address this matter as was done in 
the Homeland Security Committee in the 117th Congress under then-
Chairman Thompson's leadership.
  However, unlike the bill that passed through the committee last 
Congress, this bill before us today would essentially prohibit any 
collaboration between U.S. and Chinese universities even when that 
collaboration has no national security or commercial significance; for 
example, creative writing programs, history, anthropology, or 
researching lifesaving cures for diseases.
  I know that is not the intent of this bill and that is why the bill 
needs more work.
  Let me clarify. This bill uses a definition of ``Chinese entity of 
concern'' that is so broad that it would include any Chinese university 
or college that has a relationship with the Chinese Government, which 
is basically all of them.

  By definition, ``Chinese entity of concern'' in this bill is defined 
as virtually any university in China. U.S. universities that 
collaborate with these Chinese universities, including on cultural 
exchange programs or engagements on subjects like history or creative 
writing, not related to national security, not related to U.S. 
commercial interests, would still be punished under this bill.
  My colleagues on the other side might point out that the definition 
of Chinese entities of concern in this bill is the same as the 
bipartisan bill in the last Congress, and this is true, but, 
importantly, the version in the last Congress had a waiver provision to 
allow the Department of Homeland Security to provide exceptions to 
allow collaborations between American and Chinese universities that 
bear no risk to our country's security or commercial interests.
  Crucially, the version of the bill we are being presented with today 
has no waiver provision.
  By the way, my colleague, Mr. Pfluger, mentioned that a similar law 
is in effect for the Department of Defense. That is true, but guess 
what? That law has a waiver provision. This bill does not.
  In effect, any collaboration between American and Chinese 
universities would be prohibited under this bill with no possibility 
for exceptions.
  For this reason, at the appropriate time, I will offer a motion to 
recommit this bill back to committee so that it can be refined and 
improved to strike the right balance between protecting America from 
CCP surveillance and IP theft without stifling research and learning 
opportunities for American students that pose no threat.
  If the House rules permitted, I would have offered this motion with 
this important amendment to this bill.
  This amendment will include a waiver provision for DHS to waive, on a 
case-by-case basis, restrictions on institutions of higher education if 
the Secretary determines that the activities are of a benign nature, 
while still restricting research and development funding from going to 
institutions of higher education that have Confucius Institutes or 
other relationships with the CCP that are at risk of compromising U.S. 
interests.
  We can strike the right balance between protecting America's security 
and allowing research and innovation at American universities to be 
competitive with the rest of the world.
  Madam Chair, I include in the Record the text of the amendment.


                           Motion to Recommit

                Offered by Mr. Magaziner of Rhode Island

       Mr. Magaziner of Rhode Island moves to recommit the bill 
     H.R. 1516 to the Committee on Homeland Security with 
     instructions to report the same back to the House forthwith, 
     with the following amendment:
       Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
     following:

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``DHS Restrictions on 
     Confucius Institutes and Chinese Entities of Concern Act''.

     SEC. 2. LIMITATIONS ON CONFUCIUS INSTITUTES' HOST SCHOOLS.

       (a) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Chinese entity of concern.--The term ``Chinese entity 
     of concern'' means any university or college in the People's 
     Republic of China that--
       (A) is involved in the implementation of military-civil 
     fusion;
       (B) participates in the Chinese defense industrial base;
       (C) is affiliated with the Chinese State Administration for 
     Science, Technology and Industry for the National Defense;
       (D) receives funding from any organization subordinate to 
     the Central Military Commission of the Chinese Communist 
     Party; or
       (E) provides support to any security, defense, police, or 
     intelligence organization of the Government of the People's 
     Republic of China or the Chinese Communist Party.
       (2) Confucius institute.--The term ``Confucius Institute'' 
     means a cultural institute funded by the Government of the 
     People's Republic of China.
       (3) Institution of higher education.--The term 
     ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given 
     such term in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
     (20 U.S.C.1002)
       (4) Relationship.--The term ``relationship'' means, with 
     respect to an institution of higher education, any contract 
     awarded, or agreement entered into, as well as any in-kind 
     donation or gift, received from a Confucius Institute or 
     Chinese entity of concern.
       (b) Restrictions on Institutions of Higher Education.--
     Beginning with the first fiscal year that begins after the 
     date that is 12 months after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall ensure 
     that an institution of higher education (referred to in this 
     section as an ``institution'') which has a relationship with 
     a Confucius Institute is ineligible to receive any Science 
     and Technology or Research and Development funds from the 
     Department of Homeland Security, unless the institution 
     terminates the relationship between the institution and such 
     Confucius Institute. Upon the termination of such a 
     relationship, the institution at issue shall be eligible to 
     receive Science and Technology or Research and Development 
     funds from the Department of Homeland Security.
       (c) Chinese Entities of Concern Relationship Disclosures.--
     Beginning on the date that is 12 months after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security 
     shall require each institution which has a relationship with 
     a Chinese entity of concern that is seeking or receives 
     Science and Technology or Research and Development funds from 
     the Department of Homeland Security to notify the Secretary 
     of such relationship. Such notification shall include the 
     following with respect to such relationship:
       (1) An identification of the Chinese entity of concern.
       (2) Information relating to the length of such 
     relationship.
       (3) A description of the nature of such institution's 
     relationship with such Chinese entity of concern, including 
     the monetary value of any contract awarded, or agreement 
     entered into, as well as any in-kind donation or gift, from 
     such Chinese entity of concern.
       (d) Assistance.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall 
     provide outreach and, upon request, technical assistance to 
     institutions relating to compliance with this Act. In 
     carrying out this subsection, the Secretary shall provide 
     particular attention to

[[Page H5123]]

     institutions assisting historically Black colleges and 
     universities (as such term is defined in part B of section 
     322(2) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (22 U.S.C. 1061 
     (2)), Hispanic serving institutions (as such term is defined 
     in section 502 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
     1101a)), Tribal colleges and universities (as such term is 
     defined in section 316(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
     (20 U.S.C. 1059c(b)), and other minority serving institutions 
     (as such defined in section 371(a) of the Higher Education 
     Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067q(a))).
       (e) Waiver.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary of Homeland Security may 
     waive, on a case-by-case basis, and for a period of not more 
     than one year, the application of subsection (b) to an 
     institution if the Secretary determines such is in the 
     national security interests of the United States.
       (2) Renewal.--The Secretary of Homeland Security may 
     annually renew a waiver issued pursuant to paragraph (1) if 
     the Secretary determines such is in the national security 
     interests of the United States.
       (3) Notification.--If the Secretary of Homeland Security 
     issues or renews a waiver pursuant to paragraph (1) or (2), 
     respectively, not later than 30 days after such issuance or 
     renewal, as the case may be, the Secretary shall provide 
     written notification to the Committee on Homeland Security of 
     the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland 
     Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate regarding 
     such issuance or renewal, including a justification relating 
     thereto.
       (f) Reports.--Not later than 18 months after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act and annually thereafter, the 
     Secretary of Homeland Security shall report to the Committee 
     on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the 
     Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of 
     the Senate regarding implementation of this Act during the 
     immediately preceding 12 month period. Each such report shall 
     include information relating to--
       (1) the implementation of subsections (b) and (c), 
     including the information disclosed pursuant to such 
     subsection (c); and
       (2) outreach and the provision of technical assistance 
     pursuant to subsection (d).

  Mr. MAGAZINER. Madam Chair, I hope my colleagues will join me in 
voting for the motion to recommit.
  Mr. GUEST. Madam Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Michigan (Mr. Moolenaar).
  Mr. MOOLENAAR. Madam Chair, I rise today in support of H.R. 1516, 
Congressman Pfluger's important legislation on Confucius Institutes.
  The Chinese Communist Party seeks to exert its influence over all 
aspects of American society and that includes the American education 
system. The CCP uses Confucius Institutes as a vehicle to promote a 
distorted picture of China and provide American universities with a 
financial incentive to stay in the party's good graces.
  Where missiles and ships are considered hard power, these institutes 
are soft power, projecting the long arm of the CCP onto our college 
campuses.
  Madam Chair, the Chinese Communist Party funds Confucius Institutes 
because it wants to manipulate the minds of young Americans, whether it 
be digitally on TikTok or physically through Confucius Institutes.
  We cannot allow American taxpayer dollars to support universities 
that allow the presence of these institutes to influence and manipulate 
their students.
  As chairman of the Select Committee on the Strategic Competition 
Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, I support 
this legislation and urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.''
  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. GUEST. Madam Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
California (Mrs. Steel).
  Mrs. STEEL. Madam Chair, we must do more to reduce Communist China's 
influence in this country.
  This bill would withhold funding from universities who partner with 
the Confucius Institutes and other entities, which spread Chinese 
Communist Party propaganda in our university campuses.
  Evidence of CCP's influence is everywhere. They are brainwashing our 
students, they hijack our medical supply chains, and they flood our 
communities with fentanyl.
  In addition to deadly drugs, China is also exporting Communism. Our 
colleges must block this national security threat by cutting remaining 
ties to the CCP. If they don't, Congress can ensure accountability by 
passing this bill and blocking their Federal funding.
  The Senate must also pass my DETERRENT Act, which passed this body 
and adds much-needed transparency to foreign donations and 
accountability for our colleges and universities. Such a law would hold 
schools like UC Berkeley accountable for failing to disclose a $220 
million deal with the Chinese Government that brought Chinese 
researchers onto our sensitive Berkeley research center.
  Madam Chair, we must not allow CCP to infiltrate our students and 
campuses. We have to stop this. I strongly support this bill.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Madam Chair, this bill does not ban 
China from influencing our institutions of higher education. It just 
makes universities choose between relationships with Chinese 
universities and the Department of Homeland Security funding.
  This bill will not stop China's practice of exploiting the open and 
collaborative nature of American academia to conduct industrial and 
military espionage. I know that this is something that the sponsor of 
this bill, Mr. Pfluger, cares about because those are his words. 
Unfortunately, this bill does not get us there.
  Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GUEST. Mr. Chair, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Washington (Mr. Newhouse).
  Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Chair, I thank Mr. Guest for yielding.
  Mr. Chair, it is no secret to anyone in this room that the CCP is 
working around the clock to infiltrate and influence our institutions.
  In their attempts to undermine our economy and our livelihoods, they 
have made a concerted effort to target young Americans.
  For years, agents of the CCP and the People's Liberation Army have 
executed a strategy to influence our students in college, a time when 
many young Americans form political ideologies, learn about the laws of 
the world, and how we all interact in it.
  For many of these students, the CCP is there with a hand on the wheel 
that drives thinking in their favor and against the United States.
  I applaud my colleague, Mr. Pfluger, for his leadership on this 
issue. Prohibiting DHS funds from going to universities with Confucius 
Institutes and ties to the CCP is a huge step in loosening the CCP's 
grip on American institutions. Our universities must be held 
accountable for their associations and any tie to the CCP or the PLA. 
They must not be rewarded with Federal investment.
  Mr. Chair, our position on the CCP is clear, and we are doing what it 
takes to protect our students and our future.

                              {time}  1445

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Chair, I yield myself the balance of 
my time.
  Mr. Chair, we should not be on the floor today on this fatally flawed 
bill. Congressional Democrats recognize threats posed by China and the 
Chinese Communist Party. In fact, we worked with Republicans last 
Congress to craft a bipartisan bill on this very issue.
  Instead, today, House Republicans have decided to reject their own 
past work and try to make up for their do-nothing Congress with this 
absurd and extreme measure rammed through just ahead of an election, 
despite multiple procedural and policy errors.
  Governing by theme without any thought to very real negative outcomes 
in no way makes policy.
  This bill would deny all Department of Homeland Security funds to all 
U.S. colleges and universities with any relationship whatsoever to 
practically any Chinese university.
  This bill's author and my Homeland Security Republican colleagues did 
no factfinding. They could not answer questions about the bill during 
markup. They repeatedly said the bill does not do things that the bill 
says it does. If this bill's author doesn't know what the bill does, 
then how can he expect it to become law?
  This whole thing is a cruel disservice to American universities, 
academics, and students. It puts them and DHS in horrible positions.
  In addition to forcing American colleges and universities with any 
relationship with any Chinese university to choose between that 
relationship and DHS funds for disaster relief or terrorism prevention, 
this bill does not provide the Secretary of Homeland Security with any 
strategic flexibility to

[[Page H5124]]

waive the funding prohibition when in the national security interests 
of the United States.
  This House previously granted the Secretary of Defense a similar 
waiver on a bipartisan basis, but congressional Republicans do not 
think the Homeland Security Secretary should be given the same 
authority.
  Mr. Chair, the Committee on Homeland Security has not produced a 
single law this Congress. In contrast to a proud record of bipartisan 
cooperation and legislating over the last 20 years, House Republicans 
have turned our committee, which I have served on from its beginning, 
into a partisan press release factory and done nothing to make the 
homeland more secure.
  I repeat: We have not passed or produced a single law this Congress.
  H.R. 1516 is another sad example of the extreme MAGA Republican 
failure to deliver for the American people.
  Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to reject this flawed, extreme 
partisan messaging bill and vote ``no'' on H.R. 1516, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. GUEST. Mr. Chair, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Mr. Chair, today, we heard varying opinions on what our Nation must 
do to secure our universities from the CCP's malign influence. H.R. 
1516 is one of the strongest bills the House has considered to counter 
the threats posed by the CCP on our educational system.
  This legislation safeguards taxpayers' hard-earned dollars from going 
to our Nation's top adversary. It undermines the CCP's influence 
apparatus that has been used to sway public opinion and protects the 
critical research and development taking place at our universities 
across the country.
  To those who claim that this bill will do more harm than good or that 
this bill is overly broad, I disagree with those assertions and argue 
that this bill instead sends a clear message to the CCP that their 
interference will not be tolerated on our college campuses.
  I hope that we have a strong bipartisan vote today to demonstrate 
that we can work together in addressing threats from America's greatest 
adversary.
  Mr. Chair, I thank Congressman Pfluger for offering this bill, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Chair, I include in the Record 
President Biden's Statement of Administration Policy opposed to H.R. 
1516.

                   Statement of Administration Policy


    H.R. 1516--DHS Restrictions on Confucius Institutes and Chinese 
     Entities of Concern Act--Rep. Pfluger, R-TX, and 18 cosponsors

       The Administration supports the intent of H.R. 1516, the 
     DHS Restrictions on Confucius Institutes and Chinese Entities 
     of Concern Act, which would prohibit institutions of higher 
     education that have relationships with certain institutes 
     funded by the government of the People's Republic of China 
     (PRC) or located in the PRC from receiving Department of 
     Homeland Security (DHS) funds. The Administration appreciates 
     Congress's efforts to ensure that DHS funding is made 
     available only to partners that advance U.S. interests, 
     homeland security, and democratic norms. However, there may 
     be more appropriate ways to prevent DHS funding from being 
     directed toward academic institutions that are vulnerable to 
     the PRC's increasing monetary influence. The Administration 
     looks forward to working with Congress to refine this bill as 
     it moves through the legislative process.

  The Acting CHAIR (Mr. LaTurner). All time for general debate has 
expired.
  Pursuant to the rule, the bill shall be considered for amendment 
under the 5-minute rule.
  In lieu of the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by 
the Committee on Homeland Security, printed in the bill pursuant to 
part II of House Report 118-319, an amendment in the nature of a 
substitute consisting of the text of Rules Committee Print 118-46, 
shall be considered as adopted. The bill, as amended, shall be 
considered as an original bill for purpose of further amendment under 
the 5-minute rule and shall be considered as read.
  The text of the bill, as amended, is as follows:

                               H.R. 1516

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``DHS Restrictions on 
     Confucius Institutes and Chinese Entities of Concern Act''.

     SEC. 2. LIMITATIONS ON CONFUCIUS INSTITUTES' HOST SCHOOLS.

       (a) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Chinese entity of concern.--The term ``Chinese entity 
     of concern'' means any university or college in the People's 
     Republic of China that--
       (A) is involved in the implementation of military-civil 
     fusion;
       (B) participates in the Chinese defense industrial base;
       (C) is affiliated with the Chinese State Administration for 
     Science, Technology and Industry for the National Defense;
       (D) receives funding from any organization subordinate to 
     the Central Military Commission of the Chinese Communist 
     Party; or
       (E) provides support to any security, defense, police, or 
     intelligence organization of the Government of the People's 
     Republic of China or the Chinese Communist Party.
       (2) Confucius institute.--The term ``Confucius Institute'' 
     means a cultural institute funded by the Government of the 
     People's Republic of China.
       (3) Institution of higher education.--The term 
     ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given 
     such term in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
     (20 U.S.C. 1002).
       (4) Relationship.--The term ``relationship'' means, with 
     respect to an institution of higher education, any contract 
     awarded, or agreement entered into, as well as any in-kind 
     donation or gift, received from a Confucius Institute or 
     Chinese entity of concern.
       (b) Restrictions on Institutions of Higher Education.--
     Beginning with the first fiscal year that begins after the 
     date that is 12 months after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall ensure 
     that an institution of higher education (referred to in this 
     subsection as an ``institution'') which has a relationship 
     with a Confucius Institute or Chinese entity of concern is 
     ineligible to receive any funds from the Department of 
     Homeland Security, unless the institution terminates the 
     relationship between the institution and such Confucius 
     Institute or Chinese entity of concern, as the case may be. 
     Upon termination of such a relationship, the institution at 
     issue shall be eligible to receive funds from the Department 
     of Homeland Security.

  The Acting CHAIR. No further amendment to the bill, as amended, shall 
be in order except those printed in part C of House Report 118-656. 
Each such further amendment may be offered only in the order printed in 
the report, by a Member designated in the report, shall be considered 
read, shall be debatable for the time specified in the report, equally 
divided and controlled by the proponent and an opponent, shall not be 
subject to amendment, and shall not be subject to a demand for division 
of the question.


               Amendment No. 1 Offered by Mr. Gottheimer

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 1 
printed in part C of House Report 118-656.
  Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Page 2, line 3, strike ``or''.
       Page 2, line 7, strike the period and insert ``; or''.
       Page 2, beginning line 8, insert the following:
       (F) purposefully undermines the United States' relationship 
     with Taiwan.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1430, the gentleman 
from New Jersey (Mr. Gottheimer) and a Member opposed each will control 
5 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey.
  Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of my amendment, which 
would designate Chinese universities that purposely undermine the 
United States' relationship with Taiwan as entities of concern under 
H.R. 1516. We cannot condone partnerships with academic institutions 
that undercut the U.S.-Taiwan relationship.
  As a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, 
I understand just how vital the U.S.-Taiwan relationship is for both 
America's and Taiwan's national security. Taiwan is a democratic 
firewall, a valued economic partner, and a global leader on 
semiconductors, one of the most critical technologies to American 
industry and competitiveness.
  The United States Congress must stand firmly with Taiwan and 
resolutely against the Chinese Communist Party, which aims to 
delegitimize our longstanding, bipartisan relationship.
  Chinese universities have played an instrumental role in the Chinese 
Communist Party's strategy to intimidate Taiwan and interfere in its 
governing.
  Let me just offer one example of many examples. Earlier this year, 
the Center for Strategic and International Studies reported that 
researchers at Xiamen University suggested that Beijing develop plans 
for a ``shadow government'' that could take over Taipei

[[Page H5125]]

in case of a ``reunification,'' the code word for invasion.
  They are essentially writing the day-after invasion plan for the CCP. 
That is disgraceful and deeply disconcerting.
  The United States supports a free, democratic Taiwan. American 
universities and research affiliates should never support or legitimize 
this propaganda masked behind the guise of research. We would never 
ever condone an American researcher working with Moscow to develop 
battle plans for Kyiv. Why should Taiwan be any different?
  My amendment would hold American universities accountable for their 
collaboration with Chinese universities that delegitimize the U.S.-
Taiwan relationship.
  We will not stand for the schoolyard bullying tactics of the CCP, 
which are a threat to Taiwan's sovereignty and a challenge to America's 
global leadership.
  I was glad to see such an overwhelming bipartisan majority of the 
House come together to support the Indo-Pacific security aid package in 
April. That bill made critical investments in our hard power and 
military assets. The Confucius Institutes are soft powers for China. By 
passing this amendment, we will help shore up the U.S.-Taiwan 
relationship on both fronts.
  As I said earlier, Taiwan is not and should not ever be a partisan 
issue. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to prioritize 
our national security and support this amendment.
  Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Gottheimer).
  The amendment was agreed to.


                 Amendment No. 2 Offered by Mr. Stauber

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 2 
printed in part C of House Report 118-656.
  Mr. STAUBER. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Page 2, line 3, strike ``or''.
       Page 2, line 7, strike the period and insert ``; or''.
       Page 2, beginning line 8, insert the following:
       (F) aids, abets, or enables the detention, imprisonment, 
     persecution, or forced labor of Uyghur Muslims in the 
     People's Republic of China.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1430, the gentleman 
from Minnesota (Mr. Stauber) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Minnesota.
  Mr. STAUBER. Mr. Chair, I rise today to offer my amendment to H.R. 
1516, which would amend the definition of ``Chinese entity of concern'' 
in section 2 to account for the persecution of Uyghur Muslims in the 
People's Republic of China.
  Over the past decade, Communist China has persecuted the Uyghur 
population for their religious and cultural practices. Xinjiang 
authorities have detained Uyghurs in internment camps without formal 
charges, forced them into slave labor, and have committed numerous 
other human rights abuses against the Uyghur people.
  It is estimated that over 1 million Uyghurs and other ethnic 
minorities have been imprisoned in internment camps in China.
  Academics in China have aided in the persecution of Uyghurs as well. 
Hu Angang and Hu Lianhe are considered to be advocates for forced 
assimilation of minorities to create a state race. Hu Angang heads the 
Institute for Contemporary China Studies at Tsinghua University. Hu 
Lianhe, another university researcher, is already on the Global 
Magnitsky human rights sanctions list.
  Yet, Yale University boasts a ``strong relationship'' with Tsinghua 
University on their website. Harvard University signed a memorandum of 
understanding with Tsinghua University in 2021. The University of 
Pennsylvania has Tsinghua University listed on their website as a 
partner. There is no reason why our universities should be complicit in 
religious persecution.
  We may hear arguments today that the definition is already too broad 
and that the underlying legislation will inadvertently hinder our 
research apparatus. However, this amendment and the underlying 
legislation are necessary to stop the soft power influence China is 
exerting on our universities.
  Throughout the past year, we have seen firsthand how Iran's influence 
on higher education has turned college campuses into breeding grounds 
for anti-Semitism. We must prevent our most malicious foreign 
adversaries from continuing to undermine academia.
  The underlying legislation does well to address Communist China's 
influence and espionage in our institutions of higher learning, but we 
can go a step further to address Communist China's crimes against the 
Uyghur people.
  We should all agree that higher education's willingness to look the 
other way is unacceptable. We must act, and I encourage all of my 
colleagues to vote for my amendment and the underlying legislation.
  Mr. Chair, I suggest voting for this amendment. It is a good 
amendment. The Uyghur people should not be held captive whatsoever, and 
the religious persecution by the people of the Communist country of 
China must stop.
  Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1500

  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Stauber).
  The amendment was agreed to.


                Amendment No. 3 Offered by Ms. Crockett

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 3 
printed in part C of House Report 118-656.
  Ms. CROCKETT. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Page 2, line 3, strike ``or''.
       Page 2, line 7, strike the period and insert ``; or''.
       Page 2, beginning line 8, insert the following:
       (F) willfully and knowingly engages in malicious 
     activities, including online disinformation campaigns and 
     propaganda, for the purpose of interfering with United States 
     Federal, State, or local elections.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1430, the gentlewoman 
from Texas (Ms. Crockett) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Texas.
  Ms. CROCKETT. Mr. Chair, my amendment today seeks to protect the 
bedrock of our democracy, free and fair elections, from attacks by 
foreign actors.
  While I have great concerns about the underlying bill today, given 
its overly broad language and its impact for universities in need of 
DHS funding, whether it be for disaster relief or campus hardening or 
threat protection, the issue of election interference is one that 
cannot be ignored.
  We know that our democratic processes are under attack by foreign 
countries. Last week, the Department of Justice issued indictments 
outlining efforts from the Russian Government to influence the 2024 
Presidential election by funding and promoting divisive, inflammatory 
rhetoric and disinformation campaigns in the media and on online 
platforms.
  These efforts have been surprisingly effective in infiltrating the 
platforms of far-right influencers, conservative media, and even some 
of my fellow lawmakers, who have repeated some of this Russian 
propaganda right here on the House floor.
  The concerns about the PRC doing the same are not new. Last December, 
the National Intelligence Council detailed how the intelligence 
community assessed that ``China tacitly approved efforts to try to 
influence a handful of midterm races involving members of both U.S. 
political parties.''
  Just last Friday, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence 
issued a report titled ``60 Days Until Election 2024,'' which stated 
the intelligence community ``is aware of PRC attempts to influence U.S. 
down-ballot races by focusing on candidates it views as particularly 
threatening to core PRC security interests.''
  Make no mistake, preventing such influence and interference in our 
democratic processes is vital to maintaining

[[Page H5126]]

our national security and international security in the Indo-Pacific 
region. It also preserves the United States' free and fair elections, 
thereby legitimizing our electoral process and reinforcing the 
principles of democracy.
  This is not the first time congressional Republicans put a bill on 
the floor defining a foreign entity of concern or foreign adversary, 
and it will not be the last.
  Strangely enough, I am starting to see a pattern. Attempts at 
election interference through mis- and disinformation is a problem.
  Mr. Chair, I am asking for support of my amendment, and I reserve the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. GUEST. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition, even though I 
am not opposed to the amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. Without objection, the gentleman from Mississippi 
is recognized for 5 minutes.
  There was no objection.
  Mr. GUEST. Mr. Chair, as we look to the basis of the amendment, we 
see that this amendment deals with election interference, something 
that I believe both parties share concerns about.
  We know that in less than 60 days people from across this great land 
will go to the polls, and they will select our next President. They 
will determine which party controls the majority here in this Chamber 
as well as which party controls the majority in the United States 
Senate.
  I have great concerns that China and our other adversaries across the 
globe will use this opportunity to try to sow dissent among the 
American public, that they will try to pit Americans versus Americans 
on their disinformation platform, that they will be pushing across 
traditional and across more than not social media.
  I believe that this is why it is so important that we do everything 
within our power to protect our election integrity, whether it be to 
stop the influence of China, Russia, Iran, any of our adversaries, but 
also to do what we can to protect our election by ensuring that only 
United States citizens vote in our election.
  We know that many of our municipalities and some of our States have 
opened up elections, both on State and, many times, on municipal 
levels, to allowing non-United States citizens to vote in those 
elections. That is why I support the effort of Speaker Johnson to 
attach the SAVE Act to a continuing resolution, to make sure that those 
individuals show proof of citizenship when they register.
  Mr. Chair, I support the basis of this amendment. I support election 
integrity. I support us doing all that we can to ensure that those who 
are voting actually should be allowed to vote. However, I support the 
basis of this amendment, which stands for the principle that our 
foreign adversaries, particularly those such as, in this case, China, 
be prevented from interfering in our elections.
  Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. CROCKETT. Mr. Chair, I appreciate the remarks of the gentleman. I 
have had an opportunity to travel to various portions of Asia since I 
have been here. In fact, I don't think that there is any place that I 
have traveled to more.
  I must say that as I have consistently traveled the world, a lot of 
times with a number of my Republican colleagues, the one thing that I 
can say has been very bipartisan all term long has been our concerns 
about the rising threat of the PRC.
  I appreciate the gentleman's remarks. I appreciate us standing 
together. That is standing against anyone that is a threat to our 
elections, as they are what makes America truly great.
  Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Crockett).
  The amendment was agreed to.


                  Amendment No. 4 Offered by Mr. Cline

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 4 
printed in part C of House Report 118-656.
  Mr. CLINE. Mr. Chairman, I rise as the designee of the gentleman from 
Michigan (Mr. Huizenga), and I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Add at the end of section 2 the following:
       (c) Report.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall 
     submit to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of 
     Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and 
     Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report containing 
     information regarding any institution of higher education 
     that has a relationship with a Confucius Institute or Chinese 
     entity of concern and receives funds from the Department of 
     Homeland Security.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1430, the gentleman 
from Virginia (Mr. Cline) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Virginia.
  Mr. CLINE. Mr. Chair, this amendment to H.R. 1516, the DHS 
Restrictions on Confucius Institutes and Chinese Entities of Concern 
Act, adds a clear and concise reporting requirement to provide greater 
transparency to Congress.
  This amendment requires the Department of Homeland Security to submit 
a report to the House and Senate committees of jurisdiction detailing 
any institution of higher education that maintains a relationship with 
a Confucius Institute or Chinese entity of concern while receiving 
Federal funding from DHS.
  Throughout many industries and sectors of the PRC, we have seen 
repeated attempts to disguise the fusion between civil and military 
life. Undoubtedly, however, the Chinese Communist Party uses Confucius 
Institutes to extend its national strategy of malign influence abroad.
  It is well documented that the CCP uses Confucius Institutes to 
disseminate their Communist propaganda, encourage censorship, and 
discourage academic freedom in the United States. In fact, many 
colleges and universities have ended their relationships with Confucius 
Institutes or entities of concern over the past 5 years due to the 
threats that they pose.
  Moreover, FBI Director Christopher Wray confirmed to Congress the 
existential threat caused by counterintelligence and economic espionage 
from the PRC. Every sector of American society is fair game for the 
PRC, and infiltrating our colleges and universities to undermine our 
national security is no different.
  In closing, the Department of Defense has already restricted funds to 
these institutions that host a Confucius Institute. It is time for the 
Department of Homeland Security to fall into line. Congress has a duty 
to conduct oversight of institutes of higher education that value their 
relationships with Communist China over national security for the 
American people.
  Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense amendment 
and support the underlying bill offered by Congressman Pfluger of 
Texas. I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in 
opposition.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to Mr. 
Cline's amendment. This amendment is impractical and infeasible, like 
the bill he is trying to amend.
  This amendment will require the Department of Homeland Security to 
identify and report on any U.S. college or university that has any 
relationship with a Chinese entity of concern.
  The Republican author of H.R. 1516 and the Homeland Security 
Committee Republicans who rammed this partisan bill through committee 
should have done a little factfinding before bringing this bill to the 
floor. Had they done so, then Mr. Cline would not be asking for this 
impractical amendment because his colleagues would have been able to 
tell him which universities in the United States have a relationship 
with a Confucius Institute or Chinese entity of concern.
  The problem at the heart of this amendment is the Republicans' made-
up, overbroad definition of ``Chinese entity of concern.'' It requires 
a multipart test to identify Chinese universities that participate in 
military-civil fusion, the Chinese defense industrial base, and 
receiving funding from the Chinese Communist Party.
  I agree that those sorts of relationships between Chinese 
universities and the Chinese Communist Party are a

[[Page H5127]]

problem, but the term ``Chinese entity of concern'' goes way past 
actual security risks and deems every Chinese university a threat 
without regard to actual national security concerns.
  For example, it encompasses any university in China that provides any 
support to the police. As a result, if a university in China were to 
provide support for a criminal investigation, such as a crime against a 
U.S. study-abroad student, suddenly the university in China would 
qualify as a Chinese entity of concern.
  Even American university campuses located in China would be deemed a 
Chinese entity of concern if they were to provide any sort of support 
to the police in China. If an American student at an American 
university's branch in China gets stabbed, that branch campus would 
become a Chinese entity of concern if it as much as provided 
translation services to the police to catch the perpetrator. This is 
absurd.
  This amendment would drain DHS resources and require DHS to dedicate 
teams of staff to gain considerable insight into internal Chinese 
Government functions in order to identify which of China's 3,000 
universities are an entity of concern. DHS has acknowledged that this 
would be a struggle.
  If that wasn't enough, DHS would then have to figure out which 
universities it provides funds to have a relationship with the Chinese 
university that meets the entity of concern definition. Those 
relationships would include perfectly innocent and valuable agreements, 
including student exchange programs and other cultural programs that 
help American students get a well-rounded education.

                              {time}  1515

  H.R. 1516 is already poorly drafted and fatally flawed, so it is not 
surprising we are adding impractical into the mix with this amendment.
  Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CLINE. Mr. Chair, I will respond to the gentleman by saying that 
the Confucius Institutes are indeed a threat. They have actively 
rebranded their efforts and are alive and well on university campuses 
across the United States, and Congress has not been able to keep up in 
combating these new entities because of the rapidly evolving nature of 
these threats.
  There is little to no transparency from universities in what type of 
assistance they receive from the PRC.
  This is about taxpayer dollars. This is about taxpayer dollars 
flowing from the Department of Homeland Security to institutions of 
higher education in this country that are maintaining relationships 
with Confucius Institutes or Chinese entities of concern, and we owe it 
to taxpayers to ensure that their dollars are not going to further 
Chinese soft-power influence in this country.
  Over $3 billion has flowed from entities connected to the PRC and CCP 
to universities in the United States between 2020 and 2023.
  Mr. Chair, I think it is high time we take action. I urge support for 
the amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of 
my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Cline).
  The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes 
appeared to have it.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further 
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Virginia 
will be postponed.


                  Amendment No. 5 Offered by Mr. Cline

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 5 
printed in part C of House Report 118-656.
  Mr. CLINE. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Page 2, line 3, strike ``or''.
       Page 2, line 7, strike the period and insert ``; or''.
       Page 2, beginning line 8, insert the following:
       (F) is affiliated with the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1430, the gentleman 
from Virginia (Mr. Cline) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Virginia.
  Mr. CLINE. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of this amendment that adds 
the Chinese Academy of Sciences, or CAS, to the list of Chinese 
entities of concern outlined within the bill due to the vulnerabilities 
and threats posed by openly collaborating with an organization that 
answers to the Chinese Communist Party and compares notes with the 
People's Liberation Army.
  CAS has repeatedly been called out for its problematic ties with the 
CCP by the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the bipartisan 
Congressional-Executive Commission on China stating that it not only is 
a state-controlled entity but reports directly to China's State 
Council.
  Further, the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission 
reports that CAS has connections to Chinese military, nuclear, and 
cyber espionage programs.
  If that wasn't enough to raise alarm bells, it may be of interest to 
know that the Chinese Academy of Sciences is the parent organization of 
the now infamous Wuhan Institute of Virology, which engaged in gain-of-
function research.
  This amendment is essential because, even as I speak here today, 
there are American institutions of higher learning engaging with the 
Chinese Academy of Sciences to study the highly infectious avian bird 
flu, and they are being paid taxpayer dollars in the form of USDA 
grants to do it.
  So long as colleges and universities are comparing notes with Chinese 
entities of concern like CAS, they should not be receiving DHS grants 
to conduct research on sensitive topics related to Homeland Security.
  The Chinese Academy of Sciences should be included within this bill 
and treated in the same manner as a CCP-controlled Confucius Institute 
would be.
  I urge my colleagues to adopt this amendment and pass this important 
bill.
  Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Cline).
  The amendment was agreed to.


              Amendment No. 6 Offered by Mr. Nunn of Iowa

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 6 
printed in part C of House Report 118-656.
  Mr. NUNN of Iowa. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       In section 2(a), add at the end the following:
       (5) Thousand talents program.--The term ``Thousand Talents 
     Program'' means any technological or educational program 
     funded or administered by the Chinese Communist Party's 
     Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.
       In section 2(b), insert ``, Thousand Talents Program,'' 
     after ``Confucius Institute'' each place such term appears.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1430, the gentleman 
from Iowa (Mr. Nunn) and a Member opposed each will control 5 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Iowa.
  Mr. NUNN of Iowa. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of H.R. 1516, 
including my amendment.
  As a career counterintelligence officer, I have faced off against 
China on more than one occasion, and I have seen how the Chinese 
Communist Party exploits data and manipulates minds.
  Specifically, the so-called Thousand Talents Program is one of the 
Chinese Communist Party's premier espionage initiatives. Launched in 
2008, the program targets Chinese citizens with expertise in elite 
programs like the C9 or their top universities and has a track record 
of competition in entrepreneurship, professions, and research.
  These experts often specialize in fields vital to China's global 
standing, including engineering, mathematics, and next-generation 
technology, and while it is a complement to China, it is not a 
complement when they begin targeting the United States.

[[Page H5128]]

  These individuals target U.S. institutions to receive an education at 
our universities often backed and paid for by U.S. taxpayers and then 
take the knowledge that they have learned back home to Beijing and 
start operating as agents of China.
  The CCP designated the Thousand Talents Program to recruit 2,000 
highly qualified overseas talents within 5 short years.
  Since its inception, the program has reportedly recruited more than 
15,000 people, many of them serving as espionage agents.
  There are massive incentives for these individuals to steal 
intellectual property right here at home.
  In exchange for the information gathered in the U.S., these scholars 
receive large salaries, research funding, lab space, and other 
lucrative rewards upon returning to China.
  If the U.S. is to remain a global leader and innovation sectors 
continue to be undaunted, we must ensure that American research and 
solutions stay out of the hands of our near-peer competitors and 
certainly our enemies.
  My bipartisan amendment adds the highly concerning Thousand Talents 
Program to the list of Chinese entities of concern ensuring that no 
Homeland Security funding goes to higher education institutions that 
have contracts or affiliations with the Thousand Talents Program--or to 
put it in another term, espionage.
  Not only will this protect taxpayer funds, but it will protect 
America's economy, intellectual property, and national security from 
CCP counterintelligence operations.
  I urge everyone to not only support this amendment but to support the 
good work being done by this committee. I thank my colleagues on both 
sides of the aisle for standing up to China when they do wrong.
  Mr. Chair, I thank the Chair and the leadership that has been done on 
both sides of the aisle in moving this forward in further advancing 
America's security here at home.
  Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Nunn).
  The amendment was agreed to.
  Mr. GUEST. Mr. Chair, I move that the Committee do now rise.
  The motion was agreed to.
  Accordingly, the Committee rose; and the Speaker pro tempore (Mr. 
Nunn of Iowa) having assumed the chair, Mr. LaTurner, Acting Chair of 
the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union, reported 
that that Committee, having had under consideration the bill (H.R. 
1516) to establish Department of Homeland Security funding restrictions 
on institutions of higher education that have a relationship with 
Confucius Institutes, and for other purposes, had come to no resolution 
thereon.

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