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This bill would change federal higher education rules so colleges and universities that receive certain federal funds could not accept gifts from a few specific foreign countries. It would ban gifts from China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran, and also from any country that the Secretary of State says has given material support to a foreign terrorist organization. Schools would still be able to take federal education funds only if they report any offer of a gift from one of these countries to the Secretary. The bill is meant to increase oversight of foreign money going to U.S. colleges and universities.
- Schools covered by the bill would be barred from receiving gifts from China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran.
- The ban would also apply to any country the Secretary of State determines has provided material support to a foreign terrorist organization.
- If a school is offered a gift from one of these countries, it must report the offer to the Secretary to keep its federal education funding.
- The bill adds definitions for “material support” and “foreign terrorist organization” by using existing federal law.
Official Summaries
No Foreign Gifts Act of 2025
This bill prohibits an institution of higher education (IHE) from receiving federal education funds if the IHE receives gifts from certain countries.
Specifically, the bill prohibits an IHE from receiving a gift from (1) China, Russia, North Korea, or Iran; or (2) a country that has provided material support to a foreign terrorist organization, as determined by the Department of State.
The bill also requires an IHE, as a condition of eligibility for federal education funds, to report any offer of a gift from such a foreign country.
Current Full Text
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 542 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 542
To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to prohibit institutions of
higher education from receiving gifts from certain countries, and for
other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 16, 2025
Mr. Torres of New York (for himself and Mr. Garbarino) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and
Workforce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to prohibit institutions of
higher education from receiving gifts from certain countries, and for
other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``No Foreign Gifts Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON GIFTS FROM CERTAIN COUNTRIES.
The Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.) is
amended by inserting after section 117 the following:
``SEC. 117A. PROHIBITION ON GIFTS FROM CERTAIN COUNTRIES.
``(a) In General.--Beginning on the date of the enactment of this
section, an institution of higher education that receives funds under
this Act may not receive a gift from--
``(1) a country that, as of such date of enactment, has
provided material support to a foreign terrorist organization,
as determined by the Secretary of State; or
``(2) China, Russia, North Korea, or Iran.
``(b) Reporting.--In order to continue to be eligible to receive
funds under this Act, an institution described in subsection (a) must,
for each instance where such institution is offered a gift from a
country described in such subsection, report such offer to the
Secretary.
``(c) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Material support.--The term `material support' has
the meaning given the term `material support and resources' in
section 2339A(b) of title 18, United States Code.
``(2) Foreign terrorist organization.--The term `foreign
terrorist organization' means an entity designated by the
Secretary of State under section 219 of the Immigration and
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1189).''.
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