House Passes Pfluger Bill to Cut Federal Funds for Colleges Tied to Chinese Influence

WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11), Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security's Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence, had legislation pass through the U.S. House of Representatives. 

Chairman Pfluger's "DHS Restrictions on Confucius Institutes Act" will defend American students from the Chinese Communist Party by prohibiting any Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding from flowing to universities that host a Confucius Institute or maintain a relationship with a Chinese entity of concern. 

Following the legislation's passage, Rep. Pfluger released the following statement:

“The Chinese Communist Party has proven to be an untrustworthy, adversarial actor by continually undermining American interests at every turn – in no world should they have a front-row seat in our classrooms funded by our own taxpayer dollars,” said Rep. Pfluger. “The bipartisan passage of my legislation today sends a clear message: America’s universities and research labs will no longer be used to steal critical research, recruit talent for Military-Civil fusion enterprises, conduct espionage, commit transnational repression, and influence academic institutions to the benefit of the CCP. This is a victory for our national security and future generations of Americans.”

Several leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives also praised the passage of Rep. Pfluger's legislation:

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson said, “House Republicans will not tolerate adversarial regimes, like the Chinese Communist Party, using propaganda to manipulate students, undermine academic institutions, and compromise national security. Higher education in America must remain free from foreign malign influence. I commend Rep. Pfluger for his leadership in protecting students and ensuring taxpayer dollars are not used to fund institutions that host Confucius Institutes or maintain ties to Chinese entities supporting CCP interests.”

House Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Mark Green said, "Beijing’s malign influence should never have been allowed to reach American campuses. Chairman Pfluger’s legislation will protect our universities from the CCP’s efforts to steal American research and innovation, which Xi uses to undermine our nation’s sovereignty,” Chairman Green said. “After years of hard work by Chairman Pfluger, I look forward to getting this bill to the Senate and signed into law by President Trump. We must prevent American taxpayer dollars from funding our greatest geopolitical adversary’s sinister ambitions."

Majority Leader Steve Scalise said, “For years, the Chinese Communist Party targeted the United States and our institutes of higher education in attempts to influence and exploit American classrooms and research. Specifically, Confucius Institutes were extensions of the CCP’s influence network meant to conduct espionage in the U.S., impact academic institutions’ decisions, push propaganda, and steal intellectual property and trade secrets. We cannot allow foreign adversaries to infiltrate U.S. education, participate in shaping the minds of America's future leaders, or allow them access to steal intellectual property. That is why we must ensure American institutions of higher education fully cut ties with these hostile entities or face consequences.  I’m grateful to Rep. Pfluger for his leadership on this issue and for bringing legislation to protect our best and brightest.”

House GOP Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain said, “There’s no place for Chinese propaganda in America. House Republicans are ending CCP influence on college campuses and ensuring taxpayer dollars are not funding foreign agendas. My colleague Rep. Pfluger has done a great job getting this bill to the finish line, and I’m proud to have voted YES to pass this bill and defend our students from harmful CCP influence.”

Majority Whip Tom Emmer said, “We cannot allow the Chinese Communist Party to infiltrate and influence American schools without consequence—especially schools that are funded by taxpayer dollars. I thank Rep. Pfluger for leading a bill that rightly restricts federal funding to any institution of higher education that chooses to align with the CCP’s anti-American agenda.” 

Background:

Confucius Institutes have historically been presented as centers for promoting Chinese language and culture, but unfortunately, they have proven to be far from that. Confucius Institutes have been used to steal critical research, recruit talent for Military-Civil fusion enterprises, conduct espionage, commit transnational repression, and influence academic institutions to the benefit of the CCP. 

At their peak, the United States hosted approximately 118 Confucius Institutes, primarily at colleges and universities. There are fewer than 14 active Confucius Institutes today, but the danger remains. Many of these programs have rebranded themselves within universities with the same mission as before: to subvert national security and expand CCP influence operations. 

Prior to its passage, Chairman Pfluger delivered remarks on the House floor highlighting these dangers and more to outline the critical need for this legislation. 

Chairman Pfluger has led this legislation since the 117th Congress, reintroduced the "DHS Restrictions on Confucius Institutes Act, and held a CTI Subcommittee hearing to combat threats posed by the Chinese Communist Party to U.S. National Security. During the hearing, Chairman Pfluger had experts agree with the need for his legislation, stating that federal funding should be restricted from universities with Confucius institutes. 

Following the hearing, Chairman Pfluger's legislation passed through the House Committee on Homeland Security's legislative markup with bipartisan support.