H.R. 455: Protecting Higher Education from Foreign Threats Act

This bill aims to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 with the goal of prohibiting institutions of higher education from receiving federal funds if they employ instructors who are funded by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

Key Provisions of the Bill

• Eligibility for Federal Funds: Institutions that employ CCP-funded instructors would not be eligible to receive any federal funds or financial assistance for an award year.
• Definition of CCP-Funded Instructor: A CCP-funded instructor is defined as any professor or teacher who provides instruction at a higher education institution and has received funds from the Chinese Communist Party while employed at that institution.
• Regaining Eligibility: If an institution loses its eligibility due to employing a CCP-funded instructor, it may regain this eligibility in a future award year by proving to the Secretary of Education that it no longer employs such an instructor.
• Effective Date: The provisions of this bill would take effect 180 days after it is enacted.

Overall Impact

The legislation is designed to address concerns about foreign influences in higher education, specifically related to funding from the Chinese Communist Party, and seeks to ensure that federal assistance is allocated only to institutions that do not engage with such funding sources.

Relevant Companies

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