H.R. 9602: Less Bureaucracy, Better International Foreign Gift Transparency Act

This bill would move responsibility for reporting foreign gifts and contracts by colleges and universities from the Department of Education to the Department of State.

What changes

• It transfers all current Department of Education duties under section 117 of the Higher Education Act, which covers disclosure of foreign gifts and contracts, to the Secretary of State.
• It also transfers the related staff, records, contracts, property, and unspent funds connected to those duties to the Department of State.
• Any references in other laws, rules, or documents to the Secretary or Department of Education for these functions would instead be treated as references to the Secretary or Department of State.

How it would work

• The Secretary of State would be allowed to use the same legal authorities the Secretary of Education had for carrying out these reporting duties.
• The Secretary of State could delegate these responsibilities to other State Department officers and employees.
• The Office of Management and Budget would oversee the transfer and certify that it does not result in a net increase in full-time federal employees at the affected agencies.

Transition and timing

• The bill says existing rules, decisions, grants, contracts, and related legal actions would generally remain in effect after the transfer unless changed under the law.
• Ongoing cases or proceedings would continue, with the Department of State substituted where needed.
• The Secretary of State could begin using Education Department personnel, assets, and funds for the transfer immediately after enactment if needed to complete the transition.
• The bill would take effect 6 months after enactment, though the transfer work could begin earlier.

Practical effect

In plain terms, the bill would not change the substance of the foreign gift reporting requirement itself. Instead, it would change which federal department handles it, shifting oversight from the Education Department to the State Department.

Relevant Companies

None found