H.R. 2622House117th Congress (2021-2023)In Committee

CONFUCIUS Act

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Updated February 8, 2026 at 1:45 AM UTC

The CONFUCIUS Act would tie a college or university’s eligibility for most federal education funding to the way it works with Confucius Institutes—cultural centers funded by the Chinese government. Schools could only receive those funds if they have contracts that guarantee academic freedom, forbid the use of foreign law on campus, and give the school full control over the institute’s activities, curriculum, research grants, and staffing. The bill targets higher‑education institutions that host or partner with Confucius Institutes.

Key Provisions

Defines a “Confucius Institute” as any cultural institute funded directly or indirectly by the People’s Republic of China.
Requires any post‑secondary institution that wants to receive most Department of Education federal funds to have a contract with a Confucius Institute that includes: (1) protection of academic freedom; (2) a prohibition on applying any foreign law on the campus; and (3) full managerial authority for the institution over the institute’s teaching, activities, research grants, and personnel.

Legislative Activity

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HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

Education and Workforce Committee

April 16, 2021

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

April 16, 2021

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

Education and Workforce Committee

April 16, 2021

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued April 16, 2021

117th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 2622

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

April 16, 2021

Mr. Gonzalez of Ohio (for himself, Mr. Joyce of Pennsylvania, Mr. Balderson, Mr. Reschenthaler, and Mr. Diaz-Balart) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor

A BILL

To establish limitations regarding Confucius Institutes, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Concerns Over Nations Funding University Campus Institutes in the United States Act or the CONFUCIUS Act.

Restrictions on Confucius Institutes

(a)

Definition

In this section, the term Confucius Institute means a cultural institute directly or indirectly funded by the Government of the People’s Republic of China.

(b)

Restrictions on Confucius Institutes

An institution of higher education or other postsecondary educational institution (referred to in this section as an institution) shall not be eligible to receive Federal funds from the Department of Education (except funds under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070 et seq.) or other Department of Education funds that are provided directly to students) unless the institution ensures that any contract or agreement between the institution and a Confucius Institute includes clear provisions that—

(1)

protect academic freedom at the institution;

(2)

prohibit the application of any foreign law on any campus of the institution; and

(3)

grant full managerial authority of the Confucius Institute to the institution, including full control over what is being taught, the activities carried out, the research grants that are made, and who is employed at the Confucius Institute.