H.R. 7779House117th Congress (2021-2023)In Committee

DHS Restrictions on Confucius Institutes and Chinese Entities of Concern Act

Introduced May 16, 2022

AI-Generated Summary

Updated February 8, 2026 at 3:28 PM UTC

The DHS Restrictions on Confucius Institutes and Chinese Entities of Concern Act blocks Department of Homeland Security science, technology, and research funding to colleges that have contracts or receive gifts from Confucius Institutes unless they cut those ties. It also forces schools with connections to certain Chinese universities linked to the military or defense to disclose those relationships, allows limited waivers, and requires annual reporting and outreach, especially to minority‑serving institutions.

Key Provisions

  • Starting a year after the law is passed, any college or university that has a contract, agreement, or receives any gift from a Confucius Institute cannot receive Science & Technology or Research & Development money from the Department of Homeland Security unless it ends that relationship.
  • Colleges that have ties to a "Chinese entity of concern" (defined as Chinese universities involved in military‑civil fusion, defense industry, or linked to the Chinese military or intelligence) must tell the DHS secretary about the relationship, including the entity’s name, how long the tie has existed, and the value of any contracts or gifts.
  • The DHS secretary can give a one‑year waiver to a school, renewable each year, if it is deemed in the U.S. national‑security interest, and must notify the relevant House and Senate committees of any waiver granted or renewed.
  • The DHS must provide outreach and technical help to schools to comply, with special attention to historically Black colleges, Hispanic‑serving institutions, tribal colleges, and other minority‑serving schools.
  • The DHS must report every year to the House and Senate Homeland Security committees on how the restrictions and disclosures are being implemented.

Legislative Activity

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9 earlier actions
HouseCalendars Latest Action

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 351.

August 19, 2022

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

May 16, 2022

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security.

May 16, 2022

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Innovation.

May 17, 2022

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Oversight, Management, and Accountability.

May 17, 2022

HouseCommittee

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

May 19, 2022

HouseCommittee

Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.

May 19, 2022

HouseCommittee

Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Innovation Discharged.

May 19, 2022

HouseCommittee

Subcommittee on Oversight, Management, and Accountability Discharged.

May 19, 2022

HouseCommittee

Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Homeland Security. H. Rept. 117-454.

August 19, 2022

HouseCalendars

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 351.

August 19, 2022

Floor Debate

1 member

What members said about H.R. 7779 on the floor

1 Democrat
Bennie G. Thompson
Rep. Bennie G. ThompsonD-MS-2 · Oct 28, 2022

Madam Speaker, I include in the Record the cost estimates prepared by the Congressional Budget Office for H.R. 3756, the Department of Homeland Security Climate Change Research Act, and H.R. 7779,…

Bill Text

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Reported in HouseIssued August 19, 2022

IB

Union Calendar No. 351

117th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 7779

[Report No. 117–454]

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

May 16, 2022

Mr. Pfluger introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security

August 19, 2022

Additional sponsors: Mr. Gimenez, Mr. McKinley, Ms. Stefanik, Mr. Guest, Mr. Garbarino, Mr. Buck, Mrs. Steel, Mrs. Miller-Meeks, Ms. Tenney, Mr. Brooks, Mr. Van Drew, Mr. Babin, Mr. Diaz-Balart, Mr. Graves of Louisiana, Mr. Crenshaw, and Mr. Good of Virginia

August 19, 2022

Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed

Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic

For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on May 16, 2022


A BILL

To establish Department of Homeland Security funding restrictions on institutions of higher education that have a relationship with Confucius Institutes, and for other purposes.


1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the DHS Restrictions on Confucius Institutes and Chinese Entities of Concern Act.

2.

Limitations on Confucius Institutes’ host schools

(a)

Definitions

In this section:

(1)

Chinese entity of concern

The term Chinese entity of concern means any university or college in the People’s Republic of China that—

(A)

is involved in the implementation of military-civil fusion;

(B)

participates in the Chinese defense industrial base;

(C)

is affiliated with the Chinese State Administration for Science, Technology and Industry for the National Defense;

(D)

receives funding from any organization subordinate to the Central Military Commission of the Chinese Communist Party; or

(E)

provides support to any security, defense, police, or intelligence organization of the Government of the People’s Republic of China or the Chinese Communist Party.

(2)

Confucius Institute

The term Confucius Institute means a cultural institute funded by the Government of the People’s Republic of China.

(3)

Institution of higher education

The term institution of higher education has the meaning given such term in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002).

(4)

Relationship

The term relationship means, with respect to an institution of higher education, any contract awarded, or agreement entered into, as well as any in-kind donation or gift, received from a Confucius Institute or Chinese entity of concern.

(b)

Restrictions on institutions of higher education

Beginning with the first fiscal year that begins after the date that is 12 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall ensure that an institution of higher education (referred to in this section as an “institution”) which has a relationship with a Confucius Institute is ineligible to receive any Science and Technology or Research and Development funds from the Department of Homeland Security, unless the institution terminates the relationship between the institution and such Confucius Institute. Upon the termination of such a relationship, the institution at issue shall be eligible to receive Science and Technology or Research and Development funds from the Department of Homeland Security.

(c)

Chinese entities of concern relationship disclosures

Beginning on the date that is 12 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall require each institution of higher education which has a relationship with a Chinese entity of concern that is seeking or receives Science and Technology or Research and Development funds from the Department of Homeland Security to notify the Secretary of such relationship. Such notification shall include the following with respect to such relationship:

(1)

An identification of the Chinese entity of concern.

(2)

Information relating to the length of such relationship.

(3)

A description of the nature of such institution’s relationship with such Chinese entity of concern, including the monetary value of any contract awarded, or agreement entered into, as well as any in-kind donation or gift, from such Chinese entity of concern.

(d)

Assistance

The Secretary of Homeland Security shall provide outreach and, upon request, technical assistance to institutions of higher education relating to compliance with this Act. In carrying out this subsection, the Secretary shall provide particular attention to institutions assisting historically Black colleges and universities (as such term is defined in part B of section 322(2) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (22 U.S.C. 1061(2)), Hispanic serving institutions (as such term is defined in section 502 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1101a)), Tribal colleges and universities (as such term is defined in section 316(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059c(b)), and other minority serving institutions (as such defined in section 371(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067q(a))).

(e)

Waiver

(1)

In general

The Secretary of Homeland Security may waive, on a case-by-case basis, and for a period of not more than one year, the application of subsection (b) to an institution of higher education if the Secretary determines such is in the national security interests of the United States.

(2)

Renewal

The Secretary of Homeland Security may annually renew a waiver issued pursuant to paragraph (1) if the Secretary determines such is in the national security interests of the United States.

(3)

Notification

If the Secretary of Homeland Security issues or renews a waiver pursuant to paragraph (1) or (2), respectively, not later than 30 days after such issuance or renewal, as the case may be, the Secretary shall provide written notification to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate regarding such issuance or renewal, including a justification relating thereto.

(f)

Reports

Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act and annually thereafter, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall report to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate regarding implementation of this Act during the immediately preceding 12 month period. Each such report shall include information relating to—

(1)

the implementation of subsections (b) and (c), including the information disclosed pursuant to such subsection (c); and

(2)

outreach and the provision of technical assistance pursuant to subsection (d).

August 19, 2022

Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed